“We can all become weapons of
mass creation.”

How to be a Friend

(in an Unfriendly World)

Preorder now — it arrives December 9

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A small book about making connection possible again.

Lately, it’s become harder to stay connected — not just online, but in life.

We’re more “reachable” than ever, and somehow less reached.

In How to Be a Friend (in an Unfriendly World), award-winning filmmaker and teacher Barnet Bain offers a heartfelt guide to what friendship really means, and how it can change everything.

Originally developed from his Columbia University master’s course for psychologists, the book 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.

Drawing on years of storytelling and teaching, Barnet shares what he’s learned about connection in a way that’s honest, practical, and easy to relate to.

If you’ve ever felt lonely in a crowded room, or wondered how to show up better for the people who matter most, this book will meet you right where you are.

It’s hopeful, tender, and a little bit funny, the kind of read that makes you nod, smile, and maybe text someone you love.

What You’ll Find Inside:

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, with you.

This is a how-to guide and a touchstone. A small-format companion with big impact. A book to keep on your nightstand – or give to someone you care about.

If you’ve ever felt like the world is a little too cold, too fast, or too lonely, How to be a Friend is your reminder that you are not alone – and never have to be.

FREE GIFT

As my gift, you’ll receive my Friendship Field Guide — a free mini-companion to How to Be a Friend (in an Unfriendly World) with short practical ways to strengthen your connections and bring more kindness into everyday life.

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Milton’s Secret

A new movie by Barnet Bain starring Donald Sutherland & Michelle Rodriquez from the book by Eckhart Tolle & Bob Friedman.

A movie about family and the uncertain times families live in. Milton is a 12 year-old growing up in an economically and socially unpredictable world. His mother and father are workaholics with marital and financial problems, and he is bullied at school. When his grandfather visits, Milton learns rehashing the past and worrying about the future are preventing him from finding true happiness.

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"Milton’s Secret points to the possibility of living in a different stage of consciousness that no longer generates unnecessary suffering for yourself and for others.”

Eckhart Tolle

Author of The Power of Now and A New Earth

"Milton's Secret is a rare gem that doesn't try to answer every question neatly. It’s languid and subtle and models a mastery of the art of presence.”

Psychology Today Magazine

Watch The Trailer

The Third Story: Awakening the Love That Transforms

In clear and moving prose, Barnet takes us on a journey to discover the profound meaning of our stories and the freedom that lies beyond them. In the first story, we live through the woundings and tragedies that leave us in tatters. The second story is where we seek to put ourselves together again, valiantly overcoming our challenges and obstacles. Some might stop there, satisfied to have sought and achieved…unless they hear the call. The third story is a response to a call from deep within the self. It is an extraordinary state that inspires us to live our own dreams and to intimately know our real purpose and meaning. In the pages of a compact little book, you are about to take a very big journey of the heart.

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"Barnet expresses in The Third Story how to find the truth of yourself, by facing the paradox that takes you beyond your reason, knowledge and identity. It is an excellent book. I gladly recommend it."

Don Miguel Ruiz

Author of The Four Agreements

"Barnet packs our lives into this lovely journey into our past, present, and future. He demonstrates a rare ability to generate value in few words using powerful images and abstractions with accessibility. I found his guidance on the journey through my life to be enlightening and challenging. I have done a great deal of personal development work and think that anyone will benefit from this perspective on life and the insight that the exercises bring."