Tribe (Junger book)
| Company type | Book |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | 2016 |
| Founder | Sebastian Junger |
| Products | Creative nonfiction book |
| Parent | Simon & Schuster |
Tribe is a creative nonfiction work authored by Sebastian Junger and released by Simon & Schuster in 2016. The book investigates how soldiers adjust back to civilian life and examines the paradoxical idea that hardship and peril can improve mental health. It was met with predominantly favorable reviews from critics.
Contents
In Tribe, Junger highlights the contrast between the strong bonds within traditional small communities (or tribes) and the sense of alienation common in contemporary society. Whereas members of tribes relied heavily on one another, individuals today often face social fragmentation and loneliness. Despite living among many people, modern individuals tend to lead isolated lives, especially as emergency services have supplanted personal risk-taking. This leads to Junger’s key inquiry: why do veterans frequently claim to feel more fulfilled during wartime than in civilian life?
He suggests that military units cultivate intense camaraderie and a clear sense of purpose, experiences seldom found outside the military environment. Moments of crisis generate a feeling of urgency and indispensability. The book references instances like the British Blitz in World War II to demonstrate how shared hardship can reinforce communal ties. Junger observes: "Hardship frequently causes individuals to rely more heavily on each other, creating a closeness that can evoke nostalgia for difficult periods, even among civilians."
Reception
Jennifer Senior from The New York Times labeled Tribe as one of the "most compelling political books" during its election year, commending its approach to societal fractures without focusing on politicians. Joanna Bourke of The Guardian acknowledged Junger’s valuable perspectives on post-traumatic stress disorder but challenged his assertion that adversity promotes social unity, describing it as "profoundly unsatisfactory" and contending that prolonged danger often results in division rather than cohesion.