Big Friendship

How We Keep Each Other Close

By: Aminatou Sow, Ann Friedman

Narrated by: Aminatou Sow, Ann Friedman

A close friendship is one of the most influential and important relationships a human life can contain. Anyone will tell you that! But for all the rosy sentiments surrounding friendship, most people don’t talk much about what it really takes to stay close for the long haul.

Now two friends, Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman, tell the story of their equally messy and life-affirming big friendship in this honest and hilarious book that chronicles their first decade in one another’s lives. As the hosts of the hit podcast Call Your Girlfriend, they’ve become known for frank and intimate conversations. In this book, they bring that energy to their own friendship - its joys and its pitfalls.

Aminatou and Ann define big friendship as a strong, significant bond that transcends life phases, geographical locations, and emotional shifts. And they should know: The two have had moments of charmed bliss and deep frustration, of profound connection and gut-wrenching alienation. They have weathered life-threatening health scares, getting fired from their dream jobs, and one unfortunate Thanksgiving dinner eaten in a car in a parking lot in Rancho Cucamonga. Through interviews with friends and experts, they have come to understand that their struggles are not unique. And that the most important part of a big friendship is making the decision to invest in one another again and again.

An inspiring and entertaining testament to the power of society’s most underappreciated relationship, Big Friendship will invite you to think about how your own bonds are formed, challenged, and preserved. It is a call to value your friendships in all of their complexity. Actively choose them. And, sometimes, fight for them.

©2020 Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman. All rights reserved. (P)2020 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.

Encouraging

A rare account of what it means to be in a big, platonic female friendship for decades with its lifelong rewards and challenges. As a woman who has ended several big friendships, I can see how only being in therapy with your friend would move both friends beyond a stuck place. Congrats to you both for showing what it takes to go deep and reap the rewards of a meaningful, lasting friendship with love and humor!

Never too old to make changes in your life.

Love it. My husband suggested this book. Had a few same experiences. Learned several things about myself. Some good, some bad. Realized my short comings. I will make some changes.

Beautifully authentic narrative of the deep complexities of friendship.. A must read..

As a huge fan of the Call Your Girlfriend Podcast, I had to listen to this compelling account of Aminatou and Ann’s friendship narrated by them. These extraordinary writers created a very intimate landscape of the high and low nuances of their 11 year personal and professional relationship while interweaving valid research and challenging me to reevaluate words/actions and the necessary work and investment that needs to be cultivated in my Big Friendships for life. Wonderful Work! #shinetheorymanifested

Longtime Podcast Fan, New Book Fan

I've been listening to these two on their podcast for YEARS, it's fun to hear them in this hyper-structured format and to get to hear about the further details complex friendship. Thanks Aminatou and Ann!

Every woman should read this

So thorough, real, inspiring and even revolutionary especially considering the increasing isolation of our times. Every woman should read this

good read!

It's wonderful to hear from two irl friends who've been through so much together and still choose each other. Heck, they even went to counseling together!! I've never heard of that before! it was refreshing to hear about their ups and downs instead of the surface happy stories we normally hear about friendship, and having that term "big friendship" feels very reaffirming and validating. overall good read!

Beautiful, concise, and inspiring

This book about Big Friendship will resonate with anyone who has had a deep, powerful friendship that felt like a true relationship. Ann and Aminatou tell the story of ups and downs, and provide a powerful reminder to treasure our friendships, invest in them, and honor their significance.

So meaningful.

I’ve been thinking soooo much about relationships and especially my friendships lately. I needed this audiobook. It was beautiful. I cried. Laughed. Shook my head in recognition. I’m going to be recommending it. A LOT.

Big Friendships Rule

I Love this. recommend highly for anyone looking to add more value to your friendships

Friendships are worthy but work is required, just like in any relationship!

Important reminders and and findings about friendship. The important ones. The ones we need but we tend to belittle. Just like in any relationship they need work, effort, and clear communication. Recommended for friends who need to clear a path, talk about realistic expectations, and define how we can show up for each other.