Tribes Book Summary - Tribes Book explained in key points
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Tribes summary

We Need You to Lead Us

4.5 (198 ratings)
15 mins

Brief summary

Tribes by Seth Godin is a leadership book that argues in favor of creating a loyal and engaged following to achieve any type of goals. It offers tips on how to identify and nurture a tribe, build trust and inspire action.

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    Tribes
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    Whether you know it or not, you are already part of a tribe.

    For millions of years people have been part of tribes. Whether the groups are religious, ethnic or political, it seems we can’t help it: humans need to belong to a collective larger than themselves.

    In fact, tribes are everywhere; and whether you know it or not, you also are a member of at least one of them – as an employee of your company, a member of your religious community or a fan of your favorite band.

    But what actually is a tribe?

    All tribes share three components: a group of people, a common cause and at least one leader who represents and organizes the tribe.

    Take Wikipedia, for example. The vast majority of work for the website is performed by a group of about 5,000 contributors and editors. They all work together to realize the common cause of Jimmy Wales, Wikipedia’s cofounder: a vision of freely accessible, communally created information.

    However, the most important feature here is the shared cause. A tribe’s shared cause leads its members to internalize the tribe’s values and ideas as their own. These internalized incentives make tribe members into driven believers instead of mere followers.

    The cause of a tribe – either a yearning for or a resistance to change – can be anything from environmental justice, a political campaign or a group of Apple enthusiasts who believe in the superiority of their beloved consumer electronics.

    Tribes have always been with us, but with today’s technology, the number of tribes is exploding.

    This is mainly due to the internet: tribes used to be local, but now, with the reach of the internet – and especially social media – geography is no longer a barrier to tribal growth.

    And thanks to social media, a tribe’s influence is no longer directly correlated to its size, but to the cause for which it stands, and how it uses communication technologies.

    Why?

    Because today, real sustainable growth derives from the people who truly love your cause, advocate your values – and beat the social media drum for you.

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    What is Tribes about?

    In this book, author Seth Godin reveals the most powerful unit of social organization: the “tribe,” or a group of people connected to a cause, a leader and each other, who together drive change in society. It shows us how we can harness the power of the internet to form and lead our own tribes. Tribes also advocates the universal need for change and leadership, so we can grow as a company or as a society.

    Tribes Review

    Tribes (2008) by Seth Godin explores the power of leadership and community-building in the modern world. Here's why this book is worth reading:

    • With its simple yet profound insights, it challenges conventional thinking about leadership and empowers readers to step up and create change.
    • By highlighting the importance of finding like-minded people and leading with passion, it inspires readers to create and nurture their own tribes.
    • The book's engaging anecdotes and real-world examples demonstrate the impact of tribes in driving movements and sparking innovation, making it a captivating read.

    Best quote from Tribes

    The market for something to believe in is infinite.

    —Seth Godin
    example alt text

    Who should read Tribes?

    • Anyone who wants to create a movement to change the status quo
    • Anyone interested in the latest marketing concepts
    • Anyone who wants to learn how to be a great leader



    About the Author

    Seth Godin is an American author, entrepreneur and marketer, as well as the most successful business blogger in the world. He has published more than 10 international bestsellers in over 35 languages. His other books include Purple Cow, All Marketers Are Liars and Linchpin.

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    Tribes FAQs 

    What is the main message of Tribes?

    The main message of Tribes is that anyone can be a leader and create a community around a shared interest or goal.

    How long does it take to read Tribes?

    The reading time for Tribes varies depending on the reader's speed. However, the Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.

    Is Tribes a good book? Is it worth reading?

    Tribes is a must-read for anyone interested in building and leading communities. It provides valuable insights and actionable strategies.

    Who is the author of Tribes?

    The author of Tribes is Seth Godin.

    What to read after Tribes?

    If you're wondering what to read next after Tribes, here are some recommendations we suggest:
    • All Marketers Are Liars by Seth Godin
    • We Are All Weird by Seth Godin
    • The Icarus Deception by Seth Godin
    • Tribe by Sebastian Junger
    • Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
    • Linchpin by Seth Godin
    • Quirkology by Richard Wiseman
    • The 12 Traits of the Greats by Dave Martin
    • Surrounded by Idiots by Thomas Erikson
    • How Economics Explains the World by Andrew Leigh