True Friendship: Where Virtue Becomes Happiness

By John Cuddeback

Book Overview

We all want true friends. But how many of us really know what friendship is, or where to find it? In these pages, philosopher John Cuddeback weaves together the timeless wisdom of Scripture, of the ancient Greeks, and the saints to map out the steep and beautiful path to man's greatest joy--true friendship.

Following Aristotle's teachings on the unbreakable connection between happiness and virtuous living, Cuddeback sees friendship at the very center of the human drama. Although there are different kinds of friendship, the deepest kind can only be achieved through a life of virtue, and this is where the human person comes most fully alive. True Friendship offers simple yet rich advice on how to tap into this reality in our own lives. Such friendship demands much of us, but it gives us even more, as individuals and as a society.

Both the Old and New Testaments place a premium on friendship. In the Christian vision, the philosophers' insights attain a broader supernatural perspective. Christ transforms human friendship and expands it. With help from the writings of Saints Thomas and Aelred, Cuddeback discovers what lies at the heart of the Christian life--the wondrous and unsurpassable reality of friendship with God in Jesus, the Divine Friend, who is at work in all our authentic friendships.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1621643557
• ISBN13: 9781621643555
• Release Date: January 2021
• Publisher: Ignatius Press
• Length: 149 Pages
• Weight: 0.67 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.2" x 7.9"

Customer Reviews

Like book of Proverbs - it tells you how to get along.

In the past five years or so when teaching leadership, I always tell my students to read some thinkers like John Cuddeback, especially his books as they contain quotable references from other great thinkers. This book on Friendship: the Art of Happiness I recommended as it has lessons and thoughts much as if one is reading the book of Proverbs in the bible. I tells my students that it is better to be those persons who controlled their tempers than those that conquor cities. (Proverbs 16:32) Better to allow others to praise you than yourself (Proverbs 27;1-2) and as a leader learn to listen to others , even those you feel are inferior,... do not worry about the specks in their eyes when you have a board in your own;remove yours and really try to see the other person's point of view (Matthews 7:1-5). Without question, Cuddeback's books are those you always keep as guides for being a better leader and a happier person. Errol D. Alexander

A Challenge

This book presents a very compelling case for spending the time it takes to develop true, deep friendships. We live in poverty without friends but like any other riches, they take work to acquire. It is not easy in this skate-along world but John Cuddeback made me want to really work on the friendships that I have. This book is a road map for having and keeping true friends.

Friendship: The Art of Happiness

What is the value of friendship? What do you look for in a friend? How is friendship beneficial to you? These are a some of the basic yet important questions that are answered in this clear straightforward practical guide. Loaded with jewels of wisdom from the world's most important philosophers, this book contains the reasons why we want to, and should, achieve friendship or why its in our best interest, and society as a whole. Typically Mom never gave us the reason why we should perform the actions required to acheive quality relationships but once you read this and learn why, it will in turn make the participation and acheivement of true friendship MUCH simpler. Isn't that the point? Mom would be proud.