From a New York Times By the Book interview headlined “How ‘Dead Souls’ Taught Mel Brooks What Comedy Writing Could Be”:

What books are on your night stand?

You may be surprised to learn that on my nightstand is a book called “The Art of Cooking Omelettes,” by Madame Romaine de Lyon. It’s an incredible cookbook with hundreds of French omelette recipes. I’m a bit of an omelette connoisseur, and every night before I go to sleep I love dreaming about which omelette I’ll have for breakfast the next day.