Premise

It is generally agreed that homo sapiens—anatomically modern humans—have walked this earth for about 200,000 years. For 190,000 of these years, that is, 95% of our existence, we have flourished, evolved, and multiplied as tribes of hunter-gatherers (or, more accurately, gatherer-hunters). Humans thrived in this culture in which violence was very rare, our diet and lifestyle supported vitality and optimum health, and egalitarianism and direct democracy were the norm.  Compared to the most recent 5,000 years, for the first 95% of our existence, we worked less, rested more, enjoyed more loyal, long-term friendships, experienced less anxiety and stress thanks to the ‘safety net’ provided by the tribe, enjoyed a more functional system of sexual relationships, and better nurtured children with100-or-so loving parent-figures supporting each. (It takes a tribe, people.)

By understanding the cultural system that birthed and nurtured humanity for so long, we can mimic some of its aspects in our modern life, recapturing our primordial well-being.