About.com Rating

Friends Are Everything is one of those very sweet, light reads that helps remind you about the importance of friendship. I most enjoyed the references to different qualities of a great friendship (patience, laughter, etc.) from a myriad of sources (very short essays, sayings, and quotes). I also liked the fact that Gallagher wrote about various levels of friendships, from friends at work to your neighbors to even family members who are friends.

It's important to realize that friendships start from a variety of ways, and people can be supportive and care about you even if they aren't your BFF. Someone who is a casual friend one day can turn into a close pal you never thought you'd find the next.

Ultimately, I think this makes a really good gift book, something that you can hand to a friend and write a note in it to make it personal. It's one of those books that is right for most friends in your life and won't offend or upset them. 

Mainly a Book of Encouragement

 

• Short, easy to read chapters.
• Various quotes and stories can be digested again and again.
• A reminder about the importance of good friendships.
• Sayings and information pulled from a variety of sources.

On the downside, the book doesn't speak much about the importance of new friendships. It emphasizes existing friendships, which is great, but doesn't do much in the way of encouraging you to get out and meet those people if you don't have them in your life currently. This isn't a book geared toward those without a lot of close friends and would not be good for someone who is feeling lonely and looking for a read that will lift their spirits.

Also, the book is definitely not a self-help guide and doesn't give ways to improve your current friendships. If you're looking for a book that will provide a call to action of some sort, this one really isn't it. And while some will find the main content of the book, uplifting quotes and stories, inspiring others will feel it is too repetitive. 

Overall, I enjoyed it and would give the book to a friend. 

Description

• Title: Friendships Are Everything
• Author: B.J. Gallagher
• Publisher: Conari Press
• Published: March 20, 2005
• Book Details, 194 pages, paperback