“Do you want to be best friends?” I remember people asking me that in elementary school, and I thought it was kind of weird. Usually my thought was “I already have a best friend,” or “I don’t even really know you. How do I know you got what it takes to me a best friend?”
Today with so many online connections, including blogging relations, Facebook “friends” from elementary school and beyond, the concept of what a real friend is has evolved to an extent. John Townsend’s How to Be a Best Friend Forever: Making and Keeping Lifetime Relationships examines the role of friendship in our lives and challenges us to make more of these vital relationships — both for our own good and so that we can be better friends.
I underlined and starred and folded so many pages in this book. It’s a pretty slim volume, and it’s completely readable, so for those of you who think “When do I have time to read a book?” don’t worry! This is the kind of book that you can get through by reading a chapter or two here or there, and with each chapter you’ll find at least one nugget to think about and hopefully apply to your life (see a sneak preview at the excerpt Five Best Friendship Rules to Live By over at 5 Minutes for Books).
Whether you know you need to strengthen your friendships or you feel overwhelmed about maintaining the ones you have, you will find advice and encouragement in this book. There’s even a study guide at the back of the book with questions about each chapter to help you pinpoint who your best friends really are and how you can be a better friend to them.
I’m excited that we have a copy to give away, thanks to the publisher (U.S. and Canadian shipping only). Leave a comment here if you’d like to win (and see below for more chances to win). We’ll announce the winner in this weekly book giveaway column on Monday January 30.
I’ve reprinted the Five Best Friendship Rules to Live By over at 5 Minutes for Books. Read them to get a sample of what you’ll find in this book. If you leave a comment over there, it will give you an extra chance to win. I’ve also shared what friendship means to me over at my personal blog Snapshot, and you can also earn an extra entry for commenting over there as well. I’d love to hear what your friends mean to you!
The winner of One Moment, One Morning is #30 Tia.
Original review by 5 Minutes for Books Managing Editor Jennifer Donovan, who loves exploring the themes of friendship at her Snapshot blog.
I will like to read this book, So dat i wil know more about friends.
I would love this! I do have friends I’ve had for a long time, but I’d love to have a few go-to girls that would back me in anything I do.
This sounds like a great book.
I would love to win!
Everyone can take away a little something from this book. Thank you for the opportunity to win it.
This book seems very interesting.
Sounds like an awesome read. Thanks for the review.
This sounds like a great read.
nhmummab@comcast.net
im always looking for something new to read. thanks for the chance.
Yes, I would love to win.
i would love to win this book
Thank-you for the chance to read a good book.
This sounds like a fantastic book. Thanks for the chance
I know my girlfriend would like to read this one.
I am interested in this book for my autistic son. I am always looking for ways to help him socially. Thanks!
I would love to win!
Sounds like a great book! Thanks for the chance to win!
I could learn allot about friendships with this book.
Very interesting to read I’m sure.
I would love the opportunity to read this book and share it with my friends!
I would love this book!
A good and inspiring book to read.
I love this topic, and the cover picture!
This looks like an amazing book and one I could use right now 🙂
Would love to read this!
love this sounds like such a sweet book
shopannies@yahoo.com
I’d love to have this – seems like a great read!
Thanks for the chance to win.
I would love to read this book….I feel so “deficient” because I don’t seem to have any long-time (you know from way back in college days) BFF’s. What’s up with that? Ugh.
This is a wonderful giveaway. thanks for this chance.
I’d like to win it, thanks!
I seem to have one BFF and some acquaintances. In the past two years one BFF moved, one passed away, and another one is moving. I need to grow more friendships!
I think friends are the light of life and having a best friend is invaluable. I’d love to read this book!
I would love to win this book.
Thanks for the chance!
Sounds like an interesting read.
tnxns09 at gmail dot com
this book sounds like something i could read mverno@roadrunner.com
I would love to spend some time this year recommitting to my friendships.
I have read your article.Very nice to enjoy.Thanks a lot
I have spent a bit of time going through your posts, more than I should have but I must say,pregnancy, many Thanks….
I happened to run across your books for the first time today. I would love to read one of them!
I’d love this title!
Thank you for the chance. Sounds wonderful!
My wife & I would enjoy reading this one.
Good chance for someone to win this book.. cool..!
Heck yeah! This sounds awesome!!!
would love read this!
i would love to be better friends; especially since i’ve moved and need to make new ones as well as keep up with old ones!
My best friend lives across the country from me. I’m learning to be a friend to make more friends rather than waiting for new friends to just happen. I would love to read this book and learn to be a great friend.
Sounds like a great book. Thanks for the giveaway!
I would love to win this book.
This would definitely be a good read for me.
Sounds like a good book to read! Thanks for the chance to win it.
Count me in, please!
I would love to read this! Thanks so much for the fantastic giveaway!
Renee Walters
Bored2quickly@hotmail.com
I would like to win a copy of this book. I have not been a great friend nor have I had great friends and would appreciate some tips, I am getting kind of old and lonely is not fun!
I really would love this book. I need all the help I can get with friendships. I am real bad at it.
Would like to win this one…sounds like one to spark conversations! Thanks
I could use some hints on how to be a better friend
Sounds like a good book!
Sounds like a good book
I’d love to read this.
I would like to read this.
I’d like to win. Thanks for the chance.
I have a best friend and she’s going through a rough patch with a cancer diagnosis. I want to be the best friend I can be for her and I would love to read what this book has to say about it.
Thanks
So, I’m having issues with one of my friends right now, and a few of the things you highlighted (over at 5 minutes for books), makes me intrigued about this one. I could use a primer on friendships… 🙂
I would love to read this book. Thanks for the giveaway!