Tribe
On Homecoming and Belonging
On Sale: 05/24/2016
Tribe
On Homecoming and Belonging
On Sale: 05/24/2016
Format:
About the Book
Sebastian Junger, the bestselling author of War and The Perfect Storm, takes a critical look at post-traumatic stress disorder and the many challenges today’s returning veterans face in modern society.
There are ancient tribal human behaviors-loyalty, inter-reliance, cooperation-that flare up in communities during times of turmoil and suffering. These are the very same behaviors that typify good soldiering and foster a sense of belonging among troops, whether they’re fighting on the front lines or engaged in non-combat activities away from the action. Drawing from history, psychology, and anthropology, bestselling author Sebastian Junger shows us just how at odds the structure of modern society is with our tribal instincts, arguing that the difficulties many veterans face upon returning home from war do not stem entirely from the trauma they’ve suffered, but also from the individualist societies they must reintegrate into.
A 2011 study by the Canadian Forces and Statistics Canada reveals that 78 percent of military suicides from 1972 to the end of 2006 involved veterans. Though these numbers present an implicit call to action, the government is only just taking steps now to address the problems veterans face when they return home. But can the government ever truly eliminate the challenges faced by returning veterans? Or is the problem deeper, woven into the very fabric of our modern existence? Perhaps our circumstances are not so bleak, and simply understanding that beneath our modern guises we all belong to one tribe or another would help us face not just the problems of our nation but of our individual lives as well.
Well-researched and compellingly written, this timely look at how veterans react to coming home will reconceive our approach to veteran’s affairs and help us to repair our current social dynamic.
Critical Praise
“Junger has raised one of the most provocative ideas of this campaign season-and accidentally written one of its most intriguing political books.” - New York Times
“There are three excellent reasons to read Sebastian Junger’s new book: the clarity of his thought, the elegance of his prose, and the provocativeness of his chosen subject. Within a compact space, the sheer range of his inquiry is astounding.” - S. C. Gwynne, New York Times bestselling author of Rebel Yell and Empire of the Summer Moon
“Junger uses every word in this slim volume to make a passionate, compelling case for a more egalitarian society.” - Booklist
“Thought-provoking. . . . A gem.” - The Washington Post
“TRIBE is an important wake-up call. Let’s hope we don’t sleep through the alarm.” - Minneapolis Star Tribune
“Compelling. . . . Junger . . . offers a starting point for mending some of the toxic divisiveness rampant in our current political and cultural climate.” - The Boston Globe
“Junger argues with candor and grace for the everlasting remedies of community and connectedness.” - O, the Oprah Magazine
“TRIBE is a fascinating, eloquent and thought-provoking book . . . packed with ideas. . . . It could help us to think more deeply about how to help men and women battered by war to find a new purpose in peace.” - Times (London)
Resources
Product Details
- ISBN: 9781443449588
- ISBN 10: 144344958X
- Imprint: HarperCollins Publishers
- On Sale: 05/24/2016
- Pages: 192
- List Price:22.99 CAD
- BISAC1 : SOCIAL SCIENCE / Violence in Society
- BISAC2 : HISTORY / Military / Iraq War (2003-2011)
- BISAC3 : PSYCHOLOGY / Psychopathology / Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
