Aristotle prized friendship. Kierkegaard judged it sinful. But from playground to grave, friendships play a critical role in our lives. Friendships define and even replace relationships with siblings and parents; they can last decades longer than some marriages, and be just as turbulent and passionate. With 'the big society' and social networking dominating the headlines, modern friendships and how we create and maintain them are very much under debate. In The Book of Friendship, Josie Barnard explores this elusive and potent phenomenon. Moving seamlessly from Boudicca to Jennifer Aniston, from Nietszche to Morecambe & Wise, she examines how friendship is affected by class, gender and geography, and the circumstances that can turn a passing acquaintance into a lifelong friend. The Book of Friendship discusses with wit, intelligence and sparkling insight every aspect of this alluring, uplifting, vital relationship.
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Product Description
Book Description
* A beguiling and thoughtful account of the culture of friendship
About the Author
Josie Barnard has been an editor, journalist and radio broadcaster. Her first novel, POKER FACE (Virago), was the winner of a Betty Trask Award. She lives in London.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
There's no doubting the breadth and width of the reading and research that has gone into this book - a good deal of philosophy (Aristotle, Seneca), of literature (Tom Brown's Schooldays, Lord of the Flies, In Memoriam), of contemporary culture (The Simpsons, The Spice Girls, Sex and the City) and contemporary psychology (Winnicott, but also sociological analysis) has gone into this. And it reads smoothly as it takes through friendship in childhood, making and losing friends, and friendship in the internet age.
But what the book does not have is any unifying theory of friendship - any close relationship would seem at some point to have been called friendship by someone or other. (For example, the Quakers are a society of friends.) 'What's the essence here?' - and even 'so what?' were the questions I was left with after working through this literature survey - despite its erudition and its charms.
But what the book does not have is any unifying theory of friendship - any close relationship would seem at some point to have been called friendship by someone or other. (For example, the Quakers are a society of friends.) 'What's the essence here?' - and even 'so what?' were the questions I was left with after working through this literature survey - despite its erudition and its charms.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By Rosie Bray
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I like to think that I'm well read. I'm in my mid 30's and have read all of my life from the classics through to contemporary literature. I have a background in the arts so don't consider myself a philistine. I do however have to disagree with the other reviews on here about this book.
I love the idea of a book giving an account of the joys and pitfalls of friendships, relationships, our day to day socialising with other members of the human race. When reading this book however I find my mind wandering off as my eyelids start to droop and yet I try to persevere.
The author seems to just reference from one page to the next friendships from history, literature and film without giving any real thought or insight into friendship and social interaction whatsoever. I'm aware that Harry Potter has some friends, as does Carrie from Sex & the City as she points out one example after the other. Some historical figures also seemed to have some friends as does the author who plays tennis with them and seems to drink a lot of coffee with them too.
This book reads like one long reference or a students essay about friendship rather than the insightful, witty book I was hoping for. Then again I have just read Caitlin Morans hilarious How to Be a Woman and Jonah Lehrers insightful Imagine: How Creativity Works. These are two books where the authors have offered their own experiences and insights into their subjects as well as Jonah Lehrers extensive research and explanations of relevant studies contributing to the subject he's writing about.
All this book does is declare that friendship exists and most people have some friends, it's also extremely boring. I'd much rather go and hang out with my mates!
I love the idea of a book giving an account of the joys and pitfalls of friendships, relationships, our day to day socialising with other members of the human race. When reading this book however I find my mind wandering off as my eyelids start to droop and yet I try to persevere.
The author seems to just reference from one page to the next friendships from history, literature and film without giving any real thought or insight into friendship and social interaction whatsoever. I'm aware that Harry Potter has some friends, as does Carrie from Sex & the City as she points out one example after the other. Some historical figures also seemed to have some friends as does the author who plays tennis with them and seems to drink a lot of coffee with them too.
This book reads like one long reference or a students essay about friendship rather than the insightful, witty book I was hoping for. Then again I have just read Caitlin Morans hilarious How to Be a Woman and Jonah Lehrers insightful Imagine: How Creativity Works. These are two books where the authors have offered their own experiences and insights into their subjects as well as Jonah Lehrers extensive research and explanations of relevant studies contributing to the subject he's writing about.
All this book does is declare that friendship exists and most people have some friends, it's also extremely boring. I'd much rather go and hang out with my mates!
By Eve Kay
Format:Hardcover
No man is an island. We are social beings. It's fashionable in this climate of global pessimism to regard other people as a problem; there are too many of us taking up too much room and using up the earth's resources. Barnard refreshingly bucks the trend and has written a book that celebrates other people in the form of friends. Delving back into philosophy, history, literature and popular culture, she has given us a clear, readable, entertaining, erudite and friendly book about the thing we can't live without - friendship.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Book of friendship
An interesting and richly researched exploration of the complex phenomenon of friendship. I like the way the author brought what could have been a dry and scholarly work to life... Read more
Published 13 months ago by KC
5.0 out of 5 stars
A stimulating read.
This book isn't my usual kind of read at all. I am much more at home with a contemporary novel, and I must admit that I initially suspected that this might be one of those... Read more
Published 16 months ago by dolandaka
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Gem of a Book
This is a gem of a book. Miss Barnard explores friendship in such a witty comprehensive manner that other writers should be wary of touching the subject. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Judith Windeler
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