Book Review of
The Boys
“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.
Lynn's Review
My husband gave me The Boys by Ron and Clint Howard for my birthday. He said as soon as he saw it, he knew it was a book I would enjoy. I did enjoy it! It was an interesting and fun read.
In The Boys, Ron Howard and his brother share their story of growing up in Hollywood acting in T.V. and movies.
It shares their parent’s story of growing up in Oklahoma, meeting, getting married, changing their names to fit better in show business, and moving to California. I loved reading about their Oklahoma upbringing and how they took that Oklahoma, middle America, view of life to Hollywood. Ron and Clint say their parent’s upbringing in Oklahoma and how they raised them in a similar way is one of the main reasons they were successful.
I think Ron and Clint give a very honest view of what it was like to grow up in the movie and T.V. world. Ron also shares a lot about why he was successful and didn’t go down the road that many kids raised in the industry do.
I loved all the behind-the-scenes information, especially about Andy Griffith. I now want to go back and rewatch all the old Andy Griffith and Happy Days shows. It was also interesting to read about how Ron Howard and his wife met in high school. They are still married today, which is rare in Hollywood.
I didn’t realize that Clint Howard, or Ron and Clint’s dad, had acted in so many things, so that was really interesting to read about.
My husband was right, this book was a fun and interesting read. I will say that there are some parts about Ron and Clint Howard’s life, especially their teen years, that I could have done without knowing… Overall though this was a good read. It would make a good gift for anyone that loves books about T.V. and movies.