Modern Friendship

"Modern Friendship" by Anna Goldfarb stands out as an invaluable resource in the realm of self-help literature. Goldfarb delves into the complexities of sustaining friendships in today's digital era, shedding light on the challenges posed by the internet in nurturing relationships. Rather than leaving readers feeling hopeless about forming deep bonds, Goldfarb provides actionable advice on preserving intimate friendships as well as those with acquaintances. Moreover, she imparts essential skills on becoming an effective communicator and a supportive friend, ensuring readers are equipped to be there for their friends in the most meaningful ways. Thank
you NetGalley and Sounds True for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

"Modern Friendship" by Anna Goldfarb is a surprisingly informative book that is equal parts insightful and conversational. In a busy and mobile society it is easy to become disoriented by the changing nature of relationships. The insight and advice are spot on and practical. There are many suggestions to create opportunities to build friendships and develop more "friendquaintances." It’s a solid book that offers more than the title suggests.

Modern Friendship by Anna Goldfarb is a great book on the power of friendships. It not only takes a view at friendships as a whole but also gives practical advice on how to keep those friendships thriving.

This book was a breath of fresh air for myself. I don’t have many significant friendships but the ones I have a cherish. This book taught me ways to keep those friendships alive with just a little effort.

I would recommend this book to anyone who cares about their friendships with others.

I found this a very interesting and thought-provoking book to read. I think that as an adult in today's society, it can be difficult to manage and maintain friendships. For me personally, it can be difficult to discern the difference between friends and acquaintances. I'm also often torn between wanting to reach out to others, and waiting for them to reach out to me. Life gets in the way, sometimes people drift apart, and it's not always easy to determine which connections are worth fighting for.

This book highlights why friendship is important, why we feel the need to form and maintain friendships, as well as offering lots of advice, and some interesting exercises to try. It's quite in-depth, and n some ways, it felt quite intense to read, because much of its content resonated quite deeply with me. At the same time though, it felt like a comfort, a reassurance, and I'd say it's definitely worth a read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free copy to review.

📖 31 / 100 in 2024
✍️ Non-Fiction (Relationships)
⭐️ 4 stars

Modern Friendship by Anna Goldfarb

for readers who enjoy ....

real-life stories, life-affirming friendships, giving themselves compassion over unanswered text messages, self-reflection, the important roles we play in each others’ lives, conscious communication, and fabulous friend dates

In a world where we aren’t taught relationship maintenance, books like this come in and fill the gaps. As I read Modern Friendship, I was invited to think deeply about my existing relationships and what opportunities I have to act as a friendship mentor for the young people in my life. The examples within the book complemented the information well and were paired with insightful and practical advice.

As someone who fits into the category of chapter 3 (having 100 friends but feeling like you have 0 friends) this book felt supportive and reassuring. I found it interesting to explore the societal reasons for the shifts in our friendships through this book as well as think about new ways forward. Funny and relatable without being preachy, I recommend this book to everyone who’s made a friend, kept a friend, or had a friend, sooo… all of us.

Where do I begin with this book? I love a good book about some of the most important and interesting relationships in our lives. I’ve read a lot on romantic and familial relationships, but friendship, that's the foundation of it all, that’s what life’s made of. Friendship teaches us so much and makes our lives so vibrant.

I was fortunate enough to be surrounded by friends that supported my reflective and activity journey through this book. In fact, very early on in the book, I sent a quote to some friends that I miss and it immediately resulted in such lovely conversation and emotion but also actual plans to catch up instead of just saying we should.

I appreciated the activities throughout this book, especially after having recently read and worked through Ury’s How to Not Die Alone and the Gottman Institute's The Love Prescription.

I'm looking forward to continuing to be more intentional with the relationships in my life. If you’ve been looking for a sign to reach out to someone, here’s your sign to do it, make it intentional, and don’t be offended if the answer is no. Try again later or try with someone else. We’re all human seeking our own kinds of connection.