When I Was Your Age: Life Lessons, Funny Stories & Questionable Parenting Advice from a Professional Clown

by Kenan Thompson

Overview

Notes From Your Bookseller

Kenan Thompson has spent his life on screen, now he's coming to the page to get personal. With essays written in that hilarious tone he's known for, touching on serious subjects that apply to practically anyone, this is a satisfying blend of heart and humor.

“Kenan is a master storyteller with extraordinary stories to tell. I wouldn’t miss this for the world.”—Leslie Jones

When I Was Your Age is a hilarious, heartwarming and surprising ode to growing up, getting older and wiser, and luck, life, and learning from the school of hard knocks, from SNL's longest-serving actor, Kenan Thompson

Kenan Thompson is Saturday Night Live’s longest-ever-serving cast member and a star of such pioneering sketches as “Black Jeopardy” and is hugely beloved thanks to a tidal wave of nostalgic fans who grew up on early 2000s classics All That, Good Burger, and Kenan & Kel on Nickelodeon.

He’s also a dad (to two girls) in his mid-40s living in suburbia, and whose universal, relatable, family-friendly humor has created unbelievable appeal and engagement from fans from middle America to coastal elites. Becoming a dad sucked the cool right out of him -- and he's OK with that!

When I Was Your Age is packed with hilarious yet poignant essays that are aimed to offer any reader valuable advice on parenting, focusing on positivity, and having fun in life. Kids, new parents, fellow fathers, budding comics, and aunties who want to pinch his cheeks, can all learn from his biggest mistakes and most triumphant victories. There’s something for everybody here!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780063348066
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	12/05/2023
Pages:	240
Sales rank:	35,447
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Kenan Thompson is Saturday Night Live’s longest-ever-serving cast member, starring in such pioneering sketches as “Black Jeopardy!,” and is hugely beloved, thanks to a tidal wave of nostalgic fans who grew up on early 2000s classics All That, Good Burger, and Kenan & Kel on Nickelodeon.

Editorial Reviews

01/08/2024

Saturday Night Live actor Thompson reflects on his family life and storied career in this rib-tickling debut memoir-in-essays. He begins with his childhood in Georgia, attributing to his tight-knit family his own eventual status as a “softie” dad to his two young daughters. The real focus, however, is Thompson’s entertainment career, spanning from an early break on the Nickelodeon sketch comedy show All That through several films and into his ongoing tenure at SNL, where Thompson—who was hired in 2003—has become the longest-running cast member in the show’s history. Though Thompson refuses to pick a favorite SNL host, he gossips about his audition process (he faced off against Kel Mitchell, his former comedy partner, to replace retiring cast member Tracy Morgan), sharing an office with “Weekend Update” host Colin Jost, and former president Donald Trump’s appearances on SNL (“At the table read, he was a dickhead”). There are also behind-the-scenes glimpses at classic sketches including “Black Jeopardy!” and “What’s Up with That?” The prevailing tone is light, but Thompson doesn’t shy away from heavier topics, including his 2022 divorce from model Christina Evangeline and bankruptcy at the hands of a fraudulent accountant. Through it all, he’s funny, candid company. For the comedian’s fans, this is a treat. Agent: Albert Lee, UTA. (Dec.)

Publishers Weekly

 “Kenan is a master storyteller with extraordinary stories to tell. I wouldn’t miss this for the world!” — Leslie Jones 

From the Publisher

Because Kenan Thompson has been featured in movies and TV shows for the past 30 years, including a long stint on "Saturday Night Live," many people feel they know him--but this audiobook, written and narrated by the actor, shows a personal side. Thompson compares his childhood to how he's raising his two young daughters. He shares his experiences as a Black actor and notes that the longevity of his career is due to the financial hardship of his early career. Using vocal variety even while announcing chapter numbers, Thompson has a uniquely funny delivery. Fans will picture his mischievous grin from his sketch comedy during these vocal inflections. Listeners will enjoy hearing Thompson's celebrity impressions, as well as details from his falling out and recent reunion with collaborator Kel Mitchell. A.L.C. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine

JANUARY 2024 - AudioFile

2023-10-21
A memoir from the enduring former teen star and current Saturday Night Live stalwart.

Thompson has made a successful career with his avuncular charm and comforting brand of “clean comedy,” and his warmhearted memoir proves to be just as likable. Though the author has generally been reticent about discussing his personal life publicly over the years, he’s straightforward about many topics here, including his proud role as a girl dad to his “two little angels,” Georgia and Gianna, and his approach to making people laugh without putting others down. “I’ve always tried to not do the Black versions of white things,” he writes, “because that’s what most stand-ups do….It was important to me to be different. I wanted the jokes to be stuff we could all laugh at comfortably.” Thompson offers parenting and relationship advice as generously as he does career suggestions. Though he doesn’t tell all when it comes to the thornier elements of his life story—bankruptcy, divorce, estrangement from his friend and early Kenan & Kel and Good Burger co-star, Kel Mitchell—he does offer enough of an explanation before changing the subject with lines such as, “I’m not the guy who talks about this kinda stuff publicly, sorry not sorry.” Thompson is more forthcoming about his future on SNL after 20 seasons, outlining his future goals, which include playing more guitar, mentoring young actors, and focusing on his family. “Friends, it could be the end of an era,” he writes, but a few pages later, he wonders, “Why would I ever leave if I’m not in anybody’s way?” Thompson is self-aware enough to know he is happy and may already be on the right path.

Decades after joyously bounding onto TV as a teen comedy star, Thompson shows he’s still All That and so much more.

Kirkus Reviews