Big Friendship // How We Keep Each Other Close

It’s a given that a deep, fulfilling friendship is a key to happiness—everyone from Greek philosophers to Instagram influencers will tell you that! But for all the rosy sentiments surrounding friendship, we don’t talk much about what it really takes to stay close friends for the long haul. Now two friends, the popular podcast cohosts Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman, elaborate on their equally messy and life-affirming Big Friendship in this honest and hilarious book that chronicles their first ten years in one another’s lives. 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’ve been, at various points, inseparable companions, long-distance support providers, work wives, estranged relatives, next-of-kin, and everything in between. 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. And they both agree: the most important part of a Big Friendship is making the reciprocal, firm decision to invest in one another the way you would invest in yourself. An inspiring and entertaining testament to the power of society’s most underappreciated relationship, Big Friendship will not only validate the energy you’ve invested in your friendships, but also offer a guide to how these bonds are formed, challenged, and preserved. Aminatou Sow is a writer, interviewer, and cultural commentator who facilitates conversations around the most important issues of our time. She cohosts the popular podcast Call Your Girlfriend with her friend, Ann Friedman. She is a frequent public speaker whose talks and interviews lead to candid conversations about female ambition, money, and power. In 2014, Aminatou was named one of Forbes 30 Under 30 in Tech. She is also the cofounder of Tech LadyMafia, an organization created to increase the visibility of women working in technology. Aminatou lives in Brooklyn. Visit her at Aminatou.com or on social media @Aminatou. Ann Friedman is a journalist, essayist, and media entrepreneur who loves talking to strangers and finding new ways to explain the world. She cohosts the popular podcast Call Your Girlfriend with her friend, Aminatou Sow. Her writing and reporting have appeared in New York magazine, the Los Angeles Times , The Gentlewoman , California Sunday , The New York Times , Elle , and The Guardian . Ann is a public speaker and consultant on the creative process and the future of media. Every Friday, she sends an email newsletter, The Ann Friedman Weekly , which has been praised by Fast Company and Wired magazine. Ann lives in Los Angeles. Visit her at AnnFriedman.com or on social media @AnnFriedman. Big Friendship: How We Keep Each Other Close Hardcover: 256 pages Publisher: Simon & Schuster (July 14, 2020) Language: English ISBN-10: 1982111909 ISBN-13: 9781982111908 UNSPSC Code: 55101500 Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.9 x 8.4 inches Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces Big Friendship: How We Keep Each Other Close