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799 reviews for:
Platonic: How the Science of Attachment Can Help You Make and Keep Friends as an Adult
Marisa G. Franco
4.09 AVERAGE
799 reviews for:
Platonic: How the Science of Attachment Can Help You Make and Keep Friends as an Adult
Marisa G. Franco
4.09 AVERAGE
Finally, someone talking about our culture's infatuation with romantic love.
I think the worst thing I can say is that she's very careful to make all her points thoroughly. Or, less generously, she she had a tendency to just keep going after saying everything she had to say. But I'll try to apply her advice and assume the best.
I think the worst thing I can say is that she's very careful to make all her points thoroughly. Or, less generously, she she had a tendency to just keep going after saying everything she had to say. But I'll try to apply her advice and assume the best.
funny
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
good. Petition for more attachment theory and friendship collabs instead of all romantic relationships
This book changed my life. It deserves more than a 5/5 stars.
The best part is that it’s backed with studies and real world examples of the author’s past clients. What I gained most from the book is a deeper sense of empathy for strangers and people in my life.
I highlighy recommend for anyone wanting to make new friends, understand themselves and their role in friendships, and get tips on strengthening current bonds.
The best part is that it’s backed with studies and real world examples of the author’s past clients. What I gained most from the book is a deeper sense of empathy for strangers and people in my life.
I highlighy recommend for anyone wanting to make new friends, understand themselves and their role in friendships, and get tips on strengthening current bonds.
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
hopeful
informative
informative
reflective
medium-paced
I am on an unofficial grand journey to read every self-improvement book about friendship. This one specifically appealed to me because of it’s positioning of non-romantic friendships as equally important to romantic ones. In the last three years, I’ve found this to be a value disconnect that has affected a lot of friendships around me. It’s been fascinating to hear how different my peers outlooks are on prioritization of friends in their lives. In Platonic, Franco is positing that the answer to that prioritization should be equal. That your physical and emotional health are deeply tied to quality of your friendships in adulthood.
This book is a bit different than others I’ve read on the subject, as I feel it takes a more…historical approach than some others. For example, she talks about how out shifting views of homosexuality have affected men’s friendships. She delves into the internets impact on our friendships over time. She also bases a ton of her structure on attachment theory, which can be a helpful way of understanding why you may engage in certain behaviors that harm friendships. For example, I, myself, often do not text friends updates on my daily life because I am very anxious that I will be perceived as annoying. (An aside here, I would pay good money for a book on friendship for people who specifically have anxiety disorders…not like, are a little nervous, but clinical disorders. Because, passingly mentioned in many self-improvement books it the corrosive quality of neuroticism for relationships. A thing I have observed in my own life as well.) I think her exploration of this is a good base, but I find attachment theory limited without very specific next steps to combat certain behavioral tendencies.
Although she splits the book into a few “qualities” that make for strong friendships, which she labels as:
- Taking initiative
- Vulnerability
- Authenticity
- Dealing with anger
- Generosity
- Affection
This is a good roadmap to consider when making new friends or strengthening existing ones. I found gems in each section, though I think I would have loved more step-by-step specificity. That is a personal preference I have for a lot of these self-improvement type books, though I am unsure if my wants line up with Franco’s intent. I must say, I like how direct this book calls out the reader about certain difficult parts of friendship, especially around conflict and initiative, two spaces where I see a lot of people struggle.
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Listened to the audiobook, and it was great! But I wouldn’t mind getting a copy of the physical book to go back through it here and there. This was really good. I definitely recommend!