Book Description

The Six: A Story about Boys, Laughter, and a Lifelong Friendship is a feel-good memoir about an unforgettable group of high school buddies and their antic-filled coming of age in the 1980s. Frank Alessandra's hilarious stories of youth and camaraderie accurately speak to the less expressive bonds and support structure of male friendship. But even though male friends may not be comfortable openly sharing troubles the way women do, hidden beneath the surface of these fun-filled tales is a heartwarming connection between six boys, as they rely on one another to get through the trials and tribulations of growing into young men. Along this journey, they confront real problems: shattered dreams, deep regrets, heartbreak, and racism. Whenever life presented such a challenge, The Six rallied, and over time, they realize that what they share is about more than just the laughs. In the end, the grown men understand why it is they hang on to each other and the priceless support their thirty-year friendship still provides. "Good male friendships started in childhood can last a lifetime and sustain a man in his later years." - Dr. Geoffrey Greif, University of Maryland School of Social Work "Male friendship can provide support, strengthen identity, and offer meaningful companionship. It's certainly something worth the effort for men to develop and maintain in their lives." - Peter M. Nardi, Ph.D., Sociology, Pitzer College. For more than 20 years, Frank Alessandra has relied on an annual get-together with five childhood buddies to soothe the stresses of adult life. Together, the men reminisce about hilarious events from their younger days. A sentimental desire to share these stories of youth and innocence inspired Alessandra to uncover a passion for storytelling through writing. A financial analyst by trade, he graduated with honors from Moravian College and received an MBA with honors from Lehigh University. He lives in Flemington, New Jersey, and has two teenaged daughters, Alyssa and Jennifer.