Reviews

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

factandfables's review against another edition

4.0

I feel like I learned a lot from this, and really enjoyed the way it was written. This is not an expansive work about this topic, but I didn't mind that - it is a story of one friendship, with some tangential ideas and cursory exploration regarding aspects of friendship in general, and I found a lot to enjoy here.

samste25's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative slow-paced

4.5

lachellerising's review against another edition

3.0

This book really made me think deeply about my friendships and honestly, it left me with a sense of longing that I didn't expect to feel. Through big life transitions, miscommunication, and turbulence, these two women have shown up for each other and have been committed to their friendship in a way that feels extremely rare --- especially in a culture that prioritizes familial and romantic relationships over platonic ones. I wouldn't say I walked away with any tools for navigating friendships, but their perspective is refreshing (and also, it feels appropriate to simply walk away with perspective given they are not therapists). Highly recommend this book to people over 30 looking to build stronger bonds in their platonic relationships.

isist's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful informative reflective fast-paced

5.0

rose_peterson's review against another edition

3.0

I'd been eagerly awaiting this book as someone who both cherishes friendships and finds herself in some big "stretches" at the moment. I really appreciate that Sow and Friedman elevate friendship to its rightful and significant place, making it a relationship as worthy of study as romantic and familial ones.

I wasn't quite sold on the book's execution, though. While I understand the authors' intent, the disjointed switching of pronouns was confusing to me, and I didn't like the odd blend of memoir, research, and personal conjecture. It felt hurried, like they were rushing to meet a publishing deadline.

I often have to remind myself that history is constantly being shaped around me, and perhaps I'm living through a moment where friendship gets to shine, and this book is the one that paves the way for others to follow. Maybe someday I'll balance a cup of chamomile tea and wax poetic about how Sow and Friedman were among the first to lead the friendship revolution...

fionamarzy's review against another edition

reflective sad fast-paced

2.25

leahjoy's review against another edition

funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective fast-paced

3.0

lester_howe's review against another edition

1.0

This would have been a great essay. As is, the writing style is exhausting and not very good, and the information presented could have been condensed into a few pages that would actually be worthwhile. While it was interesting, and I appreciated the discussion about interracial friendships, I had to force myself to finish this.

erickasparkles's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

mcc's review

I don't have any friendships that come even remotely close to the closeness that these two women have and this book just made me really sad about that.