The Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging

Written by former war correspondent and journalist, Sebastian Junger, this is a short book about the importance of community in the human experience. He delves into a number of historic examples to show that humans innately respond to evolutionary foundations required for preservation of their tribe.  This is a short but wide-ranging book that looks at history, psychology and anthropology. When we are distanced from one another by the relative safety and abundance of modern life, we actually suffer higher rates of mental illness (depression) and suicide. Those problems often disappear during times of crisis or following natural disasters. But this is only true when those events have a leveling effect and when there is a sense of shared purpose. "Disasters create a 'community of sufferers' that allows individuals to experience an immensely reassuring connection to others (p. 53)...individuals are assessed simply by what they are willing to do for the group" (p. 54).

"...radically divergent priorities that a society must have during peacetime and during war. Because modern society often fights wars far away from the civilian population, soldiers wind up being the only people who have to switch back and forth" (p. 78). Soldiers' experiences range from the best of times to the worst of times (p.81) and they often find returning to peace time society imposes a loss of comradeship and meaning.  He talks at length about PTSD, especially among soldiers, but also compares it to the PTSD experienced by non-combatants, such as rape victims. 

American society has low social resilience which requires egalitarian wealth distribution and resource sharing."Earliest and most basic definition of community--or tribe--would be the group of people that you would both help feed and defend." We are a country at war with itself. The most alarming rhetoric comes out in disputes between liberals and conservatives. Junger contends they are both right, i.e., they both stand upon evolutionary principles of survival. Conservatives believe that free loaders are not to be tolerated and Liberals believe in a culture of compassion for the less fortunate. To me, the question that remains is 'Why do some people gravitate to focus on one or the other of these values?'

"As modern society reduced the role of community, it simultaneously elevated the role of authority" (p. 25). "If you want to make a society work, then you don't keep underscoring where you're different--you underscore your shared humanity" (p. 127).  Why isn't this working now during the pandemic and the increasing disasters exacerbated by climate change? The pandemic has not served as a societal leveler as do natural disasters, rather it has highlighted the gaps between rich and poor. 

This book offers some answers to pressing questions but also leaves many unanswered; it's a quick worthwhile read and will no doubt generate good discussion in my upcoming book group meeting. 

Reviews from: The New York Times, Kirkus, and The Guardian are worth reading also.