Episode
#161: Lessons from War, Tribal Societies, and a Non-Fiction Life (Sebastian Junger)
2:23:13
Published: Sun May 22 2016
Description
If you want a better understanding of warriors, tribal societies, human nature, and what we can learn from it all, this is for you. My podcast guest is Sebastian Junger (@sebastianjunger), the #1 New York Times best-selling author of The Perfect Storm, Fire, A Death in Belmont, War, and Tribe. As an award-winning journalist, a contributing editor to Vanity Fair, and a special correspondent at ABC News, he has covered major international news stories around the world and has received both a National Magazine Award and a Peabody Award. Junger is also a documentary filmmaker whose debut film "Restrepo," a feature-length documentary (co-directed with Tim Hetherington), was nominated for an Academy Award and won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance. "Restrepo," which chronicled the deployment of a platoon of U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan's Korengal Valley, is widely considered to have broken new ground in war reporting. Junger has since produced and directed three additional documentaries about war and its aftermath. In this episode, we cover rites of passage (and their importance), warfare, the art of great non-fiction writing, PTSD, evolutionary biology, and much more. Some of the topics will no doubt offend many of you, and this is a good thing. I urge you to bite your lip, if need be, and listen to the entire episode. There are gems within, including hilarious stories, surprising statistics, and tear-jerking epiphanies. Show notes and links for this episode can be found at www.fourhourworkweek.com/podcast. This podcast is brought to you by FreshBooks. FreshBooks is a bookkeeping software, which is used by a ton of the start-ups I advise and many of the contractors I work with. It is the easiest way to send invoices, get paid, track your time, and track your clients. FreshBooks tells you when your clients have viewed your invoices, helps you customize your invoices, track your hours, automatically organize your receipts, have late payment reminders sent automatically and much more. Right now you can get a free month of complete and unrestricted use. You do not need a credit card for the trial. To claim your free month, go to FreshBooks.com/Tim and enter “Tim” in the “how did you hear about us section.” This podcast is also brought to you by 99Designs, the world's largest marketplace of graphic designers. I have used them for years to create some amazing designs. When your business needs a logo, website design, business card, or anything you can imagine, check out 99Designs. I used them to rapid prototype the cover for The 4-Hour Body, and I've also had them help with display advertising and illustrations. If you want a more personalized approach, I recommend their 1-on-1 service. You get original designs from designers around the world. The best part? You provide your feedback, and then you end up with a product that you're happy with or your money back. Click this link and get a free $99 upgrade. Give it a test run. ***If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes? It takes less than 60 seconds, and it really makes a difference in helping to convince hard-to-get guests. I also love reading the reviews!For show notes and past guests, please visit tim.blog/podcast.Sign up for Tim’s email newsletter (“5-Bullet Friday”) at tim.blog/friday.For transcripts of episodes, go to tim.blog/transcripts.Interested in sponsoring the podcast? Visit tim.blog/sponsor and fill out the form.Discover Tim’s books: tim.blog/books.Follow Tim:Twitter: twitter.com/tferriss Instagram: instagram.com/timferrissFacebook: facebook.com/timferriss YouTube: youtube.com/timferrissPast guests on The Tim Ferriss Show include Jerry Seinfeld, Hugh Jackman, Dr. Jane Goodall, LeBron James, Kevin Hart, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Jamie Foxx, Matthew McConaughey, Esther Perel, Elizabeth Gilbert, Terry Crews, Sia, Yuval Noah Harari, Malcolm Gladwell, Madeleine Albright, Cheryl Strayed, Jim Collins, Mary Karr, Maria Popova, Sam Harris, Michael Phelps, Bob Iger, Edward Norton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Neil Strauss, Ken Burns, Maria Sharapova, Marc Andreessen, Neil Gaiman, Neil de Grasse Tyson, Jocko Willink, Daniel Ek, Kelly Slater, Dr. Peter Attia, Seth Godin, Howard Marks, Dr. Brené Brown, Eric Schmidt, Michael Lewis, Joe Gebbia, Michael Pollan, Dr. Jordan Peterson, Vince Vaughn, Brian Koppelman, Ramit Sethi, Dax Shepard, Tony Robbins, Jim Dethmer, Dan Harris, Ray Dalio, Naval Ravikant, Vitalik Buterin, Elizabeth Lesser, Amanda Palmer, Katie Haun, Sir Richard Branson, Chuck Palahniuk, Arianna Huffington, Reid Hoffman, Bill Burr, Whitney Cummings, Rick Rubin, Dr. Vivek Murthy, Darren Aronofsky, and many more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Chapters
This episode is sponsored by the 5 Bullet Friday newsletter, created by the podcast host, with millions of subscribers from all around the world.
00:00 - 01:08 (01:08)
Summary
This episode is sponsored by the 5 Bullet Friday newsletter, created by the podcast host, with millions of subscribers from all around the world. 5 Bullet Friday provides a weekly short and sweet summary of the coolest things he found that week, ranging from apps, books, documentaries to weird self-experiments and tricks.
Episode#161: Lessons from War, Tribal Societies, and a Non-Fiction Life (Sebastian Junger)
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
In this episode of the Tim Ferriss Show, Sebastian Junger talks about warriors, tribal societies, human nature, and evolutionary biology.
01:08 - 04:42 (03:34)
Summary
In this episode of the Tim Ferriss Show, Sebastian Junger talks about warriors, tribal societies, human nature, and evolutionary biology.
Episode#161: Lessons from War, Tribal Societies, and a Non-Fiction Life (Sebastian Junger)
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
In this episode, award-winning journalist and documentary filmmaker Sebastian Junger discusses his career, writing process, and documentary Restrepo, which chronicles the deployment of US soldiers in Afghanistan.
04:42 - 10:44 (06:02)
Summary
In this episode, award-winning journalist and documentary filmmaker Sebastian Junger discusses his career, writing process, and documentary Restrepo, which chronicles the deployment of US soldiers in Afghanistan. Junger also touches on the importance of rites of passage, manhood, and inclusion.
Episode#161: Lessons from War, Tribal Societies, and a Non-Fiction Life (Sebastian Junger)
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
In an interview, author Sebastian Junger talks about his first job as a freelance climber and how it led him to write his book, The Perfect Storm.
10:45 - 14:17 (03:32)
Summary
In an interview, author Sebastian Junger talks about his first job as a freelance climber and how it led him to write his book, The Perfect Storm. He also discusses the dangers and lack of acknowledgement given to individuals in dangerous jobs such as drilling for oil, logging, and commercial fishing.
Episode#161: Lessons from War, Tribal Societies, and a Non-Fiction Life (Sebastian Junger)
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The author developed his writing style by reading books from several renowned authors and gravitating towards language that was efficient, lean, and innovative.
14:17 - 20:19 (06:02)
Summary
The author developed his writing style by reading books from several renowned authors and gravitating towards language that was efficient, lean, and innovative. He also grew up in a household with a lot of books and had an imperative to read as his father was educated in Europe.
Episode#161: Lessons from War, Tribal Societies, and a Non-Fiction Life (Sebastian Junger)
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
Journalists need to research their stories and gather facts, quotes, and interviews from the real world, while fiction writers rely on their imagination to create a fictional world.
20:19 - 25:43 (05:24)
Summary
Journalists need to research their stories and gather facts, quotes, and interviews from the real world, while fiction writers rely on their imagination to create a fictional world. Both require different approaches and techniques.
Episode#161: Lessons from War, Tribal Societies, and a Non-Fiction Life (Sebastian Junger)
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The ability to map out structure is a visual process that often brings out the best in writers.
25:43 - 32:59 (07:16)
Summary
The ability to map out structure is a visual process that often brings out the best in writers. Good synthesis often stems from an intense rush, akin to an athlete's performance, that comes with the feeling of urgency and an upcoming deadline.
Episode#161: Lessons from War, Tribal Societies, and a Non-Fiction Life (Sebastian Junger)
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
Author and journalist Sebastian Junger talks about the importance of facing challenges as an essential part of entering adulthood, particularly for men, and how he sought to do so through his career in war reporting.
32:59 - 40:19 (07:20)
Summary
Author and journalist Sebastian Junger talks about the importance of facing challenges as an essential part of entering adulthood, particularly for men, and how he sought to do so through his career in war reporting.
Episode#161: Lessons from War, Tribal Societies, and a Non-Fiction Life (Sebastian Junger)
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The inherent differences between males and females can make it difficult to achieve true equality in society.
40:19 - 51:48 (11:29)
Summary
The inherent differences between males and females can make it difficult to achieve true equality in society. Additionally, there are important discussions to be had around manhood and the bonds that are forged under extreme circumstances, which are often ignored in politically correct discourse.
Episode#161: Lessons from War, Tribal Societies, and a Non-Fiction Life (Sebastian Junger)
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
Thomas Paine incorporated the natural rights of man as exemplified by the Iroquois society into the intellectual basis for American governance.
51:48 - 1:00:26 (08:38)
Summary
Thomas Paine incorporated the natural rights of man as exemplified by the Iroquois society into the intellectual basis for American governance. The Iroquois Law of Peace, which influenced the US Constitution, was based on egalitarian principles where everyone was equal regardless of class or income.
Episode#161: Lessons from War, Tribal Societies, and a Non-Fiction Life (Sebastian Junger)
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
During times of hardship and danger, communal life can be so psychologically beneficial to people that there is a net gain in psychological well-being.
1:00:26 - 1:07:12 (06:46)
Summary
During times of hardship and danger, communal life can be so psychologically beneficial to people that there is a net gain in psychological well-being. Cohesion is increased by hardship, nicknames, and humor, among other things.
Episode#161: Lessons from War, Tribal Societies, and a Non-Fiction Life (Sebastian Junger)
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The equality brought on by crisis situations allows for people to be judged solely on their conduct within that space, offering a sense of self-determination and fairness.
1:07:12 - 1:13:47 (06:35)
Summary
The equality brought on by crisis situations allows for people to be judged solely on their conduct within that space, offering a sense of self-determination and fairness. This can be seen in everything from boxing gyms to wartime to the white captives of American Indians.
Episode#161: Lessons from War, Tribal Societies, and a Non-Fiction Life (Sebastian Junger)
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
Author Sebastian Junger discusses the impact of modern western society on human connection and how it affects soldiers returning from war, with high rates of PTSD even in non-combat positions.
1:13:48 - 1:23:08 (09:20)
Summary
Author Sebastian Junger discusses the impact of modern western society on human connection and how it affects soldiers returning from war, with high rates of PTSD even in non-combat positions. He also highlights the importance of skin-on-skin contact among infants and children in tribal societies as a form of connection.
Episode#161: Lessons from War, Tribal Societies, and a Non-Fiction Life (Sebastian Junger)
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
Journalist Sebastian Junger discusses how a year or two of national service for young Americans could create a sense of unity and purpose, much like what soldiers experience in their platoons.
1:23:09 - 1:32:45 (09:36)
Summary
Journalist Sebastian Junger discusses how a year or two of national service for young Americans could create a sense of unity and purpose, much like what soldiers experience in their platoons. The non-military options for this service would create a melting pot of classes and races, potentially reducing the PTSD rate, which is currently 1% in Israel.
Episode#161: Lessons from War, Tribal Societies, and a Non-Fiction Life (Sebastian Junger)
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
A group of Spanish and Moroccan guys engage in a bar fight over a Viking helmet filled with red wine, reminiscent of a story about a billionaire who starts a fight with an Argentine guy at a party.
1:32:46 - 1:40:20 (07:34)
Summary
A group of Spanish and Moroccan guys engage in a bar fight over a Viking helmet filled with red wine, reminiscent of a story about a billionaire who starts a fight with an Argentine guy at a party.
Episode#161: Lessons from War, Tribal Societies, and a Non-Fiction Life (Sebastian Junger)
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
Young men are wired to crave group violence as a way to demonstrate their power and unity, and if not given a productive group to belong to, they will create a destructive one.
1:40:21 - 1:44:57 (04:36)
Summary
Young men are wired to crave group violence as a way to demonstrate their power and unity, and if not given a productive group to belong to, they will create a destructive one.
Episode#161: Lessons from War, Tribal Societies, and a Non-Fiction Life (Sebastian Junger)
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The American society viewed returning soldiers as essential and functioning members of society, and they were needed back home as badly as they were in combat.
1:44:58 - 1:49:36 (04:38)
Summary
The American society viewed returning soldiers as essential and functioning members of society, and they were needed back home as badly as they were in combat. However, the self-diagnosing system for PTSD disability claims has created a potential for individuals to take advantage of the system, and the victimhood perception perpetuates the psychological state of passivity and trauma that a person wants to escape from.
Episode#161: Lessons from War, Tribal Societies, and a Non-Fiction Life (Sebastian Junger)
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The presence of dishonesty in a process is detrimental towards everyone, and it is psychologically deranging to see the human body rearranged.
1:49:37 - 1:55:41 (06:04)
Summary
The presence of dishonesty in a process is detrimental towards everyone, and it is psychologically deranging to see the human body rearranged. A war photographer must be prepared to unblinkingly look at the worst aspects of wars to capture the reality and cannot cover only the good parts.
Episode#161: Lessons from War, Tribal Societies, and a Non-Fiction Life (Sebastian Junger)
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The guest shares about American Indian ceremonies for returning warriors and how veterans should have the opportunity to recount their contributions in front of their communities as a way of supporting them.
1:55:42 - 2:02:27 (06:45)
Summary
The guest shares about American Indian ceremonies for returning warriors and how veterans should have the opportunity to recount their contributions in front of their communities as a way of supporting them. He also talks about a personal tragedy where his friend and colleague, Tim Hetherington was killed in Libya and the impact it had on him.
Episode#161: Lessons from War, Tribal Societies, and a Non-Fiction Life (Sebastian Junger)
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
A journalist describes how in the town of Marblehead, Massachusetts, Veterans shared their experiences of war as a way to bring the country together and as a therapeutic process for the Veterans themselves.
2:02:28 - 2:06:52 (04:24)
Summary
A journalist describes how in the town of Marblehead, Massachusetts, Veterans shared their experiences of war as a way to bring the country together and as a therapeutic process for the Veterans themselves. She emphasizes the importance of neutral analysis, and the discomfort that comes from hearing the raw emotions of war, making people come closer in understanding the whole experience.
Episode#161: Lessons from War, Tribal Societies, and a Non-Fiction Life (Sebastian Junger)
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
Shane Parrish, the Farnam Street blogger, shares how a simple axe is an incredible tool with numerous uses and also how one particular book, Sapiens, managed to influence him.
2:06:53 - 2:11:52 (04:59)
Summary
Shane Parrish, the Farnam Street blogger, shares how a simple axe is an incredible tool with numerous uses and also how one particular book, Sapiens, managed to influence him. He also talks about the sudden attention publicized in him when his book became a best-seller.
Episode#161: Lessons from War, Tribal Societies, and a Non-Fiction Life (Sebastian Junger)
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The world is full of possibilities and opportunities, but it takes both courage to explore the unknown and wisdom to stay committed to what matters in order to find true balance.
2:11:53 - 2:16:09 (04:16)
Summary
The world is full of possibilities and opportunities, but it takes both courage to explore the unknown and wisdom to stay committed to what matters in order to find true balance. While advocates are important for promoting change, journalists must prioritize accuracy and truth over improvement of society.
Episode#161: Lessons from War, Tribal Societies, and a Non-Fiction Life (Sebastian Junger)
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
In a world where we no longer gather around campfires to discuss our values and beliefs, books serve as a vital tool for collective conversation and the preservation of our identities.
2:16:10 - 2:21:34 (05:24)
Summary
In a world where we no longer gather around campfires to discuss our values and beliefs, books serve as a vital tool for collective conversation and the preservation of our identities. They are sacred objects that our society needs to survive.
Episode#161: Lessons from War, Tribal Societies, and a Non-Fiction Life (Sebastian Junger)
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
Tim Ferriss invites listeners to sign up for Five Bullet Friday, his weekly email where he shares cool discoveries, new music, and interesting articles.
2:21:35 - 2:23:07 (01:32)
Summary
Tim Ferriss invites listeners to sign up for Five Bullet Friday, his weekly email where he shares cool discoveries, new music, and interesting articles.