Over the Counter # 466

What book caught my eye this week?

Friendshipping: The Art of Finding Friends, Being Friends, and Keeping Friends by Jenn Bane and Trin Garritano.

From Workman Publishing:

"It used to be so simple, back when we were kids. But now, in an age of loneliness, ghosting, and toxic relationships, making and keeping friends is anything but simple. Jenn Bane and Trin Garritano know this better than anyone. Their podcast, Friendshipping, gets 30,000 downloads a month because their listeners are craving real guidance—along with entertainment. Now they’ve distilled the lessons and wit into an essential book for anyone who’s feeling a little friendless or is trying navigate the challenging world of grown-up friendships.

Illustrated throughout with Jean Wei’s dynamic art, here are the tips and tools readers need to make new friends and improve the quality of existing friendships. The tone is relatable and irreverent; the advice stresses gender inclusivity, empathy, and practicality, with scripts and step-by step guides to achieving friendship goals. Readers will learn how to master the art of small talk (no matter who you are, you are not too boring, and you do have good stories to tell!). How to get to know an acquaintance better—and why “Let’s get coffee sometime” is not an effective way to move a relationship forward. Plus the four levels of friendship in the workplace; the soft no vs. the hard no; making real (non-creepy) friends online; how to unfollow someone on Twitter (and remain friends); and the eternal question: Can dudes and ladies ever really be friends? The answer is yes!"

(Over the Counter is a regular feature at A Bookworm's World. I've sadly come the realization that I cannot physically read every book that catches my interest as it crosses over the counter at the library. But...I can mention them and maybe one of them will catch your eye as well. See if your local library has them on their shelves!)