Ron Howard's The Boys: A Hollywood Family Memoir

CookieLee: I thoroughly enjoyed this book. What a talented family. Ron Howard followed his dream and was successful. Clint had a few bumps along the way but overcame them and achieved his dreams as well.. I recommend this book to all of those who enjoy uplifting true stories.

United States on Sep 19, 2023

Alicia P.: I can never get tired of hearing/seeing about the accomplishments of the Ronnie & Clint Howard! To start out as little boys & grow up to be such amazing adults due to their parents. You don't hear of these great Hollywood stories very often.

United States on Aug 30, 2023

Linda: I thought i knew about Ron Howard, but there is so much more I didn’t know. I knew. He and Clint both led very interesting lives, shaped greatly by their parents.

United States on Aug 17, 2023

Amazon Customer: Although this books would at first seem far from my experiences growing up as a black youth in the public housing projects in a small town in Indiana and being raised by a single divorced devoted mother. However, the similarities of brotherhood and a family’s tenacity and hustle really kept me glued to reading this book, especially the tenacity of a parents putting their children first. This book jogged a joyful reminiscing of my childhood experiences. I also learned a lot about the “art of the pitch” never miss an opportunity, so Opie and Clint(aka where’s your bear”I have a great book/movie pitch for you!
P.S. the inside scoops on “ The Andy Griffin Show” (childhood fav) were great)

United States on Jul 13, 2023

Pontiki: Ron and Clint Howard share their experiences growing up in a changing landscape of wars, westerns, and the groovy sixties.

Their parents, Jean and Rance, raised them so they were protected from the crazy Hollywood lifestyle, but still involved them and respected them as people, not just brainless children.

I love the description both men give of their Dad guiding them, being honest and respectful with them, and never being jealous of their success.

Ron’s journey from acting to directing was interesting to read about, and Clint is open about his addiction and recovery, not seeming bitter, but again, no nonsense, like his Dad.

I like the Howard family a lot more having read this account, and we’re lucky to have them be part of our entertainment history.

Canada on Jul 04, 2023

E. Alton: Knew alot about brother Ron & Clint Howard going into this book. Most interesting was how dad and mom brought the kids up and took risk moving out to CA from OK. Dad Rance could only get supporting roles and work was sporadic, so family essentially lived off Ron's child acting, primarily w/starring role in popular 1960s hit The Andy Griffith Show, which ran for an impressive 8 seasons.

While I luved all the different stories from both Ron and Clint, they offered some interesting insight into some actors (both good and bad) that I didn't know. Loretta Swit was a b-tch to Ron Howard during his teen years during episode they were both involved in. 47- yr old Cloris Leachman was very flirty/seductive with teenager Ron at her house when going role, for her casting approval. He got the job.

The only thing that I didn't like reading - and expected at some point - was Ron's gradual early conservative leanings descending towards more liberal as he more often got involved with late 1960s/early 70s influences that went against some of his mid-western values upbringing. Especially when his popular & well-liked character Richie Cunningham, was from moderate-conservative...

United States on Apr 22, 2023

Marvo: I’ve never read a book that covers the birth of family Tv and the challenges in Hollywood so well. A fascinating family who you grow to really admire as the book progresses

United Kingdom on Dec 29, 2022

Linda Pfeiffer: Ron Howard, the renown director and his brother, character actor, Clint Howard have co-written a very good memoire of their early life and later careers as they bring back those times vividly. When Howard, was still Ronny, his show with Andy Griffith, in the little southern town of Mayberry was not to be missed. Also his movie American Graffiti and later the sitcom, Happy Days was must see T.V. I'm afraid I might have been slightly too old for Clint's T.V. series with the bear that made him famous. A couple of things I learned from their book, that they were and are a close knit family. Their Dad and Mother were not typical "stage parents". They seem to have helped when needed and otherwise let the boys learn their own lessons, unless the parents thought they would take a dive off the wrong end of the diving board. They didn't need to step in with Ron as he grew up and apparently he has become a well rounded, kind and responsible husband and father. He is still married to the same girl he met in high school and has raised a talented family of his own. Clint had his demons but seems to have got them under control and remains a loving brother. These boys were not part of the...

Canada on Dec 16, 2022

Amazon Customer: A great story, essentially one of family with a back drop of both child celebrity and 50s / 60s day to day life, a breath of fresh air compared with some other celebrity movie / music biopics from the same period that are more focused on the wild side which is easier to romanticise over and sell to the masses.

United Kingdom on Jul 08, 2022

Aussie Barb: I enjoyed this novel and was amazed at the boys parents for their non stop infatuation with their sons careers....did the boys actually have a choice ? They were in the movie/TV world from small children ! Was their Father living his own wishes for fame , by pushing his children into HIS chosen career ?
I don't doubt, for a single moment, the great love between the members of that family .
It was fascinating to read their rise to fame . Their youngest son , Clint, turned to drugs and alcohol as he grew up , so sad. As much as I enjoyed reading their stories , I felt the book was a little too drawn out towards the end.

Australia on May 23, 2022