Rating: 4/5
In Tribe, author Sebastian Junger describes the historical benefits of close-knit societies and highlights where our current society misses the mark. His examples include Indian tribes to civilizations at war. One surprising piece that Junger details is the effect of war on suicide rate and depression. For example, during the Blitz in WWII when London was bombed day and night for close to two months, suicide and depression rates actually decreased. The community rallied together against a common cause and began sharing and caring for one another. Junger also details why many settlers often left their “civilized” societies to go live with the Indian tribes despite lack of material comforts.
Junger laid out one question that stuck with me:
What would you risk dying for—and for whom—is perhaps the most profound question a person can ask themselves.