An inspiring and entertaining testament to the power of friendship, from the hosts of the hit podcast Call Your Girlfriend 'Deeply compelling' ROXANE GAY A New York Times bestseller A close friendship is one of the most important relationships a human life can contain. But most people don't talk about what it takes to stay close for the long haul. Now two friends, Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman, tell the story of their messy and life-affirming Big Friendship in this honest and hilarious book. Through interviews with friends and experts, they also come to understand that their struggles are not unique. This book is a call to value your friendships in all of their complexity, to actively choose them and sometimes, fight for them. 'A deeply funny and immensely heartfelt look into what makes a friendship last despite time, distance, trials and major life changes' ELLE 'An inspiration' ARIEL LEVY 'Wonderful' HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON 'Thoughtful and highly readable' New York Times

In The White Album, Joan Didion famously wrote that "a place belongs forever to whoever claims it hardest, remembers it most obsessively...loves it so radically that he remakes it in his image." Cruising in her Daytona yellow Corvette Stingray, taking it all in behind dark glasses, Joan Didion claimed California for all time. Slouching Towards Los Angeles is a multi-faceted portrait of the literary icon who, in turn, belongs to us. This collection of original essays covers the turf that made Didion a sensation-Hollywood and Patty Hearst; Malibu, Manson and the Mojave; the Summer of Love and the Central Park Five-while bringing together some of the finest voices of today's Los Angeles and beyond. Slouching Towards Los Angeles is a love letter and thank you note; personal memoir and social commentary; cultural history and literary critique. Fans of Didion, lovers of California, and fellow writers alike will all find something to dig into, in this rich exploration of the inner and outer landscapes Joan Didion traveled, shaping our own journeys in the process. Featuring essays by Ann Friedman Jori Finkel Margaret Wappler Jessica Hundley Christine Lennon Catherine Wagley Su Wu Joshua Wolf Shenk Lauren Sandler Michelle Chihara Sarah Tomlinson Linda Immediato Tracy McMillan Dan Crane Steph Cha Caroline Ryder Joe Donnelly Monica Corcoran Harel Alysia Abbott Stacie Stukin Heather John Fogarty Marc Weingarten Scott Benzel Ezrha Jean Black