Political Tribes: Group Instinct and the Fate of Nations

Chua (law, Yale Law Sch.; Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother) educates listeners about human tribalism and the countless ways tribalism causes problems in the modern world. To most Americans, the idea of humans belonging to tribes seems reserved for ancient humankind or people from staunchly divided developing countries. This fundamental misunderstanding permeates to the highest elected officials and is a large contributor to U.S. foreign policy failures in countries such as Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Americans do not belong to tribes as obvious as the Sunnis or Shias, but they belong to several tribes, even on a subconscious level, that span race, socioeconomic status, religion, and political philosophy. Chua illustrates how various tribes have created the intensely divisive political culture seen in current U.S. society. This work challenges Americans and calls them to action, regardless of which tribes they belong to, to set aside differences and reunite as a single tribe devoted to America's values of freedom, liberty, and equality. Narrator Julia Whelan delivers Chua's deeply analytical text with a crisp tone that makes for easy listening.