The amusing and erudite anatomy of modern friendship, from the New York Times –bestselling author of Snobbery . Is it possible to have too many friends? Is your spouse supposed to be your best friend? How far should you go to help a friend in need? And how do you end a friendship that has run its course? In a "smart, delightfully literate, and sophisticated" anatomy of friendship in all its contemporary guises, Joseph Epstein uncovers the rich and surprising truths about our favored companions ( Los Angeles Times ). Friendship illuminates those complex, wonderful relationships without which we'd all be lost. "Reading [Epstein] is like spending an evening being flatteringly entertained by the most interesting guy at the party." — The Seattle Times "A brilliant and outspoken commentator . . . Epstein's graceful style and irrepressible wit provide unalloyed pleasure." — Chicago Tribune "Brisk and delightful." — The Wall Street Journal