A step-by-step guide to understanding why your friendships are floundering and what you can do to find steadier (and happier) ground

With all the social tools for keeping in touch with each other, this should be the "age of friendship"-so why has the US Surgeon General warned we are living in an "epidemic of loneliness"? Although the accelerated pace of modern life, a more diverse society, and the rapid spread of new technologies have made it more complicated than ever to have meaningful friendships, journalist Anna Goldfarb has a smart, sensible solution. Now the New York Times "friendship correspondent" shares a step-by-step guide for nurturing the mutually supportive relationships that are vital to us.

In Modern Friendships, Anna offers a framework she calls Wholehearted Friendship for embodying devoted, committed, and enthusiastic connections. Weaving together cutting-edge social research with real-life examples, she reveals the essential ingredients of healthy friendships, diagnoses the factors that lead us to drift apart, and provides practical tools for nurturing your high-quality friendships through the different seasons of your life-including actionable guidance for helping friends in distress; tips for open, authentic communication; a 14-Day Wholehearted Friendship Cleanse; and more.

"As we've learned in these past few years of isolation, life is more meaningful (and manageable) with cherished friends by your side," says Anna. "We all deserve that happiness-let me show you how to find it."