Ari Emanuel’s memoir “Roll the Calls” examines his journey from a Chicago childhood and Hollywood mailroom job to leadership roles at WME Group and TKO Group Holdings.
At 65, Emanuel uses “Roll the Calls” to recount a career that began with delivering scripts and making copies in an agency mailroom. CBS News reported that the demanding job eventually helped him build relationships across Hollywood.
Emanuel later left CAA and co-founded Endeavor, which expanded through its acquisition of William Morris and IMG.
He is now executive chairman of WME Group and chairman of TKO Group Holdings, whose businesses include UFC and WWE, according to CBS News. The memoir also explores Emanuel’s childhood in the Chicago area.
He describes growing up alongside his brothers, Rahm and Zeke Emanuel, in a family where academic performance and confrontation were taken seriously. The book places particular emphasis on Emanuel’s temper.
The New York Times reported that he connects his anger to experiences with dyslexia, ADHD and feeling underestimated during childhood. He describes rage as something that can bring problems into sharper focus.
Emanuel also discusses his approach to Hollywood conflicts, including his departure from CAA and disputes with prominent industry figures. CBS News quoted him describing confrontation as a recurring part of his professional life.
Despite the entertainment industry’s growing focus on artificial intelligence, AI receives relatively limited attention in the memoir, according to The New York Times.
In his CBS News interview, however, Emanuel said storytelling will remain important and suggested AI could contribute to producing more film and television content.
“Roll the Calls” was written with assistance from J.R. Moehringer and is published by Knopf at 432 pages with a listed price of $35.
