All About Me!

My Remarkable Life in Show Business

By: Mel Brooks

Narrated by: Mel Brooks

Length: 15 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

At 95, the legendary Mel Brooks continues to set the standard for comedy across television, film, and the stage. Now, for the first time, this EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony) winner shares his story in his own words.

“Laugh-out-loud hilarious and always fascinating, from the great Mel Brooks. What else do you expect from the man who knew Jesus and dated Joan of Arc?” (Billy Crystal)

For anyone who loves American comedy, the long wait is over. Here are the never-before-told, behind-the-scenes anecdotes and remembrances from a master storyteller, filmmaker, and creator of all things funny.

All About Me! charts Mel Brooks’ meteoric rise from a Depression-era kid in Brooklyn to the recipient of the National Medal of Arts. Whether serving in the United States Army in World War II, or during his burgeoning career as a teenage comedian in the Catskills, Mel was always mining his experiences for material, always looking for the perfect joke. His iconic career began with Sid Caesar’s Your Show of Shows, where he was part of the greatest writers’ room in history, which included Carl Reiner, Neil Simon, and Larry Gelbart. After co-creating both the mega-hit 2000 Year Old Man comedy albums and the classic television series Get Smart, Brooks’ stellar film career took off. He would go on to write, direct, and star in The Producers, The Twelve Chairs, Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, Silent Movie, High Anxiety, and Spaceballs, as well as produce groundbreaking and eclectic films including The Elephant Man, The Fly, and My Favorite Year. Brooks then went on to conquer Broadway with his record-breaking, Tony-winning musical, The Producers.

All About Me! offers fans insight into the inspiration behind the ideas for his outstanding collection of boundary-breaking work, and offers details about the many close friendships and collaborations Brooks had, including those with Sid Caesar, Carl Reiner, Gene Wilder, Madeleine Kahn, Alfred Hitchcock, and the great love of his life, Anne Bancroft.

Filled with tales of struggle, achievement, and camaraderie, listeners will gain a more personal and deeper understanding of the incredible body of work behind one of the most accomplished and beloved entertainers in history.

©2021 Mel Brooks (P)2021 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“This book has everything you would ever want Mel Brooks to tell you, and at 480 pages it is still not enough! Pure joy.” (Judd Apatow)

“If you are holding the great Mel Brooks’ memoir and you are wasting time reading this blurb, you’re an idiot.” (Conan O’Brien)

“There are people who have great stories and there are people that tell great stories. Mel is that precious combination of a person with amazing stories who happens to be one of the greatest storytellers of all time. Lucky for him? Lucky for us!” (Sarah Silverman)

“All About Me! isn’t a typical comedy memoir, and why would it be? Mel is a singular talent, still witty, still sharp, and still zinging us after all these years. These stories thread a hilarious narrative that is also profound and touching. Reading this, you’ll learn very quickly why Mel Brooks is a king of comedy.” (Wanda Sykes)

“Not since the Bible have I read anything so powerful and poignant. And to boot - it’s a lot funnier!” (M. Brooks)

Wonderful and nostalgic

I really enjoyed listening to Mel Brooks tell his story. I only wish I listened to it with my father.

A hit!

What’s better than a Mel Brooks autobiography? Mel Brooks talking and singing his autobiography! Laugh, cry and kvell for Brooklyn’s own Melvin James Kaminsky.

Incredibly entertaining

Narrated by the GOAT himself so, as you can imagine, you'll find yourself laughing out loud (apparently, frowned upon in the office). You'll find yourself realizing how many movie quotes are truly embedded in your memory! And more importantly, you'll find yourself realizing what a gem God gifted us in Mel Brooks.

What a G E M !

I have loved Mel Brooks since I was a little girl — thanks in part to my mother for never censoring his work. Hearing him tell these stories (and reading along in my hardcover copy of his book at the same time) has brought me so much joy! I can’t wait to share all his pictures with my sons.

Love Mel Brooks

Have loved watching his movies and now to get the background is wonderful. Easy to listen to and well worth the time and money.

I love this man 💖

Not as juicy as I’d like, but some fun and cute stories. He gets stuck just explaining what happens in his movies a lot. 😒 But I can’t help but adore Mel Brooks. Definitely a book I’d rather have listened to than read because Mel sings a lot of the songs and it’s much better than if I read it.

Absolutely Perfect

Mel Brooks is the best of his, and any generation. I enjoyed every word he read.

I Love you! Please don’t die! Wonderful book!

Stories I never heard before. Not only an educational master class of comedy, a fine view of there’s no business like show business. If I had to choose just one person, living or dead to have lunch with, I would choose Mel Brooks. It’s why I said, “Please don’t die.” Lunch with a dead body would be very awkward and frowned upon in most states.

fun times!

Mel Brooks is a remarkable human being and a talented person! I enjoyed his stories and learning the "behind the scenes" of his great movies and other work.

Unbelievably great audio book.

Outstanding from start to finish. Mel Brooks tells it all with the energy and enthusiasm of a twenty one year old. He's honest, incredibly gracious and sidetracks with some personal anecdotes. The worst part of this is that it ends. I could listen to Mel Brooks for 200,000,000,000 pages of material, hang on every word, of every story and still want more. He really is a national treasure.