Anna Goldfarb
@annagoldfarb.com
Professional Friendship Explainer. Journalist and author of MODERN FRIENDSHIP. Words in NYT, The Atlantic, WashPo, Vox, Vice and more. annagoldfarb.substack.com
I compiled a list of 50 modern friendship etiquette rules on my Substack, Friendship Explained. My hope is that people will find these guidelines sensible, flexible, and actionable.
Anything you’d like to add? Tell me here or in the comments.
Anything you’d like to add? Tell me here or in the comments.
50 Rules of Modern Friendship Etiquette
On how to show up, communicate, make time, be curious, navigate difficult conversations, and be an all-around wonderful friend
open.substack.com
March 4, 2026 at 5:15 PM
I compiled a list of 50 modern friendship etiquette rules on my Substack, Friendship Explained. My hope is that people will find these guidelines sensible, flexible, and actionable.
Anything you’d like to add? Tell me here or in the comments.
Anything you’d like to add? Tell me here or in the comments.
Married people: if your best friend invited you on a 5-day trip, would you need to consult your spouse before answering?
January 13, 2026 at 12:03 AM
Married people: if your best friend invited you on a 5-day trip, would you need to consult your spouse before answering?
Reposted by Anna Goldfarb
Very fun interview with @annagoldfarb.com, with a special appearance by you-know-who annagoldfarb.substack.com/p/pop-up-pod...
March 19, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Very fun interview with @annagoldfarb.com, with a special appearance by you-know-who annagoldfarb.substack.com/p/pop-up-pod...
Reposted by Anna Goldfarb
DEAL ALERT! My book MODERN FRIENDSHIP is only $14.57 on Amazon. This is the lowest price I've seen on the hardcover. Snap it up!!! www.amazon.com/Modern-Frien...
Modern Friendship: How to Nurture Our Most Valued Connections
Modern Friendship: How to Nurture Our Most Valued Connections [Goldfarb, Anna] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Modern Friendship: How to Nurture Our Most Valued Connections
www.amazon.com
March 13, 2025 at 11:02 PM
DEAL ALERT! My book MODERN FRIENDSHIP is only $14.57 on Amazon. This is the lowest price I've seen on the hardcover. Snap it up!!! www.amazon.com/Modern-Frien...
DEAL ALERT! My book MODERN FRIENDSHIP is only $14.57 on Amazon. This is the lowest price I've seen on the hardcover. Snap it up!!! www.amazon.com/Modern-Frien...
Modern Friendship: How to Nurture Our Most Valued Connections
Modern Friendship: How to Nurture Our Most Valued Connections [Goldfarb, Anna] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Modern Friendship: How to Nurture Our Most Valued Connections
www.amazon.com
March 13, 2025 at 11:02 PM
DEAL ALERT! My book MODERN FRIENDSHIP is only $14.57 on Amazon. This is the lowest price I've seen on the hardcover. Snap it up!!! www.amazon.com/Modern-Frien...
The specific joy of finding a friend who doesn't judge you for your extremely specific food orders ("no mayo, extra pickles, tomatoes on the side, slightly toasted, with a whisper of Dijon mustard")
February 28, 2025 at 1:59 AM
The specific joy of finding a friend who doesn't judge you for your extremely specific food orders ("no mayo, extra pickles, tomatoes on the side, slightly toasted, with a whisper of Dijon mustard")
Help @julieebeck.bsky.social find stories for her book on friendship! This could be youuuuu.
looking for a few more folks to talk to about their friendships for my book! There are some specific things I’m looking for, but also happy to hear from anyone w/ thoughts on modern friendship or a unique story
survey link below, sharing would be highly appreciated!
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
survey link below, sharing would be highly appreciated!
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
February 28, 2025 at 1:51 AM
Help @julieebeck.bsky.social find stories for her book on friendship! This could be youuuuu.
Reposted by Anna Goldfarb
This Valentines Day get her what she really wants: revenge
February 13, 2025 at 11:06 PM
This Valentines Day get her what she really wants: revenge
"Take responsibility for your social life. Communicating with a friend briefly is a gift you give your future self."
My newsletter today explains why low-maintenance friendships are the Vitamin Water of connection, aka A SCAM.
annagoldfarb.substack.com/p/low-mainte...
My newsletter today explains why low-maintenance friendships are the Vitamin Water of connection, aka A SCAM.
annagoldfarb.substack.com/p/low-mainte...
Low-Maintenance Friendships Are a Scam
They're the Vitamin Water of Connection
annagoldfarb.substack.com
February 7, 2025 at 6:52 PM
"Take responsibility for your social life. Communicating with a friend briefly is a gift you give your future self."
My newsletter today explains why low-maintenance friendships are the Vitamin Water of connection, aka A SCAM.
annagoldfarb.substack.com/p/low-mainte...
My newsletter today explains why low-maintenance friendships are the Vitamin Water of connection, aka A SCAM.
annagoldfarb.substack.com/p/low-mainte...
Men are trash at texting one other, according to @theatlantic.com. I can help.
Here are my 4 Golden Rules of Texting:
#1. Be explicit about why you’re reaching out
#2. Remove uncertainty
#3. Explain what silences mean
#4. Group chats are for sharing news that can be recognized with a few words
Here are my 4 Golden Rules of Texting:
#1. Be explicit about why you’re reaching out
#2. Remove uncertainty
#3. Explain what silences mean
#4. Group chats are for sharing news that can be recognized with a few words
Men are trash at texting one other
I'm here to help
open.substack.com
January 15, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Men are trash at texting one other, according to @theatlantic.com. I can help.
Here are my 4 Golden Rules of Texting:
#1. Be explicit about why you’re reaching out
#2. Remove uncertainty
#3. Explain what silences mean
#4. Group chats are for sharing news that can be recognized with a few words
Here are my 4 Golden Rules of Texting:
#1. Be explicit about why you’re reaching out
#2. Remove uncertainty
#3. Explain what silences mean
#4. Group chats are for sharing news that can be recognized with a few words
I humbly offer you 24 pants-optional friendship tips
Anna Goldfarb on Substack
In my newsletter today, I share two dozen tips to make your friendships stronger. Only a few suggestions technically require you to wear pants, which is pretty cool!
substack.com
January 11, 2025 at 6:19 PM
I humbly offer you 24 pants-optional friendship tips
I'm obsessed with this recent article by Matthew Schnipper in @theatlantic.com. Men are crappy at communicating and they tell us why –– in their own words.
www.theatlantic.com/family/archi...
www.theatlantic.com/family/archi...
January 6, 2025 at 10:26 PM
I'm obsessed with this recent article by Matthew Schnipper in @theatlantic.com. Men are crappy at communicating and they tell us why –– in their own words.
www.theatlantic.com/family/archi...
www.theatlantic.com/family/archi...
Reposted by Anna Goldfarb
Many men are bad at texting other men back—and it might be making them lonelier, @matthewschnipper.bsky.social writes:
Why Don’t Men Text Other Men Back?
Maybe they’d have more friends if they did.
www.theatlantic.com
January 6, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Many men are bad at texting other men back—and it might be making them lonelier, @matthewschnipper.bsky.social writes:
Is this emoji combo cool? 😎👍
I feel like it's so deeply uncool it might come around and be cool again, but I'm on the fence!
I feel like it's so deeply uncool it might come around and be cool again, but I'm on the fence!
January 6, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Is this emoji combo cool? 😎👍
I feel like it's so deeply uncool it might come around and be cool again, but I'm on the fence!
I feel like it's so deeply uncool it might come around and be cool again, but I'm on the fence!
Reposted by Anna Goldfarb
Some pants-optional friendship tips from my latest newsletter:
* Propose being accountability buddies on something.
* Resist using friends solely as entertainment. Run errands together. *you might need pants for this tip*
* Propose being accountability buddies on something.
* Resist using friends solely as entertainment. Run errands together. *you might need pants for this tip*
24 Ways to Supercharge Your Friendships
Without having to put pants on
open.substack.com
December 26, 2024 at 6:53 PM
Some pants-optional friendship tips from my latest newsletter:
* Propose being accountability buddies on something.
* Resist using friends solely as entertainment. Run errands together. *you might need pants for this tip*
* Propose being accountability buddies on something.
* Resist using friends solely as entertainment. Run errands together. *you might need pants for this tip*
Some pants-optional friendship tips from my latest newsletter:
* Propose being accountability buddies on something.
* Resist using friends solely as entertainment. Run errands together. *you might need pants for this tip*
* Propose being accountability buddies on something.
* Resist using friends solely as entertainment. Run errands together. *you might need pants for this tip*
24 Ways to Supercharge Your Friendships
Without having to put pants on
open.substack.com
December 26, 2024 at 6:53 PM
Some pants-optional friendship tips from my latest newsletter:
* Propose being accountability buddies on something.
* Resist using friends solely as entertainment. Run errands together. *you might need pants for this tip*
* Propose being accountability buddies on something.
* Resist using friends solely as entertainment. Run errands together. *you might need pants for this tip*
Reposted by Anna Goldfarb
The most downloaded Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship ep in 2024 was “the 14-day friendship (mindset) cleanse,” brainchild of @annagoldfarb.com whose book, Modern Friendship, is a must read for anyone looking to improve their friendships. ninabadzin.com/2024/12/26/t...
#126 - Is it Time For a Friendship Cleanse?
Anna Goldfarb, author of Modern Friendship, is here to discuss her 14-day friendship cleanse concept and how it can improve your friendships.
ninabadzin.com
December 26, 2024 at 4:22 PM
The most downloaded Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship ep in 2024 was “the 14-day friendship (mindset) cleanse,” brainchild of @annagoldfarb.com whose book, Modern Friendship, is a must read for anyone looking to improve their friendships. ninabadzin.com/2024/12/26/t...
Another banger from @allieevolpe.bsky.social!
the reason people are pining for small town life with a quaint main street isn't some nostalgic desire for a past that never really existed, it's because these are contexts where people feel like they matter and have quality relationships www.vox.com/the-highligh...
Nostalgia won’t fix the loneliness epidemic
There are practical, everyday ways to get out of your head and into community.
www.vox.com
December 2, 2024 at 3:39 PM
Another banger from @allieevolpe.bsky.social!
Attn people who overthink everything: I’m on today’s episode of Magical Overthinkers with Amanda Montell. We talked about why our friendships feel so funky — and what we can do to make them more awesome podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/o...
Overthinking About Adult Friendships
Podcast Episode · Magical Overthinkers · 11/27/2024 · 1h 7m
podcasts.apple.com
November 27, 2024 at 5:15 PM
Attn people who overthink everything: I’m on today’s episode of Magical Overthinkers with Amanda Montell. We talked about why our friendships feel so funky — and what we can do to make them more awesome podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/o...
Two swirled forkfuls of pasta
November 27, 2024 at 3:12 AM
Two swirled forkfuls of pasta
I wish there was a way to let people know that I'm 1000% okay with them canceling plans for any reason at any time
November 26, 2024 at 8:08 PM
I wish there was a way to let people know that I'm 1000% okay with them canceling plans for any reason at any time
As a Jew who wasn't allowed to celebrate ANYTHING Christmas-related growing up, I'm very proud of this five-hour Funky Christmas playlist I put together: open.spotify.com/playlist/6dd...
Funky Christmas
Playlist · shmittenkitten · 113 items · 2 saves
open.spotify.com
November 26, 2024 at 2:55 PM
As a Jew who wasn't allowed to celebrate ANYTHING Christmas-related growing up, I'm very proud of this five-hour Funky Christmas playlist I put together: open.spotify.com/playlist/6dd...
Hey all! I hope these articles I wrote for the @nytimes.com a few years ago help anyone who needs them. Like scrunchies and Fleetwood Mac songs, the advice given is timeless. Happy reading!
November 25, 2024 at 8:51 PM
Hey all! I hope these articles I wrote for the @nytimes.com a few years ago help anyone who needs them. Like scrunchies and Fleetwood Mac songs, the advice given is timeless. Happy reading!
Reposted by Anna Goldfarb
One of my most listened to episodes of 2024: “The 14 Day Friendship Cleanse” with @annagoldfarb.bsky.social, author of Modern Friendship. ninabadzin.com/2024/06/04/1...
The 14-Day Friendship Mindset Cleanse
Welcome to the 14-day friendship mindset cleanse from Anna Goldfarb, author of Modern Friendship and a second-time Dear Nina guest.
ninabadzin.com
November 23, 2024 at 12:46 AM
One of my most listened to episodes of 2024: “The 14 Day Friendship Cleanse” with @annagoldfarb.bsky.social, author of Modern Friendship. ninabadzin.com/2024/06/04/1...
I wrote about the psychology of gift giving for @theatlantic.bsky.social a while back and it's especially useful as we descend into the holiday giving season. Enjoy the gift link (no pun intended lol)
www.theatlantic.com/culture/arch...
www.theatlantic.com/culture/arch...
Gift Giving Is About the Buyer, Not the Receiver
Many of us want to feel like we’re benevolent, yet we pay substantial attention to how the process of giving will make us feel about ourselves.
www.theatlantic.com
November 21, 2024 at 9:16 PM
I wrote about the psychology of gift giving for @theatlantic.bsky.social a while back and it's especially useful as we descend into the holiday giving season. Enjoy the gift link (no pun intended lol)
www.theatlantic.com/culture/arch...
www.theatlantic.com/culture/arch...