Billy No-Mates

How I Realised Men Have a Friendship Problem

By: Max Dickins

Narrated by: Max Dickins

‘Where have all my friends gone?’

When Max Dickins decided to propose to his girlfriend, he realised there was no one he could call on to be his best man.

He quickly learned that that he wasn’t the only man struggling with friendships. For decades, countless studies from across the world have confirmed that men have fewer close friends than women–and the problem gets worse the older men get. But what goes wrong? And what can men do about it? Dickins is going to find out.

His funny and charmingly candid search takes him to the doors of world-leading experts. It forces him to examine the friendships he’s had over the years, and where they have foundered. And, briefly, it sends him to the website ‘Rent A Friend’, where he pays someone to hang out with him. But let’s not dwell on that.

Join Max as he takes a defibrillator to his social life. As he ultimately discovers that if he wants a Best Man, then he needs to be a better man.

©2022 Max Dickins (P)2022 Canongate Books

If you can relate…

Then this is an important book for those men who fit the starting position…are competitive, love “banter”, and are looking to recapture that footballer team spirit from their youth (traditionally masculine in other words). If that isn’t you…which IS me BTW…then there are still some good advice and ideas here. Just ignore the eye rolling talk about redeeming the aspects you don’t like.

The general principals relate to any one really, and I think it is worth a read or listen. I’m American, so I missed many of the cultural allusions…figured most out from context though…but that was part of the enjoyment of the book. Besides his accent is beyond cool.

Max…can I call him Max? I think so…is hilarious. I haven’t literally laughed out loud at a book this much in good long time. His humor is dry and a bit cutting…AKA why I love British humor so blasted much.

Can recommend if you are:

1. A traditionally masculine man looking to build deeper connections
2. A non-traditionally masculine man looking to do the same, and can ignore the more traditionally focused advice and stories
3. A woman trying to understand why in god’s name all her male partner’s friends are partners of her friends…or something along those lines.

Good job Max, and keep writing.