Friendship How to Give It and How to Get It

by Joel D. Block

Interviews and the results of questionnaires to two thousand individuals form the basis of a study into the meaning, dynamics, patterns, stages, and success or failure of friendships

226 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 1980

Reviews

[Alexis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though it seemed this book intended to be a study of friendship, and less a self-help book, it actually steers readers through a period of self-analysis regarding relationships with self, family, significant others and even famous people. I appreciated the simplicity of the writing - Block gets to the point. The time period that this text was written - the 70's, I believe - it is still very modern and touches on a plethora of subjects. What would be helpful in this day and age, is a conversation about friendships that are cross-racial, cross-religious/spiritual, and cross-ethnic backgrounds. That is something very pertinent as people are not relating due to a lack of compassion and empathy, two huge points in this book that signal a healthy friendship. Idealism, in some respects, is inspired by insecurity rather than faith in humanity's potential.