The Joy of Connections Audiobook By Dr. Ruth K. Westheimer, Allison Gilbert - contributor, Pierre Lehu - contributor cover art

The Joy of Connections

100 Ways to Beat Loneliness and Live a Happier and More Meaningful Life

Preview

Try for $0.00
Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The Joy of Connections

By: Dr. Ruth K. Westheimer, Allison Gilbert - contributor, Pierre Lehu - contributor
Narrated by: Tovah Feldshuh, Allison Gilbert, Pierre Lehu
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $13.50

Buy for $13.50

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel

About this listen

In Dr. Ruth’s final book, the iconic therapist offers an urgent guide to combating loneliness with 100 ways to increase connectivity right now, based on insights from her life story and her unparalleled career.

“Dr. Ruth’s strategies are essential for building the kinds of bonds that will reduce loneliness and transform lives.”—Gretchen Rubin, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Happiness Project

When Surgeon General Vivek Murthy sounded the alarm that loneliness “represents an urgent public health concern”—exacerbated by social media overuse, the residual effects of the pandemic, and the lack of meaningful relationships—trusted therapist Dr. Ruth K. Westheimer knew that her unique perspective and expertise could help. Long beloved for breaking stigmas around sexual problems, Dr. Ruth made it her mission to help individuals break free from the bonds of hopelessness and isolation.

We are social animals. We have a shared desire to connect and create lasting relationships with the people around us. But the heaviness of loneliness can make this feel impossible. Dr. Ruth, with Emmy Award–winning journalist Allison Gilbert and longtime collaborator Pierre Lehu, tackles the subject with compassion and her trademark no-nonsense approach. She provides practical and creative strategies for finding friends, community, and intimacy. And it’s anchored by Dr. Ruth’s own story, from the horrific loneliness of losing her family in the Holocaust to living in an orphanage to rebuilding her life in America and eventually becoming a world-renowned sex therapist.

With 100 concrete and innovative opportunities that can be put to use immediately, The Joy of Connections isn’t only an action-oriented guidebook on overcoming loneliness from one of the most well-respected therapists of our time; it’s also the vital kick in the pants we all need in order to start seeking—and finding—deep and lasting human connections.

* This audiobook edition includes a downlaodable PDF including the Further Resources section from the book.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2024 Dr. Ruth K. Westheimer (P)2024 Random House Audio
Communication & Social Skills Friendship Mood Disorders Personal Success Psychology
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Critic reviews

“Dr. Ruth has done it again! If only I could give this book to my lonely twenty-something self.”—Judy Blume

“The more I study happiness, the more I understand that strong relationships are key—perhaps the key—to living a happy life. To be happy, we need to feel like we belong, that we’re connected to others. This is exactly why we need Dr. Ruth’s new book. Her strategies are essential for building the kinds of bonds that will reduce loneliness and transform lives.”—Gretchen Rubin

“Who better to take on the loneliness epidemic than the legend who helped us talk about sex without blushing. As Dr. Ruth knows, our needs go well beyond the bedroom. This is urgent work. We’re lucky to have her in the fight.”—Dan Harris

What listeners say about The Joy of Connections

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    13
  • 4 Stars
    1
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    13
  • 4 Stars
    1
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    11
  • 4 Stars
    2
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Just how blunt it is, I love that

Feels like real advice from someone who knows what they are talking about. It feels practical without being annoying. Honestly gives me Hope that I can get better 😌

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

practical and simple

simple yet practical tips for combatting loneliness
I would have wanted to listen to it in her own voice

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great book for the current time

Great narrator. The book is deeply impactful and timely. Everyone should read this given the world we live in today.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A final gift of true connection

To the very end, Dr. Ruth and her team took their final strength to bring humans from the brink of lonely extinction back into the fold of humanity with what might be her most heartfelt and hopeful book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

better together

The timing of this book was perfect. I'm writing a book on building community.

The story is great and the narration feels like Dr. Ruth is speaking directly to you.

Thank you, Dr. Ruth.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

L’chaim to a more meaningful life!

So many beautiful ~ profound shared life lessons, pearls of wisdom for everyONE! True gifts! Dr. Ruth, you’ll always live on in all of our hearts forevermore! ❤️

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Dr Ruth’s Goodbye message to the lonely

After hearing a wonderful podcast featuring one of the co-authors of this book dispensing quick practical information on communication and hearing her fond memories of the 96 year old Dr Ruth and working on this book together, I was looking forward to reading (hearing) “The Joy of Communication”.
Sadly the book itself wasn’t what I expected or hoped for. It felt like a likable enough grandmother giving aged advice to very lonely adult. It was much less about joy or connection than loneliness and Dr. Ruth’s personal history. If it was written from my own grandmother I would treasure the book as a way of remembering her and would love to pass it down to future generations so people would have a fun time remembering her.
Much of the advice wasn’t bad (I tell people to join Meetup too), but most of it was JUST OFF, the way that a lot of advice from any 96 year old might be. “Don’t work for a company that doesn’t make you come into the office full time, otherwise how are you going to make friends at work”.
But the biggest disappointment was as I said, it really had very little to do with joy or Communication. Too Bad. Goodbye Dr. Ruth, and thanks for being all of who you were.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful