New Book by a Former Guard Reveals Hidden Stories from the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Patrick Bringley knows his way around The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Bringley spent a decade of his life roaming the halls of this iconic institution as a museum guard, collecting stories and experiences in the public galleries and private backstage areas. In his forthcoming memoir from Simon & Schuster, All the Beauty in the World: The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Me publishing on February 14th, Bringley reflects on his time at the Met and all that he uncovered while patrolling the museum’s more than two million square feet.

Bringley, who leads Untapped New York’s Secrets of the Met Museum tours, will celebrate the launch of his book with a virtual talk for Untapped New York Insiders on February 6th! This live-streamed virtual event is free for Untapped New York Insiders. Not an Insider yet? Become a member today and gain access to a full calendar of in-person and virtual experiences!

Bringley was drawn to the Met Museum at a difficult time in his life. While he was caught up in a glamorous fledgling career at The New Yorker, his older brother was diagnosed with a fatal cancer. Needing to escape the mundane clamor of daily life, Bringley quit his job at The New Yorker and sought refuge in the most beautiful place he knew, the Metropolitan Museum of Art. There, he spent years searching for solace and meaning in the galleries of masterpieces and priceless treasures.

Now, Bringley is sharing his tales from the museum in a new book from Simon & Schuster, All the Beauty in the World: The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Me. In a virtual talk for Untapped New York Insiders ahead of the book’s release, Bringley will reveal behind-the-scenes operations in the sprawling institution and explain what it’s like to step into the peculiar role of a museum guard. Over ten years, he’s seen some unusual things! Bringley will also touch on the incredible diversity of backgrounds and talents he discovered among the guard corps that’s more than five hundred strong.

“Patrick Bringley offers an intimate perspective on one of the world’s greatest institutions,” says Rumaan Alam, author of Leave the World Behind, “but All the Beauty in the World is about much more: the strange human impulse to make art, the mystery of experiencing it, and the role art can play in our lives. What a gift.” You can pre-order the book from various retailers here.

Next, check out the Top 10 Secrets of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and What’s So Special About This Ancient Roman Sarcophagus at The Met?