MALIBU, CA, January 13, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Award-Winning Filmmaker Barnet Bain's new book "How to Be a Friend (In an Unfriendly World)" is ranked #25 among the 50 Best Self-Help Books of 2025 by Balanced Achievement, an online publication devoted to exploring human wellness through the lenses of spirituality, psychology, and personal development.

"Loneliness has become one of the defining challenges of modern life — and Barnet Bain's 'How to Be a Friend (In an Unfriendly World): Lessons on Connection' offers a thoughtful response grounded in awareness and compassion," the publication says. "Drawing on his work at Columbia University's Spirituality Mind Body Institute, Bain reframes friendship — both with oneself and with others — as an ongoing practice of reflection, emotional honesty, and intentional engagement. Rather than presenting connection as a skill to be mastered, the book approaches it as a way of relating that supports self-understanding, resilience, and meaning."

"How to Be a Friend (In an Unfriendly World)" also ranked #1 on Amazon among new releases in interpersonal relations days after its Dec. 9 publication, #32 on Amazon's list of books about friendship and was named by BookBub as one of 10 Books to Help You Keep Your New Year's Resolutions.

Bain is known for beloved movies such as the Oscar-winning "What Dreams May Come," Emmy nominee "Homeless to Harvard" (Outstanding TV Movie), Eckhart Tolle's "Milton's Secret," and "Jesus," translated into 2,245 languages and often cited as the most widely seen film in history by The New York Times.

Originally developed from his Columbia University master's course for psychologists, "How to Be a Friend (In an Unfriendly World)" grew out of real conversations about how we connect, listen, and stay kind, even when it's not easy. It's not about fixing people or performing kindness. It's about remembering how to be with others (and with ourselves) even when the world feels impatient. "How to Be A Friend (In an Unfriendly World)" includes:

● Simple ways to connect — How to stay open and kind even when life feels overwhelming or people disappoint you.
● Stories that feel familiar — From small moments of misunderstanding to the quiet courage it takes to reach back out.
● Tools for everyday friendship — How to listen without fixing, speak without wounding, and hold boundaries without closing your heart.
● Reflections that meet you where you are — Not lofty advice, but gentle reminders that real connection starts right here.

"How to Be a Friend (in an Unfriendly World)" invites readers to slow down, look within, and remember that friendship (like love) begins where self-judgment ends. In a culture obsessed with performance and perfection, Bain's message lands like an exhale.

About the Author: Barnet Bain is an award-winning filmmaker, author, and teacher known for exploring themes of creativity, connection, and the human spirit. His film credits include the Oscar winning "What Dreams May Come," Outstanding TV Movie Emmy nominee "Homeless to Harvard," Eckhart Tolle's "Milton's Secret," and "Jesus," translated into 2,245 languages and often cited as the most widely seen film in history by The New York Times. His new book, "How to Be a Friend (in an Unfriendly World)," which grew out of a Columbia University master's course he created for psychologists, offers a heartfelt guide to practicing friendship in all its forms. Learn more at BarnetBain.com.

For media inquiries, interview requests, or review copies, contact:

Michelle Tennant Nicholson, M.A.
International Publicist | Chief Creative Officer
Wasabi Publicity, Inc.
828.749.3200 (office) | 828.817.4034 (cell/WhatsApp)
[email protected]

For more information visit barnetbain.onlinepresskit247.com.

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