Freedom

Sebastian Junger

May 2021 · Simon and Schuster · Narrated by Sebastian Junger

About this audiobook

A 2022 Audie Award Finalist

A profound rumination on the concept of freedom from the New York Times bestselling author of Tribe.

Throughout history, humans have been driven by the quest for two cherished ideals: community and freedom. The two don’t coexist easily. We value individuality and self-reliance, yet are utterly dependent on community for our most basic needs. In this intricately crafted and thought-provoking book, Sebastian Junger examines the tension that lies at the heart of what it means to be human.

For much of a year, Junger and three friends—a conflict photographer and two Afghan War vets—walked the railroad lines of the East Coast. It was an experiment in personal autonomy, but also in interdependence. Dodging railroad cops, sleeping under bridges, cooking over fires, and drinking from creeks and rivers, the four men forged a unique reliance on one another.

In Freedom, Junger weaves his account of this journey together with primatology and boxing strategy, the history of labor strikes and Apache raiders, the role of women in resistance movements, and the brutal reality of life on the Pennsylvania frontier. Written in exquisite, razor-sharp prose, the result is a powerful examination of the primary desire that defines us.

Ratings and reviews

I wasn't sure what to expect, but what a wonderful surprise and such a great story, well told. The story follows modern day travelers, frontiersmen and soldiers, up main railways routes through PA and tells parallel stories of the history of the railways and frontiersmen. The railways were laid where the old settlers' road beds were made, and those usually followed the old Indian trails, for they were some of the only ways to get through from east to west in PA through the Appalachian Mtns.

excellent mixture of history, human and political nature, and adventure.

About the author

Sebastian Junger is the New York Times bestselling author of Tribe, War, Freedom, A Death in Belmont, Fire, and The Perfect Storm, and codirector of the documentary film Restrepo, which was nominated for an Academy Award. He is also the winner of a Peabody Award and the National Magazine Award for Reporting.