Freedom is written well. Though, that is not why it is a good read. Freedom was an enjoyable read for what it asks of the reader. Eye opening, insightful information from lived experience. Freedom creates a format that makes it more digestible to the reader.
Sebastian Junger writes Freedom as a series of explorations of concepts. Concepts determined through insight and action. At a point in life when packing a bag and taking a walk seems better than other options. To set out and explore the world through mud, water, trains, and overpasses.
Starting Freedom there was no concept of why it was titled “Freedom”. That was the first observation. Books tend to feed you the why. There is nothing wrong with that. It is a portal. It creates an easy entry.
Sebastian does not spoon feed you. He asks you think. Process. He is not holding your hand. Nor is he taking you with him. He is sharing what he went through. What he noticed. What he remembers from his journey. Then sprinkles in facts and information to help you understand.
These thoughts were in my head when the book was started. The words were cloudy, nothing was grabbing me. Why was this book was titled “Freedom” kept repeating? Most likely distracting from enjoying the first 14 pages. Then page 15.“The poor neighborhoods were easy to walk through because people would offer us water or ask if we were okay; in affluent areas they were more likely to call the cops.” The first hint at understanding why “Freedom”.
“Our insignificance alongside so much energy even started to feel like its own form of freedom until we realized that everything we needed – food, clothes, gear – came from the very thing we thought we were outwitting” (p.33). Its passages like this that start the path towards understanding Freedom. In trying to determine and understand why “Freedom” Sebastian was doing the same thing. This was the journey he was taking us through. Not the walk. Not the mud, rain, trains, and overpasses. That was his journey. These, though, were the moments he could bring reads along.
“The idea that we can enjoy the benefits of society while owing nothing in return is literally infantile. Only children owe nothing.” Yet, we continue to compartmentalize more. Sharing our thoughts, views, beliefs. Sometimes with violence, anger, or groups that support us while excluding anyone that counters whatever we are spreading. All while restricting access to our person.
From personal experience the motivator of when not acting my best, or at least trying, came from fear, insecurity, and doubt. It was an introverted nature that kept any real harm to myself or others. It is happenstance and books that kept moments of weakness from becoming more destructive. It was freedom that allowed these choices to be made vs giving up personal freedom to negatively impact another’s freedom.
This is not meant to discredit myself. It is very possible better paths could have been taken. That putting oneself out there can create all kinds of possible outcomes. Yet, numerous books and documentaries have shown when people are down or weakened is when they are most susceptible to influence, to being taken advantage of. It is when we are weakened that we seek to mask, cover, alleviate the pain. We put our freedom at risk for the chance to ease whatever pain, or hurt is seeping in.
“Human violence reaches way back into our evolutionary past and is usually about the same things that are important to chimps: resources, territory, and sexual access to females” (p.83). These are the moments that create thoughts around the concept of freedom. Are we ever free if our motivations are controlled by base desires? If we are chimps in clothes with less hair and cellphones, are we free? If anything, we waste freedom on having too much choice. Thinking things through, being able to pause, to think and choose a better outcome. All theoretical at best, if we continue to perpetuate our destructive base nature without a moment to not do as chimps do.
As Sebastian points out, we are never free. We live in society needing, wanting, procuring, gathering objects unnecessary for survival. Filling homes with stuff because evolution has created animals that are easily manipulated by shiny objects and cleverly written scripts.
Another feature of “Freedom” that Sebastian writes about is how we have obtained the freedom we claim to have. He follows train tracks and writes about their history. Charles Carroll was the last surviving signatory of the Declaration of Independence. “Carroll claimed to be the producer of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad than of the historic document he’d signed, believing that a national transportation system – coupled with America’s vast resources and almost unlimited immigrant and slave labor – could create the most powerful country on Earth. He was right, but that vision required both a massive expansion of government as well as the wholesale violation of property rights. It also required overlooking the moral outrage of slavery, which was an economic asset that the federal government was not yet willing to question” (p.70).
We are supposed to enjoy freedom, while negating how that freedom was and continues to be obtained. Freedom obtained from feigned ignorance and justification is not really freedom. The weight of what was stolen from others for personal gain can create a justification that only allows for so much sleep at night.
All we have learned throughout history is we are willing and will continue the subjugation of others to justify individual desires, while claiming to be for the greater good.
Sebastian put a backpack on and followed train tracks, trudged through mud, slept in rain in a desire for freedom. To be free he required the kindness of strangers and items made by others to survive. He learned those with means had more to lose, so were less likely to reach a hand out. Those with less, had less to lose and were more willing to offer help. Or maybe those with less were relating to a need and were more sympathetic towards that need.
Freedom is a word like any other. Just a word to say things, without ever thinking about the weight or true meaning of the word. Without thinking about how freedoms we have today were obtained. How can one person talk about freedom, while their neighbor suffers. Who is free in that scenario?
Freedom was a thought provoking, insightful read. It was researched, containing multitudes of historical insights and facts calling into question how we enjoy the life we live today. He offers no conclusions. He does not pass judgement, nor nudge the reader to think one way or the other. In that, he offers the freedom to draw your own conclusions.
A Vegan Father… reading to improve.
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A Better Father 