The Company You Keep: The Transforming Power of Male Friendship

Seldom does one find a book on such a topic! I commend the author for taking the issue of male friendship to this level of visibility and discussion. I also admire the courage, transparency and vulnerability of the author. I have learned a lot through his personal experiences. His message that men seldom bond at a level other than a superficial one, resonated with me. As a corporate/executive coach, I have seen and experienced what the author describes as society's emphasis on self-suffiency in both corporate and private life. To take an excerpt from the book, "In today's business environment, we see that the assumption still exists that the strong, successful man is the man who gets the job done on his own (the John Wayne ideal). In our technology-crazed world, his job is to harness his laptop, saddle up his Blackberry or Palm Pilot, and charge into the day with his cell phone attached to his ear." Well, you get the point... The author presents convincing evidence that men can create and nurture supportive and transformational friendships. When reading this book, prepare yourself for a journey into the intellectual, emotional and spiritual facets of your life -- a journey that is relived through the eyes of a very successful entrepreneur and corporate executive. Reading the book has inspired and challenged me to re-evaluate and attempt to re-create my friendships in terms of the author's life experiences and recommendations. Enjoy the read!