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Billy No-Mates

How I Realised Men Have a Friendship Problem

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Billy No-Mates

By: Max Dickins
Narrated by: Max Dickins
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‘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 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.

 Friendship Gender Studies Relationships Social Sciences Witty
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Critic Reviews

"[Max Dickins] couldn’t think of anyone to be his best man. It was a realisation that triggered a poignant - and very funny - odyssey"
"A funny but deeply uncomfortable read for those men . . . who have allowed their male friendships to wither"
"On the spot"
"A funny, meaty, informative read where [Max Dickins] uses himself as a hook to guide us through male friendships"
"Very funny, utterly charming and above all, wise, Billy No-Mates is not so much about getting the friendships you deserve, but deserving the friendships you’ve got" (TIM DOWLING)
"Fascinating" (JEREMY VINE)
"Brilliant . . . one of the most important books I’ve read this year . . . [it] asks us to put a mirror up to our own friendships" (NIHAL ARTHANAYAKE)
"Billy No-Mates should be required reading for all us fellas. I wish I had it 10 years ago. Hilarious, elegantly-written and fascinating. As a life-improving call-to-arms, it’s impact on me is hard to overstate. It has - without exaggeration - made me a better friend. And maybe even a better man. As absorbing as it is funny" (PHIL WANG)
"We need a conversation about why men don’t have a mate they can talk to"
"Here Max exposes something worrying and fundamental but with such a lightness of touch" (RUFUS HOUND)
All stars
Most relevant
What a great book. I have already recommended it to several of my friends. He is also very entertaining

Great book, great delivery and great perspective on male friendships

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