The Boys cover art

The Boys

A Memoir of Hollywood and Family

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The Boys

Written by: Ron Howard, Clint Howard
Narrated by: Ron Howard, Clint Howard, Bryce Dallas Howard
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About this listen

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.

©2021 Ron Howard, Clint Howard (P)2021 HarperCollins Publishers
Entertainment & Celebrities Celebrity Happiness Heartfelt
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What listeners say about The Boys

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Excellent and refreshing!

My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this book together! It was fun to re live so many movies and tv shows and hear the inside stories. Mostly through its all about the great depth of family love.

My only knock it's that whoever did the sound levels blew it. it seems it should have been easy to bring Clint's quieter voice up to the level of Ron's so we didn't have to continually change the volume ourselves! It took away from the pleasure of listening to it.

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Wonderful Memoir

I couldn't stop listening! This was one of the warmest, most heartfelt memoirs that I have read. Such a wonderful thing to have both of the boys sharing their own stories, or memories of the same one. The family dynamic really shone through, the love was apparent.
I am old enough to remember Mayberry and Gentle Ben, so their journey brought back lovely memories from my childhood, but even if you are too young to remember those days, this is still worth the listen. Ron and Clint's lives have been rich.
I would highly recommend this listen.

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Worth the listen

Ron & Clint come from such a loving, caring and supportive family & I enjoyed hearing of such a family. They are great story tellers and it was awesome to hear them narrate. I felt like they were telling me personally, if their stories.

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Didn’t know that Ron and Clint were brothers

Loved it all. What else can I say. Loved Ron Howards movies. Will look dir Clints movies now

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Awesome book.

Sorry Ron, but I will always love Ope. There were no dry areas in the book. Loved hearing how Ron navigated himself through his two famous shows and how he became a director. Loved learning about Clints many movies and howled when I looked him up on Star Trek. What a talented little boy. I was too young to enjoy Gentle Ben, only by a few years, but I remember the opening of the show. Also, enjoyed hearing about their loving parents ❤ I'm just sad I got through the book too fast as I couldn't put it down.

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Ron Howard Always a Great storyteller

Ron Howard doesn’t disappoint as the consulate storyteller he’s been his entire career. A fascinating and enjoyable look into the early years of the Ron Howard and the Howard family, from childhood up until the beginnings of his illustrious career as a filmmaker and storyteller. Great listen. Made even better by input from Ron’s brother and lifelong work partner, Clint.

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The Boys to Men-Power packed-Mayberry to today.

A must read for any fans of Ronnie(Ron) the actor from those early days of Mayberry thru Happy Days and into his many Directoral successes this. Perhaps more revealing and fascinating the life and times of brother Clint,who I remember vividly from that pistol packin gun toatin lil gunslinger in a scene from the Andy Griffith Show. I had no idea just how accomplished and talented Clint Howard was then and now. The love and devotion shown both young boys by father Rance and mother Jean clearly shines thru and beyond. The love,respect and support network within the Howard family “tree” so evident with The Boys both raising loving and caring families themselves. A Must Read/Listen!.

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Enjoyable

Thoroughly enjoyed this listen. Engaging, funny and really like that both Ron and Clint were the narrators.

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Fantastic!!

Enjoyed this book so much! It's a great behind the scenes look at an acting dynasty the Howard Family and three of the very popular TV shows. Highly recommend this book.

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Anyone with a family should listen to this book

Ron and Clint did such a wonderful job recalling and sharing these funny and poignant stories of their family's life in the public view.
They both have had struggles and successes but most of all have such moving stories of how family kept stepping up for each other.
I will definitely listen to this book again.

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