100 years ago most people lived in small communities where they knew and were known by almost everyone. Their circle of friends encompassed family, a few neighbours and people they worked with who they saw on an almost daily basis.
Friendships were conducted by letter, often with people who lived far away and were hardly ever seen in person. Nothing could be more different from our modern world. Nowadays people are often judged by the number of 'friends' they have on social media, and we're all in touch in an instant with people all over the globe. But as families contract and more people live on their own, and even within relationships we lead more independent lives; and though our circles of acquaintances may have widened extraordinarily, our real friends matter more than ever.
Friendships can bring laughter and joy, stimulation and support, comfort and solace, but like all relationships they need to be nurtured to grow and survive. Dispelling the notion that more is better, maybe it's time to re-assess what makes a true friend, and what can be done to improve the important friendships we have and be selective in choosing new ones. Like the others in this series this is a book to offer help and advice, packed with apposite quotes and practical tips. The nuances of friendship can be hard to grasp, to be a good friend is a skill to be learned, so this book itself can be a friend to turn to.
