Life Is Friends: A Complete Guide to the Lost Art of Connecting in Person [Hardcover]

Jeanne Martinet (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2009

How can it be that you receive dozens of personal e-mails or texts every day but have nothing to do come Saturday night? Or that you’re constantly juggling a jam-packed schedule while always feeling that something essential is missing? Who the heck took the social out of your social life?

Jeanne Martinet, the celebrated author of The Art of Mingling, solves these mysteries and more in Life Is Friends. With an attitude that’s savvy, sympathetic, and down-to-earth, Martinet gives you the game plan for relearning the lost art of socializing. Forget texting, IMing, Facebook, and Internet “relationships.” When it comes to building real friendships, she says, there’s simply no substitute for live, in-person hospitality.

Martinet offers a full gamut of strategies and techniques for socializing, from making that first connection with someone to maintaining a long-term relationship. And she focuses on entertaining—whether it’s a dinner party or an informal get-together, a cocktail party or a monthly card game—because sharing one’s home and lifestyle is the most important element in nurturing friendships. 
Brimming with generous amounts of wit, all-too-true stories, and advice that’s both pithy and practical, Life Is Friends gets us back on the path to social success and satisfaction. So read what Martinet has to say. And then, go ahead: Invite people over.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

How is it that you receive dozens of personal e-mails and texts every day but have nothing do come Saturday night? Author and narrator Martinet gets to the bottom of the paradox that while the world is more connected than ever, many people are still isolated. The book presents practical suggestions for brushing up social skills, becoming more confident and seeking out fulfilling friendships. Martinet's ability to read with warmth and authority makes listeners feel they are receiving good advice from a trusted and wise confidante. Her delivery conveys care and concern, and she is excellent at addressing her audience's concerns and alleviating anxieties. This is one listening experience that may just change your life. A Stewart, Tabori & Chang hardcover. (Mar.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

About the Author

Jeanne Martinet is the author of six books, including the acclaimed The Art of Mingling. She has shared her mingling know-how on hundreds of TV and radio shows, including the Today show, The Early Show, The Bill O'Reilly Show, and NPR's Morning Edition. She lives in New York City.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Stewart, Tabori & Chang (March 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1584797509
• ISBN-13: 978-1584797500
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.7 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #949,261 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jeanne Martinet, aka Miss Mingle (www.missmingle.com), is the author of seven books, including the recently published LIFE IS FRIENDS and the widely acclaimed THE ART OF MINGLING, which has sold more than 150,000 copies in the U.S. alone. Her books have been published in the UK, France, Italy, Germany, China, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Israel and Poland. She has been featured in such publications as: The New York Times, The New York Daily News, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Newsweek, The U.S. News and World Report, Salon.com, The Chicago Tribune, The Boston Globe, TimeOut New York, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Playboy, The Washington Post, The San Francisco Chronicle and The Huffington Post. Martinet has shared her humor and mingling know-how on hundreds of TV and radio shows, including "The Today Show," "The CBS Early Show," NPR's "Morning Edition" and Britain's "This Morning with Richard and Judy."

Jeanne Martinet was born in Baltimore to a family of artists and musicians (her grandparents founded the Baltimore Opera Company) and has a B.A. from the University of Virginia. She has worked as an editor at E.P. Dutton and at St. Martin's Press. Since 1990 she has been a freelance writer and editor. Jeanne Martinet lives in New York City. (Author photo: Tony Ryan)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How to Entertain Without Fear or Panic, May 1, 2009

By 

A. R. Taylor "lonecamel" (Marina del Rey, Ca. USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Life Is Friends: A Complete Guide to the Lost Art of Connecting in Person (Hardcover)

This witty and helpful book is the most wonderful antidote to "hostess anorexia," or any of the other confounding problems associated with socializing in a world gone nuts over Twitter and Facebook. People seem connected but are in fact, more distant than ever, as Ms. Martinet points out. Time to get over our fears of actually cooking for people, because as she says, the more you entertain in your home, the more others will invite you over, and that's truly how you meet people in relationships that "stick." "Say yes," "go out," stop interacting all the time with a video screen, that's how she sees it, and she provides wonderful tips on how to start and then keep on with your own wish to reach out.

This work is a delight, filled with wisdom and laughs from someone who clearly understands the new age of relationships and how to cope - nay - triumph.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great as a gift, too!, April 11, 2009

By 

Linda Prine "Linda" (New York City) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Life Is Friends: A Complete Guide to the Lost Art of Connecting in Person (Hardcover)

I loved this book for the warmth, humor and value it puts on face-to-face friendship. It was also a great gift for my aunts and step-mother who already treasure the values in this book and appreciated that I understood and validated them by giving them this book.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The perfect gift!, April 11, 2009

By 

Douglas E. Tyskiewicz (new york, ny) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Life Is Friends: A Complete Guide to the Lost Art of Connecting in Person (Hardcover)

Do you really spend more time calling, emailing and texting friends than spending actual face to face time with them? I was more than a little embarrassed to realize I do. Witty, illuminating and dead-on true, Jeanne Martinet's book makes a serious case that for all the gizmos, devices and doodads we use to stay in-touch with friends and family, nothing can replace good old actual contact.

I stumbled upon this book, looking for a housewarming gift. Not only was I highly pleased with my purchase, but I bought three more (two for friends, and one for myself).

From how to meet new friends to deepening and maintaining current relationships, this book covers a wide range of social situation how-to's, all illustrated with humorous anecdotes. It's a pleasure to read.

Bottom line--this book got me off my butt and out with my friends.