The Seven Deadly Friendships: who they are and how to deal with them

The Seven Deadly Friendships by Mary DeMuth is a book on the types of relationships that can harm us. Taken from her own experiences and Proverbs 6:16-19, Ms. DeMuth takes the reader through the different types of dangerous relationships, what to look out for and how avoid them. Part of the book covers the different relationships. The seven relationships are: narcissistic friends, unreliable friends, predatory friends, conman friends, tempter friends, fake friends and dramatic friends. She also encourages the reader to look at themselves to evaluate if they behave like any these types and offers suggestions to change and avoid these behaviors in the future. Part 2 covers how to move forward, find healthy relationships and gives Biblical examples to encourage and support the readers and he or she strives to change. She offers seven life-giving practices to ensure we are in healthy relationships on everyone’s part. From reviewing the past for patterns of behavior to avoid the behaviors which hurt us and ways to move forward in healthy relationships.

The Seven Deadly Friendships was suggested to me in an email from a publisher I subscribe to. The premise was interesting, so I ordered it. The book was an easy and quick read as I was able to finish it in one day. It’s short only 200 pages but the information is valuable and worth reading. We have all come in contact with individuals who may fit these categories. Whether these individuals are family, friends, co-workers, etc, this book can help you recognize unsafe people and gives strategies how to deal with them if they are people that you must interact with. Ms. DeMuth is very forthcoming and honest about her past experiences with these individuals and offers other people’s experiences. I especially like the parts in which she has the reader evaluate if they have behaved this way in the past or even behaves in these unsafe behaviors in current relationships. She offers strategies on how to deal with moving forward and seeking help, if necessary. If you are looking to improve your relationships with people around you, the first book I recommend is Boundaries by Drs. Cloud and Townsend. The second one is this book.

The Seven Deadly Friendships

is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook