Last week Sara recommended several novels about friendship to consider reading this summer. One on her list I read this past year and highly recommend, Remarkably Bright Creatures, is a compelling fictional tale about the unique bonds formed between generations and species. Others on Sara’s list I look forward to reading during some time off this summer.
I love to read, and to listen to books on my commute. As much as a love a good mystery or romance novel, I also enjoy reading nonfiction. Since we started our blog more than five years ago, the number of books on the value friendships and positive connections have on our lives has continued to grow. As much as friendship stories can inspire us, we’ve found the scientific proof of its value is also compelling. If you’re up for learning more about this topic Sara and I are so passionate about, we recommend the following reads.
- Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World by Vivek Murthy, MD: Published in 2020 and still one of our favorites, this book helped inspire me and Sara to start this blog, delving into the loneliness epidemic that started many years ago, and was exacerbated by the epidemic.
- A Little More Social by Nicolas Epley: The newest book on our list is written by a University of Chicago Booth School of Business professor of behavioral science. I’m enjoying this book that explores important research about how small everyday decisions to connect with others is often well-received, leaving both parties in a conversation feeling happier.
- Mattering by Jennifer Breheny Wallace: Another book that came out in 2026, Mattering explores the importance of being truly seen for the meaning we contribute to others’ lives. This takes the role of social connections encouraged in Professor Epley’s book to the next level. Breheny Wallace encourages us to live with purpose by choosing to engage with people who recognize our value, while building a culture that recognizes the worth in others.
- Friendship: The Evolution, Biology, and Extraordinary Power of Life’s Fundamental Bond by Lydia Denworth: This is another book we read soon after starting our blog in 2021, one of the few books at the time in my local Barnes and Noble that explored emerging research on the role friendships play in our lives. She shares how our basic human need to connect shows up across species, and the importance of valuing the different ways we connect.
- The Good Life by Robert Waldinger, MD and Marc Schulz, PhD: Released in early 2025, this book draws on over 80 years of research from the Harvard Study of Adult Development to identify markers of well-being and happiness. The book includes many tips on how to create a more connected life, encouraging the reader to pause and evaluate one’s relationships with candor
Bridging the gap between two people is easier than we think—and success is more likely than we imagine. We just have to be a little more social.
Nicolas Epley
Language of Friendship 
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