All The Beauty in the World

The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Me

De: Patrick Bringley

Narrado por: Patrick Bringley

New York Times bestseller

Named one of the best books of the year by the New York Public Library, the Financial Times, the New York Post, Book Riot, and The Sunday Times (London).

An “exquisite” (The Washington Post) “hauntingly beautiful” (Associated Press) portrait of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and its treasures by a former New Yorker staffer who spent a decade as a museum guard.

Millions of people climb the grand marble staircase to visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art every year. But only a select few have unrestricted access to every nook and cranny. They’re the guards who roam unobtrusively in dark blue suits, keeping a watchful eye on the two million square foot treasure house. Caught up in his glamourous fledgling career at The New Yorker, Patrick Bringley never thought that he’d be one of them. Then his older brother was diagnosed with fatal cancer and he found himself needing to escape the mundane clamor of daily life. So he quit The New Yorker and sought solace in the most beautiful place he knew.

To his surprise and your delight, this temporary refuge becomes Bringley’s home away from home for a decade. We follow him as he guards delicate treasures from Egypt to Rome, strolls the labyrinths beneath the galleries, wears out nine pairs of company shoes, and marvels at the beautiful works in his care. Bringley enters the museum as a ghost, silent and almost invisible, but soon finds his voice and his tribe: the artworks and their creators and the lively subculture of museum guards—a gorgeous mosaic of artists, musicians, blue-collar stalwarts, immigrants, cutups, and dreamers. As his bonds with his colleagues and the art grow, he comes to understand how fortunate he is to be walled off in this little world, and how much it resembles the best aspects of the larger world to which he gradually, gratefully returns.

In the tradition of classic workplace memoirs like Lab Girl and Working Stiff, All the Beauty in the World is an “empathic” (The New York Times Book Review), “moving” (NPR), “consoling, and beautiful” (The Guardian) portrait of a great museum, its hidden treasures, and the people who make it tick, by one of its most intimate observers.

Reseñas de la Crítica

"With his engaging voice, Patrick Bringley takes the listener inside New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art in a uniquely personal way. Having been a museum guard for 10 years, he offers keenly detailed observations of visitors, his fellow guards, and the art itself. The former NEW YORKER staffer narrates his insightful and detailed memoir in a resonant voice with slightly clipped speech, switching to lively expression for dialogue with patrons and co-workers. Bringley came to his job while grieving the death of his brother, hoping to be surrounded by quiet beauty. He rambles back and forth between details of his own life and commentary on his relationships to works of art that especially speak to him. As a guard, he offered much more than the “don’t touch” that most visitors would expect."

Simply Lovely

This was the most lovely book I've read in a long time. Bringley's willingness to be so vulnerable with his grief is admirable. Neither himself nor anyone in his life seemed to put him on a time table to getting over his brother's death. Having a mother who taught me the joys of art and museum going, the setting of the MET particularly spoke to me. Beautifully written and perfectly paced.

it has inspired me to go to the Met

I liked it. wished I could see the art, if there is a PDF like it says, can't find it, at least on the phone app. I'll definitely add the Met as a stop when I go to NYC now.

A Love Story to the Metropolitan Museum

Patrick Bringley's thoughtful, sensitive, informative, love letter to the Metropolitan Museum, entwined with the loss of his brother is written and read with honesty, compassion and passion,

I loved every minute of the book. I had listen to his last part describing what lasting feelings one can experience from all that a museum has to offer, is pure poetry.

I’ve just spent 10 years at the Met without ever stepping foot there

This was a great book and performed well by the author. The story was captivating, funny, and insightful. I loved hearing about Patrick’s point of view as he spent his time as a guard at the Met.

Inspiration to visit the MET

This audiobook serves as an inspiring invitation to explore the treasures of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, one of the world’s most esteemed cultural institutions. Through the writer’s vivid narrative, listeners are drawn into the unique experience of working in the presence of masterpieces from diverse cultures and time periods. The detailed descriptions not only bring these works to life but also illuminate the profound connections between art and history. Whether you’re a seasoned art enthusiast or a casual visitor, this audiobook will deepen your appreciation for the museum’s vast collections and inspire you to personally engage with the art that has shaped civilizations across the globe. It’s a powerful reminder of how art transcends boundaries, offering a window into the collective human experience.