Loneliness is now recognized as a public health crisis, yet most of us were never taught how to make or keep true friends. In How to Be a Friend, Barnet Bain offers a compassionate roadmap back to connection — showing how curiosity, civility, and care can heal the emotional and spiritual isolation so many people feel today.

As the screenwriter of The Jesus Film — one of the most viewed movies of all time — Barnet Bain has spent his life exploring faith and compassion. Now, he’s bringing those same values to America’s living rooms, inviting people to rediscover friendship as sacred ground in a divided culture.

Research from Harvard and the U.S. Surgeon General shows that loneliness increases the risk of premature death by 30%. Barnet Bain argues that the antidote isn’t technology or therapy alone — it’s friendship. His book shows how being a better friend literally supports mental, emotional, and physical health.

In an era of outrage and polarization, Barnet Bain suggests a radical act: replace judgment with curiosity. How to Be a Friend reveals how choosing understanding over reaction transforms conversations, relationships, and even communities.

Social media encourages oversharing, but not always connection. Barnet Bain introduces the concept of “emotional civility” — how to share authentically without performing or manipulating. It’s a call for boundaries, balance, and real intimacy in a world obsessed with exposure.

Science confirms what spirituality has always known: we are wired for connection. Barnet Bain bridges both worlds, showing how friendship isn’t just emotional — it’s sacred. His message resonates across divides, from church pews to psychology circles, reminding us that love of neighbor begins with friendship.