Homo Amicus. The Business Person Seeking a Friend

Maxim Feldman explores the phenomenon of friendship in the life of the modern business person, explaining why, in an era of pragmatism and business connections, sincere relationships become a rarity. The author contrasts two human archetypes – Homo Economicus (the profit-driven person) and Homo Amicus (the person who values selfless friendship), showing how a lack of friendships affects success in business and career, relationships in marriage, psychological health, and even longevity. The cult of material prosperity seized us 35–40 years ago. In the pursuit of career and success, we often forget about the most important thing – true friendship. The book raises questions such as: why even the strongest family cannot replace a close friend, how entrepreneurs form friendships – and what fatal mistake they make, why an old friend is not always better than two new ones, whether Rockefeller was right in his recipe for friendship, and whether one can learn to be friends in adulthood? The author explains why friendship is no less important than business strategy and how it affects our psychological and even physical state, relying on scientific research in sociology, psychology, and neurobiology, as well as reflections from great thinkers and real cases of entrepreneurs and world-renowned businessmen. Practical recommendations will help the reader reflect on their social life and develop the skills to build strong personal friendships and a culture of camaraderie in business and at work.