Urban Tribes: A Generation Redefines Friendship, Family, and Commitment
by Ethan Watters
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 188)
Read in June, 2008
In short: This book made me feel like I'm not the only one without a plan, merrily skipping along like I have been ever since college, and starting to be surprised as friends begin to get married in droves. I suppose it helps that the author is in his early 30's, lives in SF, and appears to lead a lifestyle very similar to mine; it probably also helps that, after a book's worth of analyzing the current young urban collective social scene from every possible angle he could get a hook into, he en...more
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Read in September, 2007
While the book is well-written and easy to read, and Watters' concept of "urban tribes" is a good start to beginning to examine the social lives of the "Generation Xers", I felt that ultimately there isn't really much of depth here. Watters simply doesn't go far enough in his analysis to dredge up anything truly interesting. It's more just a mirror to him and his "urban tribe" ilk for them to groom and preen about how successful and individualistic they are (this is...more
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Read in May, 2008
This is schmascinating, don't get me wrong. It's something I and I'm sure many of those around me completely relate to. In this sense, though it does come off a bit dated. I haven't read the end yet, will get around to it one of these days, but from what I gather the author is so intent on not creating one stereotyped image of an "urban tribe" that much of what he proposes is left dangling.
In his defense, I'm sure the Gen X "tribe" was indeed a much bigger novelty th...more
In his defense, I'm sure the Gen X "tribe" was indeed a much bigger novelty th...more
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the concept of 'urban tribes' is interesting, and in this book Watters delves into network theory, evolutionary and genetic psychology and some rather flimsy ideas of 'what women want' in order to explain why so many young professional 'never-marrieds' prefer to spend their 20s and 30s with their friends rather than inside more traditional family-structures.
it's a light read, I read it in a few days, which for me means the book is either really really good or really light, and this is def...more
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Read in October, 2004
The personal stories and familiar narrative the author uses in the first 1/3 of this book are engaging and I was loving his sociological analysis --- and then we got to his take on Bowling Alone and his methodology was quacky to say the least.
Looking at the statistics he was referencing and the conclusions he was drawing - REACHING is a fair word choice. So enjoy this for its anecdotal sociology, as there's some truth in it, but read his conclusions critically.
After awhile the author'...more
Looking at the statistics he was referencing and the conclusions he was drawing - REACHING is a fair word choice. So enjoy this for its anecdotal sociology, as there's some truth in it, but read his conclusions critically.
After awhile the author'...more
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well, i don't know. he seems to really go on and on about what exactly the problme is about why he can't commit to any of the 'attractive, charming and kind" women that he dates. Evolutionary phycology? hereditary "flaws", some kind of gender-biased upbringing? He doesn't know. Maybe it has something to do with women being aestetically hotter than men. But don't ask me. I'm just a women who apparantly wants to fuck the same guy for the rest of my life, right? I dOOOOoooooOOOooon't...more
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Read in November, 2007
recommends it for:
my denver friends
This book is not overly deep or ground breaking but it was a joy to read because it touches on the phenomenon of the 'urban tribe'. The 'urban tribe' is presented as the social structure which fills what is often presented as a void between the stages of living in your parent's home and having a family of your own. The author admits to not being an expert on anthropology or psychology but ended up writing this book partially as a reaction to the often very negative commentaries on the ever gro...more
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Read in January, 2004
recommends it for:
Casey, Matt
Dunno if you guys came across this as a book or when it was a series of articles, but it's a fabulous idea about how important friends are to our generation and how they're even replacing families in some instances (not sure if that's because people wanted to live out "Friends" or if their families suck). I tried to explain this to my mom once and she didn't get it. I imagine an idea like this appeals to people our and younger more and more because we're not getting married at a young ...more
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This is a book that struck a cord with me. As a single person I get tired of dealing with stereotypes and clichés that are not accurate or fair. Just because I do not have a traditional family does not mean that I don't value the institution. I appreciate the fact that Watters is not defensive of the urban tribal lifestyle. Instead, he uses the book to show that the urban tribe movement deserves its own analysis. If we are only willing to look at our society through the lens of family than ...more
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It's nithing new or groundbreaking or revolutionnary, but reading about how people all across the country (and supposedly across the world, if my experience is to be any indication) are living via their cirlcle of friends as a substitute to founding a family, was exhilarating and yes, reassuring in a way. The inner workings, taboos, rules, bonuses and benefits of a tribe seem to be similar world wide, it's a new way of life for the upcoming generations. A chance to prolong your youth while takin...more
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Read in February, 2005
recommends it for:
stupid people
Such a good concept that gets completely lost in this guys own self indulgence and eventual negation of his original starting point. He loses the plot and doesn't say much of note as a result. The most you will get from the book is in the title, go with that concept and read a lot of other books that are far better. Maybe Douglas Coupland or something, and then, at least you will get the enjoyment of a novel.
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Read in January, 2005
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book - it's a great analysis of the trend of making a family out of your friends (and there is really no scientific terminology or academic reading tone so it's an easy read.) Although not geared specifically towards a queer audience, I imagine our population can relate very easily to the central group of liberal twenty- and thirty-somethings in this book.
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Read in April, 2006
i'm glad i read this book and understand that the idea of having a family away from the house and community you grew up in is a common phenomenon.
after a few chapters i understood the point- and it got slightly verbose and lengthy- but i get it. and i liked it. and i've shared it with my SF urban tribe.
AND it's about a post-college group living in SF. so that was fun too.
after a few chapters i understood the point- and it got slightly verbose and lengthy- but i get it. and i liked it. and i've shared it with my SF urban tribe.
AND it's about a post-college group living in SF. so that was fun too.
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I found this book randomly at a bookstore. When I read it I was single and could have been a character in the book. It was so true to life. I recommend it to any twentysomething/thirtysomething singleton living in a city away from home. You may find yourself in there too! It helped me appreciate that time of life and helped me to see it for what it was.
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Read in March, 2008
Pretty quick read and explores some interesting ideas. Ultimately probably shouldn't have been much more than a NY Times magazine article, but still fun nevertheless for how close to home some of this stuff hits. It's also too bad that Watters never really deals too squarely with issues of affluence and class when considering his whole urban tribe idea.
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Read in July, 2003
I remember being rather dissatisfied by this book - I believe there wasn't enough analysis for me to find it a satisfying read. The author used the book as a way to point out his lifestyle and why he found it unique, but I can't say I remember why he found it so significant. I ought to revisit it for the purpose of a better review...
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Read in January, 2007
recommends it for:
twenty-somethings everywhere
Watters uses a relaxed narrative style to keep the reader engaged in the book. But the subject matter itself is compelling, too. I read this thing from cover-to-cover in a short amount of time, and the only drawback was that I became jealous of the urban tribe members described in the book - I've moved to much to join one.
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Read in November, 2006
recommends it for:
20 to 30 somethings, unmarried
This is an extremely interesting book about the growing phenomina of unmarried 20 and 30-somethings creating enclaves in big cities. Expendible incomes, inner-group dating, and pressure from the family to get married are all discussed in a fresh way.
Interesting interesting.
Interesting interesting.
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2 comments
i was kind of disappointed with this one. it was a bit boring to me. i was expecting more insight/ideas. maybe its a different read for people who are not in their 30's and living in an urban environment- yeah, i'm sure that's it.
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Read in March, 2007
I was really interested in this book at first, but then the first part was kind of repetitive and boring. Skipped over a bunch of it, actually, but the second part hooked me back in. I wish I had an urban tribe of my own.
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