Friendship in the Age of Loneliness : an Optimist's Guide to

*NEXT BIG IDEA CLUB SUMMER 2021 NOMINEE*After a year of social distancing and lockdown measures during the pandemic, it's more clear than ever that our friendships and social bonds are vital to our health and happiness. This refreshing, positive guide helps you take care of your people and form deep connections in the digital age We are lonelier than ever. The average American hasnt made a new friend in the last five years. Research has shown that people with close friends are happier, healthier, and live longer than people who lack strong social bonds. But whywhen we are seemingly more connected than ever beforecan it feel so difficult to keep those bonds alive and well? Why do we spend only four percent of our time with friends?In this warm, inspiring guide, Adam Smiley Poswolsky proposes a new solution for the mounting pressures of modern life: focus on your friendships. Smiley offers practical habits and playful reminders on how to create meaningful connections, make new friends, and deepen relationships. Hell help you develop a healthier relationship with technology, but hell also encourage you to prioritize real-world experiences, send snail mail, and engage in self-reflective exercises. Written in short, digestible, action-oriented sections, this book reminds us that nurturing old and new friendships is a ritual, a necessity, and one of the most worthwhile things we can do in life.