Arsenio

A Memoir

Read by Arsenio Hall
LIST PRICE $26.99

About The Book

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

Arsenio Hall, America’s beloved late-night TV host, reveals the ups and downs of his remarkable career as a trailblazing pioneer with this “vivid, outrageous” (The New York Times) behind-the-scenes, star-studded, no-holds-barred memoir of celebrity, race, and show business.

Arsenio Hall holds a uniquely prominent place in American culture—celebrated late-night host and comedic actor, famed for starring roles in the cultural touchstones Coming to America and Harlem Nights.

Now, he pulls back the curtain and takes us to a different time in Hollywood. Iconic scenes include: starting out as a young magician in Cleveland; hosting his first talk show in the basement of his apartment building when he was in elementary school; cutting his teeth at the world-famous Comedy Store in Hollywood, learning about comedy and life from legendary comedian Richard Pryor; forming lifelong bonds with legendary icons Muhammad Ali, Luther Vandross, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Eddie Murphy; tasting superstar success with Coming to America, the film that preceded The Arsenio Hall Show; conducting unforgettable, groundbreaking interviews with Magic Johnson, Bill Clinton, Tupac Shakur, Maya Angelou, Madonna, and Minister Louis Farrakhan; rescuing a family from a home-fire with Jay Leno; sharing hot sauces and blackjack with Patti LaBelle; and chilling with Prince.

And then, he made the difficult decision to walk away.

This bracingly candid memoir offers a new appreciation for this raw talent and gifted storyteller, who nightly, for six years, hosted what felt like a televised “party” that changed the landscape of late-night television and brought Black culture into living rooms across America.

With this book, he does it one more time.

About The Author

Photograph by Kareem Black

Arsenio Hall is a comedian, talk show host, producer, writer, and actor. He was the nation's most renowned Black late-night talk show host with The Arsenio Hall Show and has appeared in the beloved films Coming to America and Harlem Nights. Follow him on X @ArsenioHall. 

About The Reader

Photograph by Kareem Black

Arsenio Hall is a comedian, talk show host, producer, writer, and actor. He was the nation's most renowned Black late-night talk show host with The Arsenio Hall Show and has appeared in the beloved films Coming to America and Harlem Nights. Follow him on X @ArsenioHall. 

Product Details

  • Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio (March 31, 2026)
  • Runtime: 11 hours and 8 minutes
  • ISBN13: 9781797166001

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