Neighboring

The missing manual for a more connected life, with simple, step-by-step guidance for meeting the people around us, showing up for one another, and rebuilding a better world

If you want community but aren’t sure how to find it, you’re not alone. If you’ve joined a group only to have it fizzle out, struggled to move beyond casual acquaintance, or found hosting daunting, it’s easy to conclude that tightknit networks of support are for people with more outgoing personalities, lots of extra time, and better luck.

In Neighboring, journalist Katherine Goldstein has good news: community building is a skill you can learn, no matter your circumstances. Drawing on interviews, years of research, and her own experience, Goldstein offers concrete advice for practicing the small, warm acts of “neighboring” that expand our social worlds over time. She walks readers through getting to know their “nearbys,” building a village around caregiving, and finding belonging in houses of worship and workplaces. Along the way, she offers a Deep Casual playbook for prioritizing connection over perfection, and permission for all of us to do less—less cleaning our homes before people come over, less hyper-intensive parenting, less worrying about what other people will think—so we can show up more for the relationships that matter.

There are structural reasons Americans are spending more time alone, but this is not another book theorizing about the loneliness crisis. Approachable, insightful, and practical, Neighboring is a refreshingly realistic manual for creating the connections you crave and our world so desperately needs.

Standard and Primary covers are widely available through general retailers. They often have higher print runs and can be cheaper, especially during sales.

In contrast, Direct Market (DM) and variant covers are primarily sold in comic shops. DM editions tend to have more limited availability and may be more valuable to collectors.

The main differences lie in artwork style, availability, price, and collector appeal. Ultimately, the choice between standard and variant covers depends on personal preference, budget, and individual collecting goals.

Comic book enthusiasts have various formats to choose from when collecting their favorite stories.
Here's a brief overview of the main types:

Omnibus

• Large, hardcover collections
• Usually contain complete runs or extensive story arcs
• Typically 800-1000+ pages
• Higher price point, often €100-€150

Oversized Hardcover (OHC)

• Similar dimensions to omnibus, but thinner
• Collect shorter runs or story arcs
• Usually 300-600 pages
• Priced between €30-€50

Hardcover (HC)

• Standard-sized hardcover books
• Collect 6-12 issues typically
• Similar dimensions to single issues, but with a hard cover
• Priced around €25-€35

Trade Paperback (TP)

• Softcover collections
• Standard comic book size
• Usually collect 4-6 issues
• Most affordable option, typically €15-€25

Other Formats

• Absolute Editions: Oversized, deluxe hardcovers (mainly DC Comics)
• Compendiums: Massive paperback collections
• Graphic Novels (OGN/GN): Original stories not previously released as single issues

The choice between these formats often depends on personal preference, budget, and collecting goals. Omnibus and OHC editions offer larger artwork and more content but at a higher price, while TPs provide a more affordable way to collect complete story arcs