The Other Significant Others by Rhaina Cohen Summary
Overview of The Other Significant Others
In "The Other Significant Others," Rhaina Cohen challenges our romantic-centric culture through 70 intimate interviews revealing how platonic partnerships reshape modern connection. What if your soulmate isn't a lover? Discover why prioritizing friendship might be the revolutionary solution to America's loneliness epidemic.
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Key takeaways
When Your Best Friend Becomes Your Life Partner
Have you ever noticed how wedding vows increasingly describe spouses as "best friends"? This blurring of boundaries between friendship and romance reveals something fascinating: our most meaningful relationships don't always fit neat categories. Consider Andrew and Toly, who met in high school and deliberately organized their entire lives around each other-volunteering in Tanzania, sharing apartments through graduate school, co-founding a nonprofit. Andrew calls Toly his "platonic life partner," a term that baffled his mother but perfectly captured their bond. They shared the devastating loss of a mutual friend to suicide, a tragedy that cemented their commitment to never let go of each other. Yet they're not romantic partners, and that's precisely the point. We live in a culture obsessed with finding "the one," but what if your soulmate isn't someone you're sleeping with? What if the most significant relationship of your life looks nothing like what society expects? This question matters now more than ever, as America faces what experts call a "friendship recession"-a loneliness epidemic where meaningful connections have become dangerously rare, even as research consistently shows that diverse, deep relationships lead to longer, healthier, happier lives.
The Myth That Romance Must Come First
The Gray Area Between Friendship and Romance
Breaking Masculine Norms Through Deep Friendship
Creating Family Beyond Blood and Marriage
The Unrecognized Grief of Friendship Loss
Living the Alternative: Friendship as Chosen Family
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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