On Friendship

By Alexander Nehamas,

Book cover of On Friendship

Book description

Friends are a constant feature of our lives, yet friendship itself is difficult to define. Even Michel de Montaigne, author of the seminal essay Of Friendship," found it nearly impossible to account for the great friendship of his life. Why is something so commonplace and universal so hard to grasp?…

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

1 author picked On Friendship as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Since Aristotle, friendship has seemed a pure, unadulterated good. Our friends bring the best out of us. End of story. We all have known enough betrayal, mixed purposes, and painful incompatibilities to suspect the tradition, as does the philosopher Alexander Nehamas.

I particularly love the parts of the book where he takes, as an example of friendship, that between Thelma and Louise in the film of the same name. By virtue of their friendship, Thelma helps Louise gain self-confidence, and Louise helps Thelma get beyond her neurotic self-composure. Aristotle and Montaigne would be happy. However, the cost is murder, robbery,…

Want books like On Friendship?

Our community of 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like On Friendship.

Browse books like On Friendship

Book cover of The Gay Science: With a Prelude in Rhymes and an Appendix of Songs
Book cover of All Things Shining: Reading the Western Classics to Find Meaning in a Secular Age
Book cover of Crossing the Postmodern Divide

Share your top 3 reads of 2024!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,355

readers submitted
so far, will you?

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in friendships, Aristotle, and philosophy?

Friendships 1,501 books
Aristotle 57 books
Philosophy 1,784 books