In September 1994, six friends sat down in their favorite coffee shop and began bantering about sex, relationships, jobs, and just about everything else. A quarter of a century later, new fans are still finding their way into the lives of Rachel, Ross, Joey, Chandler, Monica, and Phoebe. Noted pop culture historian Saul Austerlitz utilizes exclusive interviews with creators, directors, producers, writers, and cast members to tell the story of Friends' creation, its remarkable decade-long run, and its astonishing Netflix-fueled afterlife. Readers will go behind the scenes to hear from the people who were present as the show was developed and cast, written and filmed. They'll also discover surprising details—that Monica and Joey were the show's original romantic couple, and how Danielle Steel probably saved Jennifer Aniston's career. The show that defined the 1990s has a legacy that has endured beyond wildest expectations. And in this hilarious, informative, and entertaining book, readers will now understand why.