All About Me!

More about the book

At 95, Mel Brooks continues to set the standard for comedy across television, film, and stage. For the first time, this EGOT winner shares his story in his own words. Fans of American comedy can finally enjoy never-before-told anecdotes from a master storyteller and filmmaker. This memoir charts Brooks's rise from a Depression-era kid in Brooklyn to the recipient of the National Medal of Arts. His journey includes serving in the U.S. Army during World War II and honing his comedic skills as a teenager in the Catskills, always searching for the perfect joke. His iconic career began with Sid Caesar's Your Show of Shows, part of a legendary writers' room alongside Carl Reiner and Neil Simon. After co-creating the hit 2000 Year Old Man comedy albums and the classic series Get Smart, Brooks's film career skyrocketed. He wrote, directed, and starred in classics like The Producers, Blazing Saddles, and Young Frankenstein, while also producing groundbreaking films like The Elephant Man and The Fly. Brooks later conquered Broadway with his Tony-winning musical, The Producers. This memoir offers insights into the inspirations behind his boundary-breaking work and highlights his close friendships with legends like Sid Caesar, Gene Wilder, and Anne Bancroft, providing a deeper understanding of one of history's most beloved entertainers.