All the Beauty in the World: The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Me by Patrick Bringley (2023 memoir)

This is a book for those who love museums, for those who have always wanted to visit the Met in New York City, and for those who can’t wait to get back! As he mourns the loss of his dear older brother, Patrick decides to leave his job and do something quite different. He applies for a job as a guard at the Metropolitan Museum. He visited it first as an 11-year-old with his family and always remembered going up the Grand Staircase. Both of his parents were interested in art and with a couple of art history classes in college, his art background might have been considered minimal. But his passion for art was great and only grew exponentially during his years at the museum as a guard. We are introduced to the various rooms—the Egyptian, the Astor Court where a scholar’s garden from the Ming Dynasty has been recreated, African art, and a Picasso Exhibition that attracted more than 10,000 visitors some days! Patrick is accessible to the patrons with questions, but it’s his time absorbing the amazing beauty of his surroundings that I will always remember. My Book Club read this book and all are excited to visit one of our local museums again—and hope to find a guard with Patrick’s love for the job. 

Reviewed by Robin Olivier