The Boys: A Memoir of Hollywood and Family

“The Boys: A Memoir of Hollywood and Family” was not a book I would have picked up on my own, which is why I’m in a book club; the chance to read good books I normally would have overlooked. And this is one! I really enjoyed this book. Told from both Ron and Clint Howard’s perspective, it tells the story of what it was like to be a child actor. For those who don’t know, Ron was in “The Andy Griffith Show” and “Happy Days” as a child actor, while Clint was also in “The Andy Griffith Show,” “Gentle Ben,” and “Star Trek.” What I found interesting was how the two authors told the same stories from their own unique viewpoints. At first, I figured the book would focus more on Ron Howard since he has had arguably the more “successful” or visible career. But the book actually stopped before Ron made his first film. Instead, it was about growing up in Hollywood from the perspective of two successful child actors who both went on to have two successful Hollywood careers as adults (something that is not easy). What I found particularly refreshing was when the brothers commented on what each other had written. You could tell they have a good relationship where they could each laugh with each other and not take it personally. So there was humor, but also very poignant stories about how much parents influence the lives of their children. Ron and Clint’s main message was how they appreciated their parents’ insights into the industry (both parents were also actors), but also how they each strived to support their children and give them as much off a “normal” childhood as possible. Both boys had chores, both had to learn to manage money, both went to public school when not working, and both heard from their parents how success is fickle so they should appreciate what they have now but also build toward the future. Good lessons for anyone, but especially for two boys growing up in the public eye. Overall, I very much enjoyed this book and have already recommended it to others.