Known by Dick and Ruth Foth

Known: Finding Deep Friendships in a Shallow World.  Don't we all want that?  In this digital age of texting and Facebook, something seems to have been lost, or at least harder to grasp than it once was.  I was hoping this book would have some insight into how to navigate these challenges and create more opportunities for deep relationships to flourish.  While the book did well at describing the components of deep friendship, it did not address the struggle, and therefore lacked personal connection for me.

Using Scripture and story, the authors paint a picture of what deep friendships look like.  Friends share stories, spend time together, and affirm each other.  They are authentic, honest, and trusting.  They pursue, invite, sacrifice, and remain.

"Friendship - true, deep friendship - is found in a desire to know and the willingness to be known.  It is choosing to walk with another person through whatever comes.  A lasting friend knows you and still likes you.  And a lasting friend, at the end of the day, is quite simply there."

This book is written mostly by Dick Foth, with some comments added at the end of certain chapters by his wife, Ruth.  When I read Ruth's comments following the introduction, I thought this book was for me.  She was going to add in an introvert's perspective...just what I needed!  But instead, her thoughts were mostly poems or stories that didn't address an introvert's struggle.  

Overall, this is a nice book about friendship...defining what it is and sharing some good stories as examples.  It provides wisdom on how to be a better friend.  But it may leave you right where you started...longing for a deep friendship and not knowing how to take the first step to find one.  Just not quite what I had expected.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.