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Moms Don’t Have Time to Read Books™️

Billy Baker, WE NEED TO HANG OUT: A Memoir of Making Friends

Season 10

When Boston Globe journalist Billy Baker was approached by his editor to write about the loneliness epidemic and how adult men specifically have a hard time with friends, he didn't want to do it. But he took on the project when he realized the changes that needed to be made in his own life. Building off of that Globe article (which became the newspaper's most popular piece), Billy's new book, We Need to Hang Out, combines scientific research with his own experience making and maintaining new friendships to offer readers a guide to hopefully feel less lonely.


Purchase on Amazon or Bookshop.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3ETWC2l

Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3zJdDZf

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(Music by Morning Moon Music. Sound editing by TexturesSound. To inquire about advertising, please contact allie.gallo@acast.com.)

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