The 2000 Year Old Man in the Year 2000: The Book

by Mel Brooks, Carl Reiner

The 2000 Year Old Man was actually born in 1950, when Carl Reiner bought a $138 Revere tape recorder, plugged in the microphone, and instead of saying, "Testing, testing," turned to Mel Brooks and asked, "Is it true that you were at the scene of the Crucifixion some 2000 years ago?" As Brooks' imagination took flight, the old man uttered his first remembrance of things past with a moan of "Oooooooohboy." And then: "I knew Christ, Christ was a thin lad, always wore sandals. Hung around with 12 other guys. They came in the store, no one ever bought anything. Once they asked for water." Carl Reiner and Mel Brooks ad-libbed their first interviews between the miraculous ancient sage and the reporter covering his history-making arrival in the United States. The 2000 Year Old Man knew everyone from Jesus to Shakespeare, Cleopatra to Paul Revere. He was there when men discovered women, and he dated Joan of Arc. The feisty raconteur had been married several hundred times. He had 42,000 children -- "and not one comes to visit me." The Jewish Methuselah had something to say about everyone and everything -- from religion to soul kissing, from taxes to nectarines: "Half a peach, half a plum. It's a hell of a fruit!" Brooks never knew what Reiner was going to ask, and Reiner only knew that he would never get the same answer twice. Reiner calls it "writing with the mouth." Most of the targets Reiner and Brooks skewered between 1961 and 1974 on record albums are still with us, including food, cigarettes, the power of advertising, selling America to Japan, neglected children, fear of homosexuals in the military, inadequate health care, fad diets, violent films and pretentious filmmakers. In this millenial update of the cult comedy classic, the 2000 Year Old Man offers his unique wit and wisdom on everything from the Mars landing to shopping malls; homeopathy to the invention of the infomercial; his own dietary secrets, from eating a swirl to his time-tested Seven-Day Diet; and pet peeves, from rap music to "If you know the extension, press one..." The humor of The 2000 Year Old Man in the Year 2000   is a hilarious antidote to the millenial literature of the '90s.

Genres: Humor, Comedy, Nonfiction, History

160 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1997

About the author

Mel Brooks (born "Melvin Kaminsky") is an American multi-award winning director, writer, composer, lyricist, comedian, actor and producer best known as a creator of broad film farces and comedy parodies.

Brooks is a member of the short list of entertainers with the distinction of having won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony award.

Reviews

[Marylu Sanok · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous but better when you see if performed

[Bill Cass · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's okay. A shadow of the old skit. It's best served as a side of nostalgia.

[Carmen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really needs the audio

[Debra · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to love this book, as I have always loved Carl Reiner and Mel Brooks and their comedy. However, there were only a couple of the stories that made me giggle slightly. It was mainly just interesting reading for me. I tried to watch some on YouTube and had the same reaction.

I am sure there are people out there who loved this book or will love it, if you read it. I do not mean to dissuade you from doing that.

[Craig Jacobowitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, I've been in a rough place for the last six months with the pandemic raging in my state and across the country. This book was a welcome distraction and I highly recommend it, especially for fans of Mel Brooks and Carl Reiner. A very funny book from two comedic greats! Also and easy and quick read.

[Cathryn Michon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm shocked to see this book with such a low rating. I'm biased, I knew Carl Reiner personally, but I'm telling you, this book is a treasure. What you need to do is get the audio book, but don't listen to it if you're driving, because you might have to do what I did which was to pull over on the side of the road because I was laughing too hard to drive. Honestly, it's brilliant.

[Zach · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're a fan of this classic comic duo, you're going to love this book. If you're not a fan of The 2000 Year Old Man...are you ok? Wasn't there love in your home?....and why did you look up this book?

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious and imaginative!!

[Rick · Rating 4 out of 5]

funny

[Marci Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny! Great Imagination! Really hilarious duo!

[Heather Gahres · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was exactly as I expected but when my dad recommends something I try it 🤣

[Patti Beltman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read it with a smile. Especially when you have their voices in your head.

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny, funny, funny - 2000 year old funny

[Susan Krich · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an easy to read laugh out loud delight

[Desi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t remember when I started reading this, but it is a cute, short fun read. Mel Brooks and Carl Reiner are classic

[GrosvenorMedia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just the funniest. Classic, ridiculous, smart, stupid comedy. Quick and absurd. Are these spoilers? So sue me. Loved it.

[Kristina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny book told in away you know it’s from Mel Brooks. A quick story that will have you chuckling with the sarcasm and picturing him and Carl Reiner performing this for friends.

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cute little book filled with hammy jokes and bad puns. I love that kind of stuff so I really liked it. If you're into Mel Brooks' other comedy or if you've seen or heard the sketch this book is based on, you will probably like it (you may also already heard some of this book, as many of the jokes seem to be recycled from the sketch). This made a great bus read, it's easy to pick up and put down, and sometimes the jokes are side-splitters. I can even hear Mel Brooks' voice and that thick accent he effects when I'm reading.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first read this book when I was around eleven or so, and it was the funniest book I had ever read. Pretty sure I reread it a couple of times just that year. I've flipped through it recently and it isn't as laugh-out-loud funny to me now as it was back then, but this was such a huge thing for me back then I just have to give it four stars.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Classic Mel Brooks wit and humor. I really enjoyed this quick read.

[Sheila Kadelbach · Rating 4 out of 5]

Humorous

[Dave Peticolas · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a collection of a famous comedy bit by Brooks and Reiner. It's funny, but I suspect it's funnier when done live.

[Nancy Strong · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are a Mel Brooks fan (and I am), you'll love it!

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

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