The Good Life
by Robert Waldinger and Marc Schulz
The directors of the longest-running study of adult life, eighty-plus years, report its clearest finding: good relationships keep people healthier and happier more reliably than money, fame or achievement. The book combines study data with stories and practical suggestions for tending friendships and family. Calm, evidence-based, a little repetitive.
Read it if…
you have optimized your career and let your relationships run on autopilot.
Skip it if…
you want a relationship how-to; this is research with gentle suggestions.
Three things you will actually use
- Treat relationships as fitness: regular, deliberate practice.
- Reach out before you need to.
- Notice who energizes and who drains, and adjust.
Do this first
Map your relationships in a simple chart and pick one to invest in this month.
Our verdict
The science behind a truth most people already suspect; worth the reminder.
Compare with other Relationships books
Boundaries
Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend · Relationships
The foundational boundaries book; faith-based, broadly applicable.
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The Let Them Theory
Mel Robbins · Relationships
A useful two-word reframe wrapped in a long book.
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Nonviolent Communication
Marshall B. Rosenberg · Relationships
Demanding and transformative; the most useful communication method for close relationships.
CLICK TO SEEBrowse all Relationships book reviews or get the free Reality Code Cheat Sheet.
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