Platonic

How Understanding Your Attachment Style Can Help You Make and Keep Friends

By: Marisa G. Franco PhD

Narrated by: Marisa G. Franco PhD

The instant New York Times Bestseller

In Platonic, psychologist and friendship expert Dr Marisa G. Franco unpacks why undervaluing friendship in our culture has led to an epidemic of isolation, and what we can do about it.

'Wise, concrete and effective - my friendships are better for it' – Glennon Doyle, author of Untamed

When was the last time you put yourself out there to make a new friend?
How do we keep friends in an era of distraction, burnout, and chaos, especially in a society that often prizes romantic love at the expense of other relationships?

This book offers a clear and actionable blueprint for forging strong and lasting connections with others – and becoming our happiest selves in the process.

Using the groundbreaking framework behind attachment theory, this book teaches us to identify and understand our individual style – secure, anxious or avoidant – and recognize that how we behave in relationships is the key to unlocking what we’re doing right (and what we could do better) in our friendships.

Weaving together cutting-edge research in psychology with interviews, personal stories and practical advice, this book gives us the tools we need to be better friends, and better humans.

'A timely, unique guide to approaching friendship with the love (and self-reflection) it deserves' – Francesca Specter, author of Alonement

Critic reviews

''Dr. Marisa G. Franco and Platonic have been invaluable guides on my journey to nurture and deepen my friendships. Her advice is wise, concrete, and effective—and my friendships are better for it.' (Glennon Doyle, author of Untamed)

This is a timely, unique guide to approaching friendship, with the love (and self-reflection) it deserves. (Francesca Specter, author of Alonement)

Reminds us of the importance of platonic love in today’s society - bucking the notion that romantic love trumps everything else in our lives. (The Wall Street Journal)

Franco gives practical guidance on how to manage psychological (and other) blocks to friendship, paving the way to deeper relationships. (University of California)

Franco collects and shares the most pertinent insights about the psychology of friendship... game-changing secrets.

Provides a clear and actionable blueprint for forging strong, lasting connections with others—and for becoming our happiest, most fulfilled selves in the process. (Next Big Idea Club)

A gentle, yet affirming, call-in for us to investigate how we’ve regarded the platonic relationships in our life and opportunities for deep fulfillment that we may be missing out on. (Joy Harden Bradford, Ph.D., Founder & CEO, Therapy for Black Girls)

Franco offers suggestions for making connections, with step-by-step guidelines on how to be a better pal. (Essence Magazine)

A fantastic guide not just for making and keeping friends—it's also a manifesto for how to more effectively invest in the stuff that really matters in life. (Laurie Santos, Professor of Psychology at Yale University and host of The Happiness Lab podcast)

A handbook for us all on how to get out of our own way to make new friends. (The Globe and Mail)

It's hard to make friends as an adult – here's great advice on how to do it. (News24)

If you want to feel genuinely connected, read this book. (Shasta Nelson, author of Friendships Don’t Just Happen!)

The evidence is clear—having strong connections is the lowest-hanging fruit on the tree of a healthy life. What’s less straightforward is how you go about doing that, so see this doctor and she’ll help keep you away from the other ones. (Billy Baker, author of We Need to Hang Out)

I closed this book determined to prioritize my friendships as one of the most important aspects of my life. (Laura Tremaine, author of Share Your Stuff. I’ll Go First)

A fascinating meditation on how we develop and build meaningful relationships. An insightful, engaging and thoroughly enjoyable read. Everyone needs this book (Lauren Martin, author of The Book of Moods)

Important theme but a bit boring

I am 1/3 of the way through this audiobook and it is feeling like a long 7 hours left. The narrator/author is amazing though and I really do value her work and her themes. But I’m not sure this topic needs a 10 hour book. It feels like repeating themes again and again and again and I’m not sure I can bring myself to finish it! Wouldn’t buy it again if I had the choice