I think what we can do as a modern wealthy society is understand the dangers of modernity and wealth. And work very hard to counteract them. In Japan, they started putting in middle schools and nursery schools next to old folks' homes. That cross-pollination of youthful and older energy was great for both groups. I think society is starting to come up with small-scale solutions that actually work for people.
Journalist and author Sebastian Junger talks about his book Tribe with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. Junger explores the human need to be needed and the challenges facing many individuals in modern society who struggle to connect with others. His studies of communal connection include soldiers in a small combat unit and American Indian society in the nineteenth century.