• When I Was Your Age

  • Life Lessons, Funny Stories & Questionable Parenting Advice from a Professional Clown
  • By: Kenan Thompson
  • Narrated by: Kenan Thompson
  • Length: 7 hrs and 58 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (345 ratings)

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When I Was Your Age  By  cover art

When I Was Your Age

By: Kenan Thompson
Narrated by: Kenan Thompson
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Publisher's summary

“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 listener 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!

©2023 Kenan Thompson (P)2023 HarperCollins Publishers

Editorial Review

All that and more
Whether he first made you laugh on Nickelodeon’s hit series All That or during his ongoing run as SNL’s longest-serving performer, Kenan Thompson has been warming hearts with sketch comedy for decades. For many fans, myself included, it feels as if we grew up alongside the former teen star. And while an imagined sense of familiarity with a celeb is, of course, a delusion, When I Was Your Age reminds us why, with Thompson, it is so easy to believe. His down-to-earth likability and undeniable realness underlie all of his performances, including this recording, which hilariously illustrates how self-doubt and confidence both played significant roles in paving his path to success. The wisdom he has gleaned from being a girl dad shines throughout the memoir, and is a pleasure to listen to. —Haley H., Audible Editor

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What listeners say about When I Was Your Age

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Humor & Humility

Loved this book! It was a very good thing he shared his life for all to read. It inspires one to keep at it and work hard and love in the best way. Great SNL insights too!!

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Funny and inspiring!

Exactly the kind of material I expected to get from Kenan, he has so much to say and such an incredible delivery as the narrator.

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Sweet & funny

Such a terrific book! Kenan is so warm, humble & hilarious. As a nearly 4 decade watcher of SNL, it was a delight to hear his stories.

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I grew up loving the sky and I love his book

it's a little slow at times but funny and clever as the author always is, and the story is well told. I would recommend this book

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I loved the realness

I loved how he kept it real and did not bash anyone. I love his positivity and how he wants to live a normal life like regular people. Keep being the best you Mr. Kenan Thompson.

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Great Book

Very interesting life story. I enjoyed listening to Keenan tell his story and hearing about all of his interesting adventures through life.

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Getting to know Kenan

Enjoyed his story and life journey. I need a few more words to save this review.

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Who Loves Orange Soda?

I really enjoyed listening to Kenan Thompson talk about how he started acting and wound up joining the cast of All That. That was one of the shows I watched a lot as a kid during the 90s. I was also surprised to hear about the complex friendship he had with Kel initially but there was no doubt a lot of personal things that Kel was dealing with. The audition process for Saturday Night Live that Kenan went through definitely seemed nerve wracking but I'm glad he got through it and joined the cast. It's cool to see Kenan is still doing what he does best!

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wow, Keenan answered all my questions

great story! great to hear how he became Mr. Saturday Night live. it was also cool that he became Mr. Knuckle Puck and he explains everything

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Joyful Jester Tells All with Heart

Thank you for sharing your amazing story of becoming brilliant Kenan Thompson. You've kept us laughing all these decades, and now we can view your full humanity behind that beautiful smile. Best wishes for continued success as a performer and a parent! We love and appreciate YOU!

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