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Building Material
- The Memoir of a Park Avenue Doorman
- Narrated by: Stephen Bruno
- Length: 8 hrs and 56 mins
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Publisher's summary
For fans of books like Waiter Rant, and all those who have always wondered how the other half lives, comes this heartfelt, laugh-out-loud memoir from a New York City doorman with astute ears and a penchant for storytelling
As an academically gifted Latino kid growing up in the Bronx, Stephen Bruno’s family had high aspirations for his future. He attended magnet schools and selective academic programs and was on track to realize his potential. But those dreams were derailed when, much to his Mami’s dismay, he followed a girlfriend to Minnesota and a dead-end job. Languishing and unable to get it together, Stephen eventually moved back home. Broke and eager to make a way for himself—and away from the oppressively religious father wreaking havoc on his love life—the affable, easy going, 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 for the rich and famous and witnesses the antics going on behind the front entrance of this swanky building. In Building Material, he shares those entertaining tales and introduces an unforgettable cast of characters—from Puerto Rican and Albanian doormen battling it out for turf to quirky one percenters to slimy sugar daddies to his peers, both friends and frenemies. Throughout, Stephen offers a glimpse into the unfathomable lives of the residents and a sharp portrait of an everyday man wanting more for himself.
Both poignant and laugh-out-loud funny, Building Material is a captivating true tale of class, failure, and redemption—and how to come back swinging—from a gifted young talent.
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Story
Veteran Morgan Stanley banker Alok Sama thought he'd seen it all. Then he found himself chief dealmaker at the most influential technology investor in the world—SoftBank, the backer of Arm Holdings, Yahoo, Nvidia, TikTok, Uber, T-Mobile, Alibaba and WeWork. The Money Trap is Sama’s thrilling, stranger-than-fiction personal odyssey featuring his experiences alongside SoftBank’s iconic founder, Masayoshi Son, a visionary maverick who wants to be remembered as “the crazy guy who bet on the future” and whose mission is “happiness for everyone.”
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Engaging, Honest and Personal
- By Anil Narang on 11-04-24
By: Alok Sama
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Disney High
- The Untold Story of the Rise and Fall of Disney Channel's Tween Empire
- By: Ashley Spencer
- Narrated by: Lalaine
- Length: 10 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
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From private feuds and on-set disasters to fanfare that swept the nation and the realities of child stardom, culture journalist Ashley Spencer offers the first unauthorized look at the heyday of TV’s House of Mouse, featuring hundreds of exclusive new interviews with former Disney executives, creatives, and talent to explore the highs, lows, and everything in between.
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Reads like fiction!
- By Leslie on 10-05-24
By: Ashley Spencer
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Kingmaker
- Pamela Harriman's Astonishing Life of Power, Seduction, and Intrigue
- By: Sonia Purnell
- Narrated by: Louise Brealey
- Length: 16 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
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When Pamela Churchill Harriman died in 1997, the obituaries that followed were predictably scathing–and many were downright sexist. Written off as a mere courtesan and social climber, her true legacy was overshadowed by a glamorous social life and her infamous erotic adventures. Much of what she did behind the scenes–on both sides of the Atlantic–remained invisible and secret. That is, until now: with a wealth of fresh research, interviews and newly discovered sources, Sonia Purnell unveils for the first time the full, spectacular story of how she left an indelible mark on the world today.
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Tediously boring
- By Elizabeth von Kessler on 10-12-24
By: Sonia Purnell
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Farewell Yellow Brick Road
- Memories of My Life on Tour
- By: Elton John, David Furnish - foreword
- Narrated by: Richard Armitage, Vikas Adam, Daniel Henning, and others
- Length: 6 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
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Farewell Yellow Brick Road is a celebration of Elton John's record-breaking, globe-spanning farewell tour—from Allentown to Auckland, from Sydney to San Francisco. Featured concerts include Elton’s dazzling performances at Los Angeles’ Dodger Stadium in November 2022, the finale of which streamed live on Disney+. Fans will be treated to a behind-the-scenes glimpse into every aspect of these spectacular shows, including Elton’s legendary touring wardrobe by Gucci, the set design, official photography, and more.
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Non judgmental
- By GiGi on 11-05-24
By: Elton John, and others
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Dark Tide
- Growing Up with Ted Bundy
- By: Edna Cowell Martin, Megan Atkinson
- Narrated by: Morgan Hallett
- Length: 8 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
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For the first time, Edna Cowell Martin—cousin of Ted Bundy—tells her story of growing up with Ted, living in Seattle during his murderous spree, and learning the horrible truth about the man she thought she knew.
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Well Done!!!
- By Bridgett Joe on 10-05-24
By: Edna Cowell Martin, and others
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Anna
- The Biography
- By: Amy Odell
- Narrated by: Imogen Church
- Length: 15 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
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As a child, Anna Wintour was a tomboy with no apparent interest in clothing but, seduced by the miniskirts and bob haircuts of swinging 1960s London, she grew into a fashion-obsessed teenager. Her father, an influential newspaper editor, loomed large in her life, and once he decided she should become editor-in-chief of Vogue, she never looked back.
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WONDERFUL, SPLENDID, I LOVED IT!!
- By Liz Jardine on 05-13-22
By: Amy Odell
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Eden Undone
- A True Story of Sex, Murder, and Utopia at the Dawn of World War II
- By: Abbott Kahler
- Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell
- Length: 9 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
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At the height of the Great Depression, Los Angeles oil mogul George Allan Hancock and his crew of Smithsonian scientists came upon a gruesome scene: two bodies, mummified by the searing heat, on the shore of a remote Galápagos island. For the past four years Hancock and other American elites had traveled the South Seas to collect specimens for scientific research. On one trip to the Galápagos, Hancock was surprised to discover an equally exotic group of humans: European exiles who had fled political and economic unrest, hoping to create a utopian paradise.
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Abslutely enchanting
- By SBL on 10-15-24
By: Abbott Kahler
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From Under the Truck
- A Memoir
- By: Josh Brolin
- Narrated by: Josh Brolin
- Length: 6 hrs
- Unabridged
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Weaving a latticework of different strands, moving back and forth through time, Josh Brolin captures a life marked by curiosity, pain, devotion, kindness, humor. He recounts an unconventional childhood far from Hollywood. Raised on a ranch in Paso Robles, California, he was surrounded as a child by the wolves, cougars, and other wild animals gathered by his fearless and explosive mother, Jane Agee Brolin. Her tragic, early death haunts this book, and the force of her unforgettable personality is felt throughout.
By: Josh Brolin
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Shock Induction
- By: Chuck Palahniuk
- Narrated by: Michael David Axtell
- Length: 6 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
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In Shock Induction, the best and brightest students at a seemingly reputable high school are disappearing. Every day it seems another overachiever is lost to an apparent suicide. But something far more sinister is lurking beneath the surface. These kids have been under surveillance since birth, monitored and measured by an online service called “Greener Pastures.” It’s here, in Greener Pastures, that billionaires observe and recruit the next generation of talent.
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I’m not sure I’m not hypnotized.
- By Desiree Hendryx on 10-10-24
By: Chuck Palahniuk
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Women's Hotel
- A Novel
- By: Daniel M. Lavery
- Narrated by: Mara Wilson
- Length: 8 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
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The Beidermeier might be several rungs lower on the ladder than the real-life Barbizon, but its residents manage to occupy one another nonetheless. There’s Katherine, the first-floor manager, lightly cynical and more than lightly suggestible. There’s Lucianne, a workshy party girl caught between the love of comfort and an instinctive bridling at convention, Kitty the sponger, Ruth the failed hairdresser, and Pauline the typesetter. And there’s Stephen, the daytime elevator operator and part-time Cooper Union student.
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Nice presentation of facts, but without a compelling voice
- By Shopper on 10-28-24
By: Daniel M. Lavery
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Health and Safety
- A Breakdown
- By: Emily Witt
- Narrated by: Emily Witt
- Length: 9 hrs
- Unabridged
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In the summer of 2016, a divisive presidential election was underway, and a new breed of right-wing rage was on the rise. Emily Witt, who would soon publish her first book on sex in the digital age, had recently quit antidepressants for a more expansive world of psychedelic experimentation. From her apartment in Brooklyn, she began to catch glimpses of the clandestine nightlife scene thrumming around her.
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Such a sad book!
- By Eric on 10-27-24
By: Emily Witt
What listeners say about Building Material
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Noemi Rivera
- 10-04-24
Finally Memoir from a born and bred New Yorker who isn’t filtered by mainstream portrayals and depictions of its residents.
Stephen Bruno's Building Material offers a refreshing and authentic glimpse into the life of a Park Avenue doorman, narrated through the lens of a true New Yorker. Unlike many portrayals of New Yorkers that come from outsiders, Bruno's perspective as a Latino from the Bronx brings raw honesty and depth to his experiences.
The memoir stands out for maintaining the anonymity but unfiltered portrayal of the tenants and the intricacies of their lives, shedding light on a world that often goes unseen. Bruno's storytelling resonates with anyone familiar with similar upbringings, providing a candid look at the struggles and triumphs that shape his journey.
Rather than delivering the polished, glamorous narrative one might expect about the elite of Park Avenue, Bruno’s writing is grounded in real-life events and relatable characters. This authenticity is a welcome reprieve from the often superficial narratives that dominate contemporary media. While some may find his candidness challenging, those who appreciate genuine storytelling will find much to admire.
In a time when cultural conversations can feel stifled, Building Material encourages readers to embrace the complexities of life and identity. Kudos to Stephen Bruno for crafting a memoir that is both entertaining and thought-provoking. A job well done!
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- Lisa
- 10-17-24
Really interesting!
I really liked this! A neat glimpse into the world of nyc buildings and interesting characters!
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1 person found this helpful
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- Caleb Lee
- 09-24-24
It’s art. It’s literature. It’s life.
A once in a century story of an American life told with exceptional humor, nostalgia, and intrigue. You don’t only fall in love with the author, but the entire cast of unforgettable NYC characters. This memoir offers a witty glimpse into the secret life of New York's elite through the eyes of the man who holds their door. The author will make you appreciate your job in a new way and learn to never take any experience for granted. Bravo to Mr Bruno and his fantastic story – we can’t wait for the sequel!
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- Grace
- 10-29-24
So torn about this one
I love memoir. I felt very torn through out this one. The authors story is interesting - absolutely, but for me, it had to either be more about his life or more about the job. Being a doorman is secondary to this story, so if you’re looking for a juicy story with gossip about building residents- there is literally none. I didn’t mind the shift to the authors life story, but it completely lacked self reflection or nuance. He repeatedly accused others of assuming things about him and then in the next sentence assumed bold things about others without context or background. There were so many missing pieces- like why was he interested in a relationship with Bam Bam. Memoir has the opportunity to show someone’s growth, development, journey- and make you question your own. The only growth this showed was the actual passage of time, his career development and development as a writer- nothing internal or deeper. Huge miss in my opinion. Sadly I would recommend skipping it. It missed the mark for me.
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