Best Friends: The Pleasures and Perils of Girls' and Women's Friendships

by Ruthellen Josselson, Jaimie Baron, Terri E. Apter

Best Friendsprovides the missing link to understanding and recognizing the impact of some of the most important relationships in girls' and women's lives. Every woman remembers the sting of betrayal of a girlfriend, and every parent of a daughter has seen her come home from school in tears because a girl she thought was her best friend suddenly and inexplicably became her enemy. While boys hash out differences with fists and kicks, girls' societies...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0609601164
• ISBN13: 9780609601167
• Release Date: September 1998
• Publisher: Crown Publishing Group (NY)
• Length: 308 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 5.9" x 8.7"

Customer Reviews

Well Researched Thoughtful Discussion of Female Friendships

Written by two female professionals, the authors discuss their research of female friendships. Originally intended to be a book for young girls, their research ended up including adult development for female friendships. The author's clearly understand the quality of affection and bonds that women have for one another and uncover the perils of emotional connection that can cause emotional havoc between women. Recommended for mature teens and mothers of teenaged girls. Also recommended to women who have been hurt by their female friends. This discussion is not about lesbian feelings, but feelings all women (including lesbians) have for strong female friendships.

Enlightening

Woman share there thoughts and heartache with the reader about the perils of friendship the good things and the bad. sort of depressing

Thought Provoking

This book caught my attention from the very first page. I was surprised at its honesty at analyzing friendship among women of all ages. It contains in-depth detail about the ups and downs of friendships and explains why girls and women behave the way they do in their relationships with other women. I was able to relate to many of the incidents described and I was left with a better understanding of my past and current friendships. The book proved to be a companion in its own right as I was able to refer to it to strengthen my relationship with my best friend without sacrificing too much. The casual tone carried out throughout the book makes it suitable reading for all ages as well. Definitely recommended for anyone who values friendship.

A wonderful insight in understanding friendships

I found this book very insightful, not only as the father of four daughters, but for my own friendships as well. She has interviewed both young and adult women and has brought out many of the issues dealing with friendships -- the "real" friend, rejection, viewing ourselves in relationship to our friends (the "mirror"). We often do not understand that these friendship issues follow us throughout our entire lives. Many of the stories she tells are quite thought provoking and will "hit home". I highly recommend this book for anyone, man or woman.

GREAT, and INCITEFUL!!!!

I couldn't put this book down, it should be read by all women, young and old. We all can feel and understand what these girls and women are talking about. As a teenager, we all remember those petty quarrels that ended great friendships, and now 20 years later your still doing the same thing. Friendships are sensitive matters, and that's what makes them great. Who can you tell everything about yourself except a friend. And yes, when that trust is betrayed it does hurt, but look at your self, you have probably betrayed someone else. So when your daughter or other young girl mentions that she had a fight with a friend, don't play down her grief or unhappiness. This is a time to look back on your own life and lend a guiding hand.