The legendary comedian, actor, and film producer and director traces his rise from a Depression-era kid in Brooklyn to his stellar film career, offering insight into the inspiration for his ideas and the many close friendships and collaborations behind his success. Brooks shares never-before-told, behind-the-scenes anecdotes and remembrances as he charts his rise from a Depression-era kid in Brooklyn to the recipient of the National Medal of Arts. From his career with Caesar's Your Show of Shows to his many films, and his Broadway musical adaption of The Producers, he offers insight into the inspiration behind the ideas for his boundary-breaking work, and shares details about many close friendships. -- adapted from jacket

Brooklyn -- The mountains -- World War II -- Television-- the Sid Caesar years -- Carl Reiner and the 2000 Year Old Man -- Johnny Carson and The Tonight Show -- The Chinese Gourmet Society -- Kismet-- meeting Anne Bancroft -- Get Smart -- The Producers -- The Twelve Chairs -- Blazing Saddles -- Young Frankenstein -- Silent Movie -- High Anxiety -- Brooksfilms -- History of the World, Part I -- Brooksfilms, part II -- To Be or Not to Be -- Brooksfilms, part III -- Spaceballs -- Life stinks -- Robin Hood: Men in Tights -- Dracula: Dead and Loving It -- The Producers on Broadway -- My third act.