Reviews

Big Friendship: How We Keep Each Other Close by Ann Friedman, Aminatou Sow

shermreads's review

3.0

I came into this thinking it was going to be a non-fiction exploration into friendships (as suggested by the subtitle) but it turned out to be a lovely meander through the relationship history of the two authors ann & aminatou. I’m sure that people familiar with them through their podcast would love the book but for me, it mirrored that alienating feeling of meeting up with a pair of best friends - they share their inside jokes, a level of profound psychic understand and you’re just kinda, there.

which is not to dismiss it as irrelevant though! I haven’t had a big friendship in a while (a reason I wanted to pick up this book in this first place) and it made me realise what I could be doing to make this happen & to sustain it. I loved shine theory and highlighted that section aggressively. I want to live in the word that believes and lives in it too!

in conclusion: can somebody please write the non-fiction book on friendships??? the culture urgently needs it


aside: I’ve been having the worst luck with fiction-disguised-as-non-fiction recently! that’s it, we’re reading the Goodreads reviews before starting the book from now on.

rasoulin's review

3.0

Captured well and mirrored my experience of my. What didn’t work for me: a lot of the interpretations of research I found wonky and the writing style grated on me a bit. The vulnerability both writers show is profound and I especially appreciated their introspection and time spent discussing interracial friendships. I totally agree there needs to be more discussion and serious academic inquiry into friendship!!

jeezjazz's review

challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced

4.0

A bit slow at times but a wonderful message and discussion of a very real life adult friendship. 

booked4theyear's review

reflective relaxing fast-paced

miffy4real's review

4.0

I listened to CYG for a long time starting in undergrad and always felt comforted by Aminatou and Ann - I really enjoyed this book! Especially the reframing of friendship and its maintenance and all it brings and also the CHOICE aspect of it - how you CHOOSE your friends and to love them and support them - all language usually reserved for ROMANCE! BUT WHO SAYS FRIENDSHIP DOESN'T HAVE ROMANCE, HMMM? MY FRIENDS? ARE THE LOVES OF MY LIFE!

ANYWAYS, I CRIED (difficult, these days)

sophiewitter's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

3.5

bimmbles's review

4.0

Especially in this time of stretching friendships across distance and other difficult circumstances, this one felt like a super timely read. I read most of it in one sitting, and appreciated the reflections and wisdom that both authors brought to their situation/story.

chickface's review against another edition

emotional informative inspiring medium-paced

4.0

annagracemixon's review

4.0

one of the first books i’ve read on friendship that values them as much as romantic relationships. we don’t really talk about friendships as something to fight for. in fact, society tells us “falling out or fizzling out” and “growing apart” are almost inevitable for friendships but we don’t say the same for relationships. we say fight ! this book is fascinating and written by two friends who’ve stuck it out for a decade now.

kiki_reads07's review

5.0

Wow wow wow! LOVED this book! It certainly makes me analyze and re-analyze the important friendships in my life, including a lot of my faults in miscommunication. Love the concept of stretch/strain in relationships and how it relates to friendships as well, not just our familial or romantic relationships. Also, THANK YOU for Shine Theory. This is one of the few reads I’ve read that included the plight of millennial career strife and is actually upfront about salaries, which is so important. Bravo! Highly recommend.