We Burn on Friday

Book excerpt: We Burn on Friday is Richard Manieri's account of growing up in the Italian-American community of Philadelphia, with hilarious tales of learning his way around a boxing ring, getting through weekly confession at his Catholic church (name and serial number only), and taking that frightening walk to meet a girl across the dance floor. His story extends to his determined but often stymied journey into broadcast journalism -- including his first job at a radio station, where he learned, after he was hired, that his work included burning the station's trash every Friday. And all of it is told through the prism of his deep and abiding love for his father, who, one way or the other, was with him every step of the way. -- Richard Manieri