For many of us, the concept of brotherhood was entrenched (pun intended) in the literal and proverbial trenches.

Whether on the streets, in the military or other teams, or through the navigation of large societal chaos or deep personal adversity, a relationship was tested by fire and found to be gold: men, or women, were brought together, almost as if destined or divinely appointed, to face life, death, and all the tragic adversity in between, together.

However, the word is complex: for some it means I’ve killed for you, or I’ve almost been killed for you, and I’ll do it again; for others it stands almost next to nothing, an empty term, meaning no more than: ‘Hey, you.’

This Little Book is an attempt to concisely unpack and highlight the principles that underlie true brotherhood. If it’s successful it might help some of us understand the word in a more healthy and balanced manner, and it might help some others, at the very least, to be more careful when they use the word, but hopefully, to know that when they do use it, that it should actually mean something.

The "Schalk's Little Book Series" is a collection of concise treatments on certain themes and topics. Each Little Book is under 10 000 words in length and purposefully designed to be easily digested and referenced.