Description
Make more and better friends, deepen your connections, and find your community
In Critical Connections, renowned sociologist and author Dr. Tracy Brower delivers inspiration and pragmatic new insights on community and connection that you can use in your own life to build belonging, find and make friends, and create a happier life. The author explains how you can avoid bad friendships, reconnect with old friends, deepen existing friendships, and start a new friend group.
You’ll learn how to navigate a new reality that includes artificial intelligence, technology, and social media. You’ll also discover how to improve your happiness, wellbeing, and success – in work and in life – by prioritizing quality relationships with human beings, online and offline.
Inside the book:
- The latest research on loneliness, disconnection, dissatisfaction, disengagement, and mental health
- Discussions of the massive, positive impact of community and connections
- Effective strategies to help you find your community, build friendships, and create connection
An accessible and hands-on combination of the latest research and practical connection strategies that work in the real world, Critical Connections is a must-read for everyone interested in improving their outlook, relationships, wellbeing, and fulfillment.
Table of Contents
Introduction xi
Part I The Power of Connecting 1
1 Connecting in the World Today 3
2 Our Disconnected Reality 21
3 The Positive Impacts of Connection 43
4 The Social Dynamics of Connection and Community 57
5 Thriving as a Member of a Community 69
Part II The Practice of Connecting 91
6 Thinking as a Good Friend 93
7 Acting as a Good Friend 103
8 Interacting as a Good Friend 115
9 Where to Find Friends 141
10 Making and Maintaining Friends 155
11 Embracing Connections and Community 175
Notes 181
Acknowledgments 213
About the Author 215
Index 217
