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Biographies

By Self Publishing Titans
The Boys: A Memoir of Hollywood and Family

The Boys: A Memoir of Hollywood and Family

by Ron Howard

4.6 (10619 ratings)
Biographies

Published

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Pages

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Language

English

Publisher

HarperAudio

Available Formats & Prices

View on Amazon

Kindle

$14.99

Paperback

$9.95

Audiobook

$6.99

Audio CD

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About This Book

An AudioFile Best Audiobook of 2021 Winner of an AudioFile Earphones Award: "This audiobook is simply a delight...a must-listen." “This extraordinary book is not only a chronicle of Ron’s and Clint’s early careers and their wild adventures, but also a primer on so many topics - how an actor prepares, how to survive as a kid working in Hollywood, and how to be the best parents in the world! The Boys will surprise every reader with its humanity.” (Tom Hanks) "I have read dozens of Hollywood memoirs. But The Boys stands alone.

A delightful, warm, and fascinating story of a good life in show business.” (Malcolm Gladwell) Happy Days , The Andy Griffith Show , Gentle Ben - these shows captivated millions of TV viewers in the ’60s and ’70s. Join award-winning filmmaker Ron Howard and audience-favorite actor Clint Howard as they frankly and fondly share their unusual family story of navigating and surviving life as sibling child actors. “What was it like to grow up on TV?” Ron Howard has been asked this question throughout his adult life.

in The Boys , he and his younger brother, Clint, examine their childhoods in detail for the first time. For Ron, playing Opie on The Andy Griffith Show and Richie Cunningham on Happy Days offered fame, joy, and opportunity - but also invited stress and bullying. For Clint, a fast start on such programs as Gentle Ben and Star Trek petered out in adolescence, with some tough consequences and lessons.

With the perspective of time and success - Ron as a filmmaker, producer, and Hollywood A-lister, Clint as a busy character actor - the Howard brothers delve deep into an upbringing that seemed normal to them yet was anything but. Their Midwestern parents, Rance and Jean, moved to California to pursue their own showbiz dreams. But it was their young sons who found steady employment as actors.

Rance put aside his ego and ambition to become Ron and Clint’s teacher, sage, and moral compass. Jean became their loving protector - sometimes over -protector - from the snares and traps of Hollywood. By turns confessional, nostalgic, heartwarming, and harrowing, The Boys is a dual narrative that lifts the lid on the Howard brothers’ closely held lives.

It’s the journey of a tight four-person family unit that held fast in an unforgiving business and of two brothers who survived “child-actor syndrome” to become fulfilled adults.

Introduction

In 'The Boys: A Memoir of Hollywood and Family', readers are invited into an intimate exploration of life behind the scenes in Hollywood as experienced by two brothers who grew up in the spotlight. As child actors navigating fame and the complexities of their family, they share anecdotes and insights that reveal the heartaches and joys of carving out personal identities amidst public scrutiny. This memoir is a poignant and revealing look at the bonds of family, the impact of their craft on their personal lives, and the learning experiences that have shaped who they are today.

Key Takeaways

The book offers an authentic look into life as child actors overcoming challenges. A deeply personal reflection on family dynamics and fame. Remarkable insights into the legacy of Hollywood's golden era.

Detailed Description

This memoir transports readers to the golden age of Hollywood painting a vivid picture of the film industry's more intimate side through the eyes of two young actors. Through compelling storytelling it uncovers the challenges and triumphs of growing up under public scrutiny offering a nuanced perspective few could authentically express. The authors share heartfelt memories of life on set and at home revealing unique perspectives and deeply personal insights into the dynamics of their Hollywood family.

Sprinkled with humor and warmth the memoir offers a balanced portrayal of the joys and struggles faced by those seeking a semblance of normalcy in an extraordinary world. Readers are promised an illuminating journey as the authors candidly discuss their path to self-discovery past regrets and the enduring power of familial love.

Standout Features

What sets 'The Boys' apart is its authentic voice offering a rare glimpse into a Hollywood experience often seen but seldom understood The book delves into the complexities of identity and family in a world where personal and public lives effortlessly intertwine With heartfelt storytelling and vivid descriptions the memoir resonates deeply with readers making it more than just a recount of an era but a poignant narrative of personal growth.

Book Details

ISBN-10:

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ISBN-13:

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Weight:

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Specifications

Pages:Not found
Language:English
Published:Not found
Publisher:HarperAudio
Authors:Ron Howard

Rating

4.6

Based on 10619 ratings

Customer Reviews

Good read

Verified Purchase
harmony
July 24, 2024

I really enjoyed the behind the scenes information. The next time I watch Andy Griffith I will sure see it a little differently. What a wonderful set of parents these two boys had. This was an entertaining piece of two boys early life. I recommend it to anyone who loves Andy Griffith show, gentle ben, happy days or to find out information we had no idea about when watching these shows.

Great!

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JSR
September 2, 2024

Fun to read how Ron Howard and his family navigated Hollywood. Well written and enjoyable!

A unique memoir, with a back-and-forth narrative between the two brothers

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jcm4ccc
October 13, 2021

The Boys follows the careers of Ron and Clint Howard, when they were two of the biggest child stars in Hollywood (Ron for Andy Griffith, of course, and Clint for Gentle Ben), and through Ron's role as Richie Cunningham in Happy Days and his directorial debut for Grand Theft Auto. This memoir had a difficult task, in that the lives of Ron and Clint are not that dramatic or sensational. They had terrific parents who were actors themselves (albeit less successful and somewhat frustrated), and whose midwestern sensibility and values guided them through the challenges of being very young and successful child actors. Clint does struggle with substance abuse, but for the most part there are not huge meltdowns or scandals. Yet the book manages to be compelling, for a number of reasons. The love of family is an obvious one. The brothers also spend a lot of time talking about the craft and business of being an actor, which is perhaps the most interesting and enlightening part of the book. For example, in Chapter 1, "The Accidental Actor", Ron describes how his father fashioned a fake boom microphone out of a bucket and a string, in order to get Ron acclimated to being around a real boom mic and not get thrown during an audition. The instruction: "Don't look at the bucket." But the best part (or design decision) of the memoir is that the brothers take turns writing different sections of the book. They have different voices and sensibilities, and different writing styles. So there's an energy to the book as they talk to each other and react to each other across the pages, and they both write with an honesty and humility that is refreshing and appealing. Of course, Ron has the more interesting career, given his roles in Andy Griffith, American Graffiti, and Happy Days, and his later career as a director. And he writes well. But Clint is the better writer. He has a strong voice and style that is straightforward and non-fussy and non-breezy, but still funny and interesting. Together, the dueling narratives push the story along and keep it always entertaining, while grounding their stories in the values that their parents fostered.

Honest and interesting memoir

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Amazon Customer
August 15, 2024

Growing up with Andy Griffith show, American Graffiti and Happy days I was fascinated by Ron’s journey from actor to director. What impressed me most was the salt of the earth traditional family values of the Howard family, beginning with Ron and Clint’s dad and mom. What a testimony to them! This is as much a tribute to their parents as a memoir. Nice to know that solid and selfless families do exist in the entertainment industry!

Delightful Dual Autobiography

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Avid Reader
June 12, 2024

What a joy to read! The Howard brothers grew up in a show business family, survived childhood fame, and grew up to become fine men. Both come across every bit as genuine and unpretentious as their public personas would suggest. Clint survived living in the shadow of his older, more successful brother as well as overcoming addictions to drugs and alcohol, and expresses deep love and respect for Ron—which is fully reciprocated. Reading this well paced, beautifully written, sometimes humorous book felt like visiting with old friends. Whether you’re a fan of the Howard brothers or not, this glimpse into a close, supportive, and loving nuclear family (with plenty of behind-the-scenes glimpses into show business), is time well spent.

Great memoir

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Bob's Your Uncle
March 11, 2024

I grew up in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles County. Just a stone’s throw from the Hollywood studios, Hollywood Blvd, Sunset Blvd, Beverly Hills and Malibu Beach. I’m a few years older than Ron Howard. Burbank, where he grew up is about a 15 min. drive from where I grew up. Over the years I’ve had occasion to spot a number of actors, whether at restaurants near my home or who have lived in my neighborhood and even on the golf course. And speaking of golf courses, now that I’m a retired person, I do some volunteer work which has included a few celebrity charity golf tournaments, where I’ve had the opportunity to chat briefly with many actors and sports figures. Once as a volunteer black jack dealer at the Malibu Country Club I had the opportunity to chat with Charles Martin Smith, who has been mentioned several times in this book. I wish that I could have read this book prior to meeting him so i would had much more to talk with him about. When I was younger I dated a girl whose entire family worked in some aspect of the movie industry. From adolescence through early adulthood, my primary care physician was the father of a very well known comedic actor. My nephew currently works as a “grip” for a movie company. What I’m trying to say is, because of where I live you can’t help but be exposed to this industry in some way. I only mention all this because I probably have a different appreciation for the events and familiarity of locations in this book than many readers. I’ve actually seen, and in some cases spoken to some people mentioned in the book. Though I’m hardly a Hollywood insider and I’m not a working actor, once when I was giving an out-of-town guest a tour of Hollywood, we stopped to observe a “location shooting” for a movie. We were approached and asked if we were interested in doing a small “walk-on”, without pay of course. That was fun and exciting for my friend. Ok, i apologize for going on so long about myself. What impressed me most about the Howard family was their work ethic and family bonds. While that had a lot to do with their respective successes, it was also the many connections made on the way up which included those with successful actors, directors and producers. This business is built on connections. It’s the ultimate cronyism and nepotism business. To become the success that he is today, Ron Howard was privileged to work with top talent in the industry and get invaluable advice. While it’s somewhat of a cliche that actors jokingly say “What I really want to do is direct”, Ron knew early on that’s where he belonged. And, since he has achieved that goal, he has created some of history’s most memorable movies. I really enjoyed this book and learned a lot about the Howard family. It’s refreshing to know that it’s possible for a child actor to achieve success as an adult in the movie industry untainted by drugs and recklessness. I want to thank Ron and Clint for their forwardness and honesty in the writing of this memoir.