The Constant Outsider: Memoirs of a South Boston Mechanic

Book Recommendation by Izzy Kalman (July 2008)I am fortunate to have made the acquaintance of a wonderful man, Tom Cirignano. He first got in touch with me several years ago, when he discovered my website while looking to help a young victim of bullying. Last year, he emailed me asking me to review a manuscript of a book he had written about his life experiences. I didn’t expect much (lots of amateurs write books and think they are terrific), but I was very pleasantly surprised. I couldn’t put the book down. In fact, I volunteered to write the Foreword to the book (and I was glad he agreed). Tom’s true stories of life in the crime-infested neighborhoods of South Boston are exciting as well as funny, and it is impossible not to fall in love with this terrific, unpretentious guy. I think he is a true saint. For him to have survived all his misadventures, someone up there must really love him. Tom claims that he never felt he fit in socially despite his attempts–thus the title The Constant Outsider– though, contrary to his claims, he did a superb job at it. Wherever he lived, and whatever group he got involved in, people ended up valuing his company. He learned the lessons of life from the school of hard knocks, with persistence, resilience and a healthy ability to laugh at himself.

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