Script 3
Psychologist Tom Rath has studied and written a lot about friendship over the years. In one of his recent books, Vital Friends: The People You Can’t Afford to Live Without, Rath explains that not only is it important to have friends, but that our friends play very different roles in our lives.
In the book, Rath uses different words to describe eight types of friends. Let’s talk about four of these. Rath calls one kind of friend “the companion.” This is the person you might call your best friend. You tell this person everything—both the good news and the bad—and he or she has your back no matter what. Even if this person doesn’t live near you, you have a very strong, very close connection and probably always will.
Another type of friend, says Rath, is “the collaborator.” You have a lot in common with this person. Maybe you both like the same kind of music, sports, or other activities. Perhaps you live in the same area. Of all of your friends, you probably spend the most time with this person because you share so many of the same interests.
A third type of friend, says Rath, is “the energizer.” This is a fun friend—the kind who makes you laugh. You might not be the closest friends, but when you hang out with this person, you always feel better, and that’s why this person is in your life.
Rath also talks about a fourth type of friend, which he calls “the mind-opener.” This person gets you to try new things or helps you see things in different ways. This friend introduces you to new ideas, and in many ways, this kind of friendship can be the most interesting.
Questions:
- What is the book the speaker is discussing mainly about?
- Who might be the speaker?
Questions:
- How many types of friends does Tom Rath describe in his book?
- What kind of friendship is the most interesting one?
