A heartfelt, laugh-out-loud memoir from a New York City doorman with sharp ears and a penchant for storytelling.“An unforgettable meditation on the weight of belonging and the true cost of becoming.”—Junot Díaz

An academically gifted Latino kid, Stephen Bruno shares his family’s high aspirations for his future. He attended magnet schools and selective academic programs. But his dreams are derailed when, much to his Mami’s dismay, he follows a girlfriend to Minnesota and into a dead-end job. Languishing and unable to get it together, Stephen eventually moves back home, where, broke and eager to make a path for himself—and get away from the oppressively religious father wreaking havoc on his life—the affable, easygoing, and quick-witted Stephen lands a much-coveted job as a doorman at a high-end building on Park Avenue.Hilarity and drama soon abound as Stephen learns the dos and don’ts of being a doorman behind the front entrance of this swanky address and returns to college after several years away from the classroom. In Building Material, he shares those entertaining tales and introduces an unforgettable cast of characters— from Puerto Rican and Albanian doormen battling for turf to quirky one percenters and angry literature professors, in addition to his both friends and frenemies. Throughout, Stephen offers a glimpse into the unfathomable lives of Park Avenue residents and a sharp portrait of an everyday man wanting more for himself.