The best 32 Friendship books

1
Trust

Trust

Dr. Henry Cloud
Knowing When to Give It, When to Withhold It, How to Earn It, and How to Fix It When It Gets Broken
4.5 (23 ratings)

What's Trust about?

Trust (2023) is a sensitive and practical guide to this essential part of human relationships. It reveals the deep significance of trust as a factor in our lives and outlines the five essential elements for building and maintaining it.

Who should read Trust?

  • Leaders who wish to create trust within organizations
  • Those looking to establish deeper personal and familial relationships
  • People who want to rebuild trust after it has been broken

2
Of Mice and Men

Of Mice and Men

John Steinbeck
The Dangers of the American Dream During the Great Depression
4.4 (20 ratings)

What's Of Mice and Men about?

Of Mice and Men (1937) is a poignant tale that traces an unlikely friendship between two impoverished workers in California during the Great Depression: compact, quick-witted George Milton, and huge, childlike Lennie Small.

Who should read Of Mice and Men?

  • Lovers of classic literature
  • Those entranced by the American dream
  • People curious about one of Steinbeck’s greats

3
The Iliad

The Iliad

Homer
The Greek Epic on the End of the Trojan War and Achilles’ Wrath
4.6 (14 ratings)

What's The Iliad about?

The Iliad (c. eighth century BC) is one of the oldest and most important works of Western literature. Attributed to ancient Greek poet Homer, the epic poem recounts the final days of the Greek siege of Troy. At the center of the story is Greek war hero Achilles, who has to beat back the Trojan enemy, struggle against meddling gods, and vie for recognition among his fellow Greeks. 

Who should read The Iliad?

  • Fans of classic literature
  • Bookworms and history nerds
  • Anyone interested in ancient Western culture

4
Hamlet

Hamlet

William Shakespeare
A Young Prince’s Tragic Descend Into Madness and Revenge
4.8 (41 ratings)

What's Hamlet about?

Hamlet (c. 1509-1601) is widely regarded as Shakespeare’s greatest play. A tragedy in five parts, it tells the story of Prince Hamlet, a thinker who must turn to action to avenge his father. It’s not only the finely crafted plot that’s fascinated readers and theatergoers down the centuries, though – Hamlet is also a penetrating study of the meaning of life and death.

Who should read Hamlet?

  • Shakespeare lovers who haven’t gotten around to reading Hamlet
  • Those who find Shakespeare’s original language difficult to enjoy
  • Fans of Hamlet who want a refresher

5
The Relationship Cure

The Relationship Cure

John M. Gottman and Joan DeClaire
A 5 Step Guide to Strengthening Your Marriage, Family, and Friendships
4.6 (709 ratings)

What's The Relationship Cure about?

The Relationship Cure (2002) prescribes a surprisingly simple solution to the problems that ail many of our relationships. Drawing on psychologist John M. Gottman’s extensive research, its insights and tips are equally applicable to relationships between romantic partners, friends, family members, and coworkers. 

Who should read The Relationship Cure?

  • Couples experiencing relationship problems
  • People looking for ways to get closer to their friends, coworkers, or family members 
  • Anyone wanting to improve their communication and relationship-building skills

6
Saved

Saved

Benjamin Hall
A War Reporter’s Mission to Make It Home
4.0 (108 ratings)

What's Saved about?

Saved (2023) is the gripping and timely account of a war correspondent’s near-fatal brush with combat in Ukraine in March of 2022 – and the extraordinary effort to save his life and bring him home.

Who should read Saved?

  • News hounds looking for an inside scoop on current events
  • Thrill-seekers who love a fast-paced story of escape against the odds
  • Anyone curious about the lived experience of those who deliver the nightly news

7
Making Great Relationships

Making Great Relationships

Rick Hanson
Simple Practices for Solving Conflicts, Building Connection, and Fostering Love
4.5 (228 ratings)

What's Making Great Relationships about?

Making Great Relationships (2023) is a practical guide to building nourishing, healthy, communicative relationships. It shares simple strategies designed to troubleshoot conflict and break unhealthy cycles, as well as best practices for deepening and strengthening positive relationships.

Who should read Making Great Relationships?

  • Couples who feel stuck in an unproductive relationship dynamic
  • Friends who feel their needs aren’t met by their social circle
  • Colleagues whose interactions are marked by conflict and poor communication

8
The Like Switch

The Like Switch

Jack Schafer and Marvin Karlins
An Ex-FBI Agent’s Guide to Influencing, Attracting and Winning People Over
4.3 (196 ratings)

What's The Like Switch about?

In The Like Switch, author Jack Schafer explores the realm of nonverbal social cues and other communication practices that draws people to one another. A former FBI agent and doctor of psychology, Schafer presents useful strategies to make new friends and influence people.

Who should read The Like Switch?

  • Anyone who wants to learn how to form a solid friendship from the start
  • Anyone interested in psychology
  • Anyone interested in communication strategies for business

9
The High-Conflict Couple

The High-Conflict Couple

Alan E. Fruzzetti
A Dialectical Behavior Therapy Guide to Finding Peace, Intimacy & Validation
4.4 (187 ratings)

What's The High-Conflict Couple about?

The High-Conflict Couple (2007) is a guide to overcoming the common relationship pitfalls that lead to conflict and animosity. Drawing upon years of psychology research and therapy experience, Alan E. Fruzzetti explains where conflict comes from and how it can be reduced.

Who should read The High-Conflict Couple?

  • Couples tired of fighting with each other
  • People who struggle to accept the things they cannot change
  • Anyone wanting to be more present in their own life

10
Safe People

Safe People

Henry Cloud and John Townsend
How to Find Relationships that are Good for You and Avoid Those That Aren't
3.6 (449 ratings)

What's Safe People about?

Safe People (1995) examines the traits of safe and unsafe people and teaches readers how to seek out the former and avoid the latter in their search for meaningful relationships. From a biblical perspective, the book talks about the importance of true connection.

Who should read Safe People?

  • Anyone interested in improving the quality of their relationships
  • Christians seeking ways to improve their lives
  • Lonely people looking for a way to build safe, happy, and lasting relationships

11
Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow

Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow

Gabrielle Zevin
A Novel
3.4 (26 ratings)

What's Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow about?

Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow (2022) by Gabrielle Zevin tells the story of Sadie and Sam, childhood friends turned creative collaborators and video game designers. The novel charts the tumultuous highs and lows of Sam and Sadie’s friendship against the vividly realized backdrop of the gaming industry at the turn of the 21st century. 

Who should read Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow?

  • Anyone intrigued by the idea of creative partnerships
  • Anyone with even a passing interest in video games
  • Anyone who’s ever had, or lost, a friend

12
The Kite Runner

The Kite Runner

Khaled Hosseini
An Emotional Story of Betrayal and Redemption in 1970s Afghanistan
4.5 (25 ratings)

What's The Kite Runner about?

The Kite Runner (2003) is narrated by Amir, an Afghan living in the US, as he reflects on his childhood in Kabul, and an incident that changed his life. This best-selling novel is a story of friendship, family, betrayal, and redemption.

Who should read The Kite Runner?

  • Fathers and sons
  • People interested in Afghanistan

Anyone who’s curious about a book that was a New York Times bestseller for 2 years


13
Quiet Power

Quiet Power

Susan Cain
The Secret Strengths of Introverts
3.9 (119 ratings)

What's Quiet Power about?

Quiet Power (2016) explains why adolescents struggle with introversion and explores how an aversion to socializing can make it challenging to form friendships, complete schoolwork and fulfill social obligations. These blinks offer a number of different techniques that introverts can use to make these situations bearable and turn their so-called weakness into a straightforward advantage.

Who should read Quiet Power?

  • Teachers, students and parents
  • Child psychologists
  • Introverts

14
Find Your People

Find Your People

Jennie Allen
Building Deep Community in a Lonely World
3.6 (43 ratings)

What's Find Your People about?

Find Your People (2022) is a Christian woman’s guide to finding, making, and keeping friends. It proposes that God wired us to be in relationships with others – that’s why we crave deep, fulfilling connections. But finding them is harder than ever in today’s hyper-connected yet hyper-lonely world. With a strong sense of commitment and the help of God, you can find your people and keep them too.

Who should read Find Your People?

  • Christians struggling with feelings of loneliness
  • Women yearning for deep, lasting sisterhood
  • New parents worried about maintaining their social lives

15
Tuesdays with Morrie

Tuesdays with Morrie

Mitch Albom
An Old Man, a Young Man, and Life's Greatest Lesson
4.5 (259 ratings)

What's Tuesdays with Morrie about?

Tuesdays with Morrie (1997) chronicles an important relationship in Mitch Albom’s life – the one between himself and his old college professor, Morrie. As they reconnect during the professor’s final months of life, they discuss everything from greed and forgiveness to death and a meaningful life. 

Who should read Tuesdays with Morrie?

  • Anyone who feels lost 
  • Individuals actively searching for meaning and purpose
  • People contemplating how to live a good life

16
The Four Loves

The Four Loves

C.S. Lewis
Contemplations on Affection, Friendship, Eros & Charity
4.4 (211 ratings)

What's The Four Loves about?

The Four Loves (1960) is an exploration of love in its different forms. By tracing how each form is motivated, author C. S. Lewis identifies love’s gifts and shortcomings, and reveals how God’s Divine Love can beautify all our relationships.

Who should read The Four Loves?

  • Christians seeking to deepen their connection with God
  • Bighearted folk who want to improve their relationships
  • Scholars of humanity who want to understand the nature of love

17
The Secret History

The Secret History

Donna Tartt
A Novel
4.8 (14 ratings)

What's The Secret History about?

The Secret History (1992) is the gripping tale of a group of Classics students at a New England college who are involved in the murder of a classmate. The novel explores the complex relationships between the friends, and the impact the incident has on their lives.

Who should read The Secret History?

  • People who enjoy psychological fiction
  • Fans of the “dark academia” genre
  • Anyone with an interest in Classics

18
Everything I Know about Love

Everything I Know about Love

Dolly Alderton
A Memoir

What's Everything I Know about Love about?

Everything I Know About Love (2018) is Dolly Alderton’s very funny and painfully honest recollection of her early twenties, and all the bad dates, heartbreaks, grimy flat shares, and steadfast friendships this period of her life entailed. In 2022, the book was adapted for television by the BBC.

Who should read Everything I Know about Love?

  • People on the cusp of adulthood wondering what their twenties will bring
  • Those on the other side of 30, still trying to work out what their twenties meant
  • Anyone who’s a romantic at heart

19
We Were Liars

We Were Liars

E. Lockhart
A Suspense Novel About Family, Lies, and the Mistakes That Haunt Us
4.3 (12 ratings)

What's We Were Liars about?

We Were Liars (2014) is the suspenseful story of the wealthy, carefree Sinclair family and the tragic event that exposes the cracks in their perfect facade – as told by an unreliable narrator, Cadence Sinclair.

Who should read We Were Liars?

  • Lovers of suspenseful fiction and well-crafted romance
  • Anyone keen for a glimpse into the lives of the 1 percent
  • Avid readers who want the scoop on one of the best-loved young adult contemporary novels

20
Friend of a Friend

Friend of a Friend

David Burkus
Understanding the Hidden Networks That Can Transform Your Life and Your Career
4.4 (57 ratings)

What's Friend of a Friend about?

Friend of a Friend (2018) shows how networks around us can be put to use and taken advantage of. Networking is, of course, a crucial skill for professional success – but networks themselves go even deeper and aren’t just about making new contacts. Innovation, career development and business success all have their part to play, too.

Who should read Friend of a Friend?

  • Students of business and management
  • Ambitious professionals
  • Frustrated workers stuck in dead-end jobs

21
Crucial Accountability

Crucial Accountability

Kerry Patterson
Tools for Resolving Violated Expectations, Broken Commitments, and Bad Behavior
4.5 (107 ratings)

What's Crucial Accountability about?

Crucial Accountability (2004) tackles the often tricky issue of addressing broken promises and unmet expectations. The book shares tools and steps for holding friends, family, and colleagues accountable for their actions, and enabling them to fulfill commitments and meet future expectations.

Who should read Crucial Accountability?

  • Managers fed up with missed deadlines
  • Friends and partners frustrated by broken commitments
  • Parents who want to teach their children accountability

22
Normal People

Normal People

Sally Rooney
A Novel
4.5 (46 ratings)

What's Normal People about?

Normal People (2018) tells the story of Marianne and Connell, two people who grow close during the final days of secondary school. As they move on to college and careers, the two struggle to make sense of their relationship and their feelings for one another.

Who should read Normal People?

  • Anyone interested in complex relationships
  • Fans of romantic dramas
  • Readers curious about one of the most popular books of the 2010s

23
An Invisible Thread

An Invisible Thread

Laura Schroff and Alex Tresniowski
The True Story of an 11-Year-Old Panhandler, a Busy Sales Executive, and an Unlikely Meeting with Destiny
4.7 (22 ratings)

What's An Invisible Thread about?

An Invisible Thread (2011) recounts the story of the incredible and unlikely friendship between a successful businesswoman and a poverty-stricken young boy – a friendship that ultimately changed both of their lives forever.

Who should read An Invisible Thread?

  • Anyone who enjoys a heartwarming story
  • People curious about 1980s New York
  • Those interested in the benefits of altruism

24
Partnering

Partnering

Jean Oelwang
How to Forge the Deep Connections That Make Great Things Happen
4.2 (226 ratings)

What's Partnering about?

Partnering (2022) looks at what it takes to develop deep connections in both business and personal relationships. Drawing from interviews with some of the world’s most legendary partnerships, including Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, Nelson Mandela and Graça Machel, and the collective which saved the ozone, these blinks are a guide through the six principles of connection which can elevate your relationships and make an impact on the world.

Who should read Partnering?

  • Entrepreneurs
  • People who are married or in a romantic partnership
  • Anyone seeking to deepen their relationships

25
A Little Life

A Little Life

Hanya Yanagihara
An Epic Novel About Queer Life, Friendship & Human Endurance
4.7 (11 ratings)

What's A Little Life about?

A Little Life (2015) follows the lives of four friends in New York City: aspiring actor Willem, moody painter JB, quiet architect Malcolm, and the brilliant, mysterious litigator Jude. Over the years, the four friends grow together, drift apart, find love and success, and struggle with loss and addiction. As enigmatic Jude gradually moves into the center of the narrative, the full extent of his unbearable burden begins to reveal itself. 

Who should read A Little Life?

  • People who enjoy character-driven literature
  • Fans of stories about complex relationships 
  • Anyone in need of a good cry

26
Platonic

Platonic

Marisa G. Franco
How the Science of Attachment Can Help You Make - and Keep - Friends
4.4 (187 ratings)

What's Platonic about?

Platonic (2022) is an actionable guide to making and keeping friends as an adult. It combines true stories of friendship with psychological research to give you clear, actionable, and practical advice on building better friendships. 

Who should read Platonic?

  • People who want to become better friends
  • Anyone who’s struggled to make new friends as an adult
  • Friends who’d like to strengthen their relationships

27
Missing Each Other

Missing Each Other

Edward Brodkin and Ashley Pallathra
How to Cultivate Meaningful Connections
4.2 (99 ratings)

What's Missing Each Other about?

Missing Each Other (2021) is a scientifically sound exploration of human connection. This wide-ranging primer explains how to truly bond with others in our fast-paced world.

Who should read Missing Each Other?

  • Lonesome people looking to link with others
  • Bad communicators seeking better ways to connect
  • Anyone interested in the psychology of alienation

28
Spiritual Partnership

Spiritual Partnership

Gary Zukav
The Journey to Authentic Power
4.0 (238 ratings)

What's Spiritual Partnership about?

Spiritual Partnership (2009) is about the new relationships that can develop when we tap into a deep, invisible consciousness. Becoming “multisensory” and engaging in spiritual partnerships with others will lead you to a life of freedom, joy, and authentic power.

Who should read Spiritual Partnership?

  • People interested in spirituality
  • Couples looking to strengthen their relationship
  • Anyone searching for meaning and purpose in life

29
Blueprint

Blueprint

Nicholas A. Christakis
The Evolutionary Origins of a Good Society
4.1 (86 ratings)

What's Blueprint about?

Blueprint (2019) explores the psychological traits that all humans share. Examining the evolutionary underpinnings of our social behavior, these blinks shine a light on our ancestral past and investigate how love, cooperation and friendship came to be indispensable items in our social tool kit.

Who should read Blueprint?

  • Budding social scientists
  • Evolutionary psychology buffs
  • History junkies looking for a fresh perspective

30
The Art of Rivalry

The Art of Rivalry

Sebastian Smee
Four Friendships, Betrayals, and Breakthroughs in Modern Art
4.2 (90 ratings)

What's The Art of Rivalry about?

The Art of Rivalry (2016) details the remarkable accomplishments of some of history’s greatest artists and the personal relationships with their peers that propelled them to creative success. These blinks explain how rivalry between artists drives innovation and how relationships have been central to the growth of the arts in general.

Who should read The Art of Rivalry?

  • Students of art and art history
  • Artists of all types
  • Entrepreneurs hoping to understand how competition can drive innovation

31
Women Rowing North

Women Rowing North

Mary Pipher
Navigating Life’s Currents and Flourishing As We Age
4.2 (18 ratings)

What's Women Rowing North about?

Women Rowing North (2019) explores how women can continue to flourish as they enter their sixties and seventies. Through poignant stories from real women’s lives, these blinks examine the possibilities for happiness, friendship and community engagement in the later stages of life.

Who should read Women Rowing North?

  • Older women looking for inspiration
  • Self-help enthusiasts seeking fresh insights
  • Those interested in gender politics

32
Hatching Twitter

Hatching Twitter

Nick Bilton
A True Story of Money, Power, Friendship, and Betrayal
4.5 (10 ratings)

What's Hatching Twitter about?

Hatching Twitter tells the story of the four men responsible for Twitter as we know it. It’s a tale of backstabbing, superstar glory and billions of dollars that chronicles the drama and defining decisions that made Twitter what it is today.

Who should read Hatching Twitter?

  • Anyone who uses Twitter
  • Anyone who is interested in Twitter’s impact and origins
  • Anyone who works in a start-up
  • Anyone interested in the dangers of mixing business and friendship

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