Whilst we may have big “networks” of contacts – aka acquaintances - we tend to have "a very small number of friends" – according to a survey by professor Ray Pahl. He’ll elaborate in his forthcoming book "Rethinking Friendship: Hidden Solidarities Today." Pahl found that, on average, we have “just” 18 friends. 18 true friends?
That sounds might bountiful to me.
It is interesting to hear more about what constitutes genuine friendship in Pahl’s view. Here he and his co-author, Liz Spencer discuss why they believe friendship is especially important today.
They are more optimistic than Robert Putnam was in Bowling Alone. In fact, "The death of solidarity in Britain has been greatly exaggerated. Most of us live in solid, long-standing "micro-social" communities."
And in the U.S. and elsewhere?
