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Who Needs Friends
An Unscientific Examination of Male Friendship Across America
A moving and provocative exploration of male friendship and loneliness, from New York Times bestselling author, filmmaker, and actor Andrew McCarthy as he crisscrosses the country to reconnect with his friends.
“You don’t really have any friends, do you, Dad?”
A seemingly innocuous, if direct, question from Andrew McCarthy’s son left him reeling. McCarthy did have friends, but like so many other men, the necessities of modern adult life had forced his friendships to the background. At one point his friends had been instrumental in broadening his horizons, bolstering his courage, providing safe harbor. Now, McCarthy found himself questioning what had happened to those friendships, whether he needed them, what he valued, and what he had to offer. A simple question had become a moment that demanded a reckoning.
Who Needs Friends charts McCarthy’s journey over nearly ten thousand miles behind the wheel, following him on often-unexpected travels through Appalachia, the Mississippi Delta, the Chihuahuan Desert, the Rocky Mountains with one driving purpose: to reconnect. Along the way he talks to countless men about their male friendships, from cowboys and blues musicians to preachers and rootless teens. What began as a simple desire to catch up with a few friends turned into a deep exploration of the challenges and rewards that men experience in forming bonds with each other.
In McCarthy’s own words, “It turns out that guys have a difficult time with friendship.” But that’s not the way it needs to be.
Andrew McCarthy is the author of four books, Walking with Sam: A Father, a Son, and Five Hundred Miles Across Spain, Brat: An '80s Story, Just Fly Away, and The Longest Way Home — all New York Times best sellers. He is an award-winning travel writer and served for a dozen years as an editor-at-large at National Geographic Traveler. Best known as an actor for the past four decades, Andrew has appeared in such iconic films as Pretty in Pink and Less Than Zero. He lives in New York.
"Who Needs Friends is a wonderful story, beautifully told. An important book about friendship, and loyalty, and men telling each other the truth most of all. When you finish it, you will want to reconnect with an old friend of your own, I know I did."
Mike Lupica, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author
"Thoughtful and well written—and a good prompt to call an old friend."
Join us at Book Passage for an author event in celebration of Andrew McCarthy’s new book, Who Needs Friends: An Unscientific Examination of Male Friendship Across America. Andrew will be joined in conversation with author, certified life coach, and speaker Matthew Félix.
TICKETED EVENT AT THE RIO THEATRE: Bookshop Santa Cruz welcomes New York Times bestselling author, filmmaker, and actor Andrew McCarthy for discussion about his new book Who Needs Friends.
Join Rainy Day Books at Unity Temple to celebrate Who Needs Friends: An Unscientific Examination of Male Friendship Across America with author Andrew McCarthy.
oin us for an evening with New York Times bestselling author, actor and director, Andrew McCarthy, for a discussion of his newest nonfiction work, Who Needs Friends. Andrew will be joined in conversation by incredible St. Louis artist, Cbabi Bayoc.
Carmel Clay Public Library in partnership with Morgenstern’s Books
Author and actor Andrew McCarthy shares his new book “Who Needs Friends.” Tickets are $35 per person and include a pre-signed copy of the book. Presented by the CCPL Foundation and Morgenstern Books.
he Book Stall is thrilled to welcome actor and bestselling author Andrew McCarthy to the Skokie School Auditorium to discuss his new book, Who Needs Friends.
ndrew McCarthy is coming to Wonderland Books on April 13, 2026 to discuss his book “Who Needs Friends: An Unscientific Examination of Male Friendship Across America”.
Who Needs Friends: An Unscientific Examination of Male Friendship Across America Book Event with Author Andrew McCarthy In Conversation with Boris Fishman.
I was seated at the kitchen table drinking a cup of weak tea. The dog was asleep in the corner. My twenty-one-year-old son sat cross-legged on the floor, messing with his electric guitar, telling me a funny story about a dating disaster involving one of his good friends. “Rocco’s a fool,” I said with affection…
Andrew McCarthy is the author of three books, Brat: An ’80s Story, Just Fly Away, and The Longest Way Home — all New York Times best sellers. He is an award winning travel writer and served for a dozen years as an editor-at-larger at National Geographic Traveler magazine. Andrew has directed scores of television shows, but is best known as an actor for the past four decades, appearing is such iconic films as Pretty in Pink and Less Than Zero. He lives in New York.