Tribalism is Dumb: Where it Came From, How it Got So Bad, and What To Do About it

by Andrew Heaton

Tribalism has made politics so awful I was forced to write a book about it. Well, fine. Fine.

This book explores the evolutionary roots of loving our team and hating the enemy team, and why groupish caveman instincts linger in our minds today. It If tribalism is hardwired into us, what changed in the last twenty years? How did partisanship get so loud, toxic, and obnoxious, and ruin last Thanksgiving? Finally, it says what we can do about it as individuals navigating relationships, and as society as a whole.

"Tribalism is Dumb" will make you less flummoxed by partisanship, political loudmouths, and dogmatic pundits. It will make you taller, slimmer, and more attractive to everyone you could legally hit on. And it will make you better equipped to navigate tribalism in the wild.

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics, Audiobook

287 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 8, 2024

Reviews

[Paul Sand · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author, Andrew Heaton, was previously best known to me as a writer/performer in numerous amusing videos at Reason. (Geeky example here, many more here.) So I was expecting a risible explication of why (specifically) politics is so rife with pointless contentiousness and other dysfunction.

I got that risibility. For example, Kindle's search feature reports 17 occurrences of "minotaur", 8 of "Gorn". Each drawing a smile from this reader.

But I also got a lot of surprising insights, for example:

Meanwhile, alt-right trolls perform a variant of virtue signaling called “unvirtue signaling,” where they flout the social norms and manners of pearl-clutching liberals. Saying terms that are offensive to or forbidden by the politically correct displays both contempt for the enemy tribe as well as bravery in combating it. Trolls one-up each other on message boards by seeing who will say the most offensive thing, thereby ratcheting up perceived boldness and status among their peers.

Reader, this book came out last year. I was not expecting Andrew to nail so precisely the headlines from only a couple weeks ago: "‘I love Hitler’: Leaked messages expose Young Republicans’ racist chat". (I commented here.)

I was (generally) not expecting Andrew's relative seriousness in exploring his topic. Yes, there's some jokiness, but it turns out that his research and insight is both wide and deep. Tribalism is rooted in humanity's long-ago cultural evolution in the Horn of Africa. And while it might be "dumb", it's not all bad: it gives us a sense of belonging, allows us to work for common goals, and (eventually) got us to modernity.

Although not without a lot of violence and strife. Still…

I should mention that the book is (um) lightly edited; I caught a number of typos and misspellings (e.g., "the story of Cain and Able" on page 27.) Also some of his wry observations fall flat; I attribute this to his stand-up comic sideline. What works on the stage might not work on the page. And vice versa.

But to repeat: the book is very readable and insightful.

[Tristan McGonigal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Equally hilarious as it is insightful.
Andrew does a masterful job discussing an important subject with a casual wit and charm.
Politics indeed have become more akin to sports teams vs thoughtful discussion and Heaton has you laughing your way through how to handle that.

[Rachel Pollock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought-provoking and surprisingly funny.

[Erin Nudi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Insightful and occasionally laugh-out-loud funny.

[David Tacy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book helps you understand that the way you feel about politics is not uncommon, and in fact, most likely your view is more similar to the majority. However, our two-sided system is setup in a way that the most shrill and marginalized views get the most media attention, even if those views are only actually shared by the minority.

I get really frustrated with US politics and media portrayal of politics, not because I identify with one side and am frustrated with the other, but because most people do, and I think that’s pretty clearly short-sighted; there are significant issues with both sides and the whole political system as a unit, and I don’t know why we have to keep splitting into two “teams” as the author would call them. And this book was pretty validating and offered some interesting ways of thinking. One idea was that instead of referring to them as republican/ democrat in conversation, call them Blue Team/ Red Team to highlight how tribal and ridiculous they are. Another one that really stuck with me was the Bayesian method of thinking, where instead of having to pick between A or B you offer the % you are for or against such position, and how the percentage breakdown can really help you appear less intense and have better more productive conversations with people about difficult topics.

I can’t say I loved this book, I think a lot of it is pretty obvious, which just frustrates me more that politics are the way they are. But it is definitely a wealth of information on this important topic that more people should probably be aware of so that we could be more civil, and call out the bullshit that we are force fed by everyone else.

I listened to the audiobook and really liked the performance, the author is funny at times and his jokes are pretty well delivered for the most part.

[Eric Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Thought-Provoking Exploration of Modern Political Society


Andrew Heaton’s Tribalism is Dumb is a refreshingly insightful take on the current state of societal polarization and how it shapes our thinking. Heaton manages to break down complex concepts of tribalism into accessible language, making the book engaging and thought-provoking from start to finish.

What I appreciated most is his balance of humor and seriousness, which keeps the reader engaged without downplaying the significant consequences of our tendency to split into factions. Heaton’s arguments are well-researched and balanced, challenging readers to reconsider their perspectives while remaining respectful of differing viewpoints.

This book is a must-read for anyone looking to understand the psychological roots of division and how to foster better, more productive conversations. If you’re tired of the echo chambers and crave a more nuanced discussion about the state of modern discourse, Tribalism is Dumb is the perfect read.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heaton’s wit is always a delight, and his sense of sarcasm and satire makes for an engaging read and takes the rough edges off some challenging and pointed insights. But I recommend the audiobook rather than the book itself - a first for me! (The first few chapters can be listened to for free on Heaton’s podcast.) Something about the shape and binding made it hard to physically hold the book open, and the annoyance I felt at this made me more picky about the arguments (and how long it takes to get around to the remedies) than I might have been otherwise.

[Patrick Raring · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a lot of folks in my life that are on the opposite spectrum of politics and reading this helped in better understanding how I could communicate with them. Not that they'll listen, but maybe to keep some sanity as well as make sure I'm asking the right questions to show them I'm trying to listen to them, so maybe they can listen to my side as well.

[Steven Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't let the comedy fool you. This is a serious dissection of assumptions and falsehoods we have been fed for generations to sustain political institutions that are not serving us at all. Heaton has done enough research to make this more than just a list of his own opinions, and he has invested enormous effort in providing levity that makes it a fun read.

[Eric Bohl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is easy to read and understand, but is simultaneously thorough and interesting. Heaton has an easygoing style and introduces complex concepts in an approachable way. Definitely worth the time.

[Michael Carroll · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is quite possibly the most important book I’ve ever read. Andrew Heaton points out our inherent biases based on Red Team vs Blue Team, where it comes from, why we do it, and how we can avoid it. I was surprised by how much I laughed while reading this too. Highly recommended!

[Patrick Tidwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A hilarious and much needed examination of why we can be so nasty to each-other. Full if great reason, research and the occasional minotaur. Absolutely worth a read.

[Alicia Parks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I needed this to remind myself to refocus my energy. Highly recommend.

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great take on why politics has gotten so contentious. Well researched and told with Heaton’s signature wit.

[A. Schultz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely Excellent

Witty, and intelligent argument on a social construct we don’t pay nearly enough attention to or stay aware of. Highly recommend - couldn’t put it down!

[Anthony S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful read!

[Orion · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazing - it reframed how i look at politics and political discourse

[Seth Bowen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very funny and insightful. it is always a joy to consume and think about subjects Mr. Heaton has decided to elucidate the human race about.