What People Are Saying About Modern Friendship

  • "When Anna Goldfarb writes, she makes you feel as if you’re her dearest friend. You’ll laugh, you’ll be charmed, and you’ll learn so much. In the confusing world of friendship, Modern Friendship is the compass we all need. Read it and your friends will be thankful you did.”

    - Dr. Marisa Franco, psychologist and author of
    Platonic: How the Science of Attachment Can Help You Make—and Keep—Friends

  • "Modern Friendship is a must-read for anyone looking to better understand the state of friendships today. Anna's such a witty writer, and her ability to make big ideas engaging and accessible is a gift. Readers are sure to have a few laughs between genuine moments of enlightenment."

    - Danielle Bayard Jackson, Friendship expert and author of Fighting for Our Friendships

  • “Light bulb after light bulb appeared over my head as I read Anna Goldfarb’s wise and funny Modern Friendship. For all of us who feel like our friendships are too few, far-flung, or flatlined, her counsel is a decoder ring for deeper, closer relationships. This stuff really works, so do yourself―and your social life―a favor and read this book cover to cover.”

    - Dr. Ellen Hendriksen, clinical psychologist and author of How to Be Enough: Self-Acceptance for Self-Critics and Perfectionists

Modern friendships are confusing, but they don't have to be.

In MODERN FRIENDSHIP, journalist Anna Goldfarb provides a practical manual for navigating today's social landscape and forming authentic, lasting connections.

We're in a new social era where friendships are easier to drop than ever—which is why we need better strategies to maintain them. Anna introduces "Wholehearted Friendship": proven approaches to build enthusiastic, enduring bonds.

Blending research and practical tools, she explores:

  • Why modern friendships feel ambiguous—and how to gain clarity

  • How to select friends wisely and trust your friendship intuition

  • Mattering to others—setting boundaries, staying flexible, and having fun

  • Navigating tough times—scripts and exercises for staying connected when life gets busy

  • Being wholehearted—how to show care, curiosity, appreciation, and support

Your friendships are precious and vital. With Modern Friendship, discover how to be a more confident, empowered friend to the people who matter most.

For podcast or interview requests about friendship: press@annagoldfarb.com

FREE SAMPLE OF THE BOOK
The cover of the book titled "Modern Friendship: How to Nurture Our Most Valued Connections" by Anna Goldfarb, with a visual of a colorful circle of overlapping circles, and a badge indicating it is a non-obvious book award nominee for 2024.

Awards & Recognitions

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Awards & Recognitions *

Book titled 'Modern Friendship' by Anna Goldfarb, showing a colorful ring of overlapping circles and subtitle about nurturing valuable connections, with a note on a 14-day friendship cleanse.
  • Forbes said: “The internet may connect us to a great way to share knowledge, but it has also led many people to feel disconnected from others. Anna Goldfarb makes a case for the value of friendship and explains how to achieve it in a world where more and more people feel isolated.

    This book is best for anyone feeling closed off from others. Anna Goldfarb’s Modern Friendship is available from publisher Sounds True.”

  • BookAuthority.org said: “Modern Friendship by Anna Goldfarb offers a fresh perspective on how friendships can thrive in the face of today's unpredictable social environment. With insights from her role as a friendship correspondent, Goldfarb explores why friendships often feel ambiguous now and provides a framework for fostering what she calls "Wholehearted Friendship." This book equips you with tools to better understand your social needs and to strengthen your relationships through practical exercises and thoughtful reflection. It's a timely resource for anyone seeking to deepen their most valued connections amid cultural shifts.”

  • Modern Friendship was longlisted for the 2024 Non-Obvious Book Awards, which recognizes the boldest nonfiction books released in a year.

  • Organizational Psychologist Adam Grant included Modern Friendship in his 2024 Summer Reading List.

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Attn: People in Book Clubs

Want help starting the conversation? I've got your back.

I've created thought-provoking discussion questions for book clubs reading Modern Friendship.

These questions will spark meaningful self-reflection and inspire you to be a more caring, confident friend—while having fun doing it.

Click HERE, or on the image for the guide.

Yes, this guide is totally free!!! I can’t believe it either, tbh