Life Is Friends: A Complete Guide to the Lost Art of Connecting in Person

By Jeanne Martinet

Book Overview

How can it be that you receive dozens of personal e-mails or texts every day but have nothing to do come Saturday night? Or that you're constantly juggling a jam-packed schedule while always feeling that something essential is missing? Who the heck took the social out of your social life? Jeanne Martinet, the celebrated author of The Art of Mingling , solves these mysteries and more in Life Is Friends . With an attitude that's savvy, sympathetic, and down-to-earth, Martinet gives you the game plan for relearning the lost art of socializing. Forget texting, IMing, Facebook, and Internet "relationships." When it comes to building real friendships, she says, there's simply no substitute for live, in-person hospitality. Martinet offers a full gamut of strategies and techniques for socializing, from making that first connection with someone to maintaining a long-term relationship. And she focuses on entertaining -- whether it's a dinner party or an informal get-together, a cocktail party or a monthly card game--because sharing one's home and lifestyle is the most important element in nurturing friendships. Brimming with generous amounts of wit, all-too-true stories, and advice that's both pithy and practical, Life Is Friends gets us back on the path to social success and satisfaction. So read what Martinet has to say. And then, go ahead: Invite people over.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1584797509
• ISBN13: 9781584797500
• Release Date: March 2009
• Publisher: Stewart, Tabori, & Chang
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 5.7" x 8.1"
• Age Range: 13 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 8 to Postsecondary

Customer Reviews

Unplug, connect for face time!

I found this book heartening in that I agree that as a society we use technology as an end and not a means to connect with people. We hide behind text messaging, e-mail messages, Twitter, Facebook in LIEU of face time, which is what it's all about. These are helpful where geographical distance is a hindrance to more personal interaction. In mid-life I find myself at the cusp between a generation that doesn't feel the need always to 'plug in' and a generation that grew up online. It was also comforting to know that people share in common trepidations about entertaining in their homes, but that kind of intimacy is worth experiencing. My only reservation about this book is the coaching around 'artful dodging' and the 'white lies' around disconnecting with people you don't wish to know better. I think transparency and direct communication are better options here - having told and been told that a greater friendship is not in the cards - to me that's kinder than letting go via the unresponsive 'fade away'. I decided to 'unplug' for a couple of days and it was great fun!

How to Entertain Without Fear or Panic

This witty and helpful book is the most wonderful antidote to "hostess anorexia," or any of the other confounding problems associated with socializing in a world gone nuts over Twitter and Facebook. People seem connected but are in fact, more distant than ever, as Ms. Martinet points out. Time to get over our fears of actually cooking for people, because as she says, the more you entertain in your home, the more others will invite you over, and that's truly how you meet people in relationships that "stick." "Say yes," "go out," stop interacting all the time with a video screen, that's how she sees it, and she provides wonderful tips on how to start and then keep on with your own wish to reach out. This work is a delight, filled with wisdom and laughs from someone who clearly understands the new age of relationships and how to cope - nay - triumph.

What a Delightful Read!

Another great book from the author of "The Art of Mingling". This book is wonderful at reminding us that there is no substitute for live, in-person hospitality. The book is filled with wit and delightful all-too-true stories. What a great gift for all your friends...I will be giving it too all of my friends! I loved reading it.

The perfect gift!

Do you really spend more time calling, emailing and texting friends than spending actual face to face time with them? I was more than a little embarrassed to realize I do. Witty, illuminating and dead-on true, Jeanne Martinet's book makes a serious case that for all the gizmos, devices and doodads we use to stay in-touch with friends and family, nothing can replace good old actual contact. I stumbled upon this book, looking for a housewarming gift. Not only was I highly pleased with my purchase, but I bought three more (two for friends, and one for myself). From how to meet new friends to deepening and maintaining current relationships, this book covers a wide range of social situation how-to's, all illustrated with humorous anecdotes. It's a pleasure to read. Bottom line--this book got me off my butt and out with my friends.

great as a gift, too!

I loved this book for the warmth, humor and value it puts on face-to-face friendship. It was also a great gift for my aunts and step-mother who already treasure the values in this book and appreciated that I understood and validated them by giving them this book.