Most people know and love Henry Winkler. I wasn't unaware of all he had done, but when telling his story he appears to be a humble man who is more and more content with his life. The side bars by Stacy,. his wife only added to the narrative. I enjoyed the book as much as I have enjoyed his work over the years. He is quite self-effacing in the book making him even more endearing. He comes across as a person who cares about his people and people in general. I highly recommend this book -0 even if you don't read biographies, I think you will enjoy this book. I know I did.

What a gem of a book! Henry Winkler is a famous and fantastic actor, producer, and director. He discussed his childhood, finding the tv show Happy Days, and his stardom around the role of the Fonz​. As a child I loved watching him on my tiny tv screen. Yet, I had no idea what he went through to get that part and his weekly performance. His vulnerability, his love of his co stars and his lovely family was beautifully written. Stories of his children were delightful. I even appreciated how honest he was with some of his not so favorable people. Shame on those that were mean to him. This book was beautiful, sweet, thoughtful, and informative. Thank you Mr. Winkler for writing this book. I highly recommend this book to everyone! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A biopic bio.
Henry shows himself to be every bit as understated and sincere as he always appeared to be in interviews and late-night appearances.
And I mean that in only the kindest of ways..
Happy Days burst on the scene when I was a young married and it was clear from almost the very first episode that he would be the breakout. I can recall believing, cynically but positive I was right, that he would be leaving in pursuit of his golden ring very quickly.
He did not.
And what a surprise it was.
Being Henry tells his story, clearly and very matter of factly. Not a lot of embellishments and certainly not a trace of self. adulation.
Rather, it is the story of a young man who managed to pursue his little boy dream in spite of a non supportive and dysfunctional family that never seemed to see the real Henry. He knew the real Henry and made sure he was always present.
Hats of to Henry.
Not a fan of celebrity bios but this really managed to call to me.
Something about knowing one's worth and not needing it constantly being validated.
Aaaaaaaaaaay.

I really enjoyed this book. Easy reading and a tour through tv land and Hollywood during the last 50 years seen through Henry’s eyes(not the Fonz’s). Henry seems a thoroughly likeable fellow who loves his family and pets. But he isn’t afraid to expose his warts-some of which were moderated by intense therapy. Highly recommended.

Small Business BookTok ARC Reviews: “Being Henry…The Fonz and Beyond!” by Henry Winkler

Note: This ARC was given to me for free by the author and/or publisher and I am reviewing this book voluntarily.

Arthur Fonzarelli, lovingly called "the Fonz", is a character from the classic TV sitcom "Happy Days" and is considered to be one the most iconic characters in Pop Culture history! But wouldn't you like to know more about the man behind the leather jacket? Join Henry Winkler as he recounts his early life, theater experience, his time on "Happy Days"..and beyond!

I've never felt a personal connection to an autobiography before this book! First off, I'd like to mention that I had the pleasure of meeting Henry Winkler at Fan Expo Boston 2023 before I saw the advertisement for the book on Instagram. What they say about him is true, this man was an absolute sweetheart and he treated everyone who waited in line for him with so much respect and care. He would rather show his true self to fans than focus on the Fonz, he just radiated humbleness!

When I found out about his book, applied for the ARC on Netgalley, and started reading said ARC after Fan Expo had ended, I felt like I really connected with the book and I had even more of an understanding as to what makes Henry Winkler a wholesome icon!

He doesn't just talk about his time on "Happy Days" as the Fonz or his filmography. He mentions the cast members of the shows and movies he's been in as well. He talks about them throughout the book not just as cast members, but as teammates and found family. To him, it's not just himself that makes his characters and the media, but it's the whole team behind them. He also talks about his theater background throughout the autobiography from his undergraduate days at Emerson College to his graduate days at Yale!

There were also plenty of instances in the book in which Winkler talks about growing up with Dyslexia and how he translated his experiences into a creative outlet so Neurodiverse audiences could continue to feel seen and proud compared to when the representation was nonexistent for him growing up! I always felt connected with the topic of Neurodiversity and I'm so happy that more people are discussing their experiences, that we're starting to get more Neurodiverse education and proper representation in today's climate!

Emersonians and "Happy Days" Fans, Cinephiles and Bookworms, if you’re looking for a grounded, educational, and wholesome autobiography, then this is the autobiography for you! You can check out the book when it hits both online and in store shelves on October 31st, 2023!

Rating: 5/5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🎶 Sunday Monday happy days, Tuesday Wednesday happy days🎶

“‘If you want to be known to New York, stay here,’ he told me. ‘If you want to be known to the world, go to California.’”

I’m going to date myself here…but I found myself singing the Happy Days theme song in my head as Henry Winkler was narrating. 🤷🏼‍♀️ And I remember it. Like the whole thing. #ImOld

This man has worked with some of the best in the game before they were even a blip on the Hollywood radar. Meryl Streep. Sylvester Stallone. Harrison Ford. Just to name a few. This book is fascinating, funny, and heartfelt and I loved learning how “the fonz” came to be. What a life this man has led!

Actor memoirs narrated by the actors themselves are some of my favorite audiobooks to listen to! They are always so animated and passionate about their stories. In this one, his wife of over four decades also narrates some portions and I loved that addition. Just an overall enjoyable read that I can’t recommend highly enough. I finished this in a day.

“And so this wise eighteen-year-old taught this theater-seasoned but TV-ignorant twenty-eight-year-old a very important lesson for the rest of my career: a little tolerance, with a sprinkle of patience.” Love this!

Thank you to Netgalley, Celadon Books, Macmillan Audio, and the author for the gifted physical copy and ALC. .

If you liked The Fonz, after reading Being Henry, you will love Henry Winkler. Even though he’s known world-wide, he’s just one like us.

This is written as a memoir, but feels like you’ve sat down for a chat with Winkler.
He’s is quite candid concerning his well-acknowledged diagnosis of dyslexia. You’ll find his personality to be that of the working class guy next door, who also just happened to have studied at Yale and who has won multiple Emmy Awards.

In fact he has under his belt, three Emmy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, and two Critics Choice Awards among others. And he may not be done yet!
He tells of his struggles during the dry spells in the years after "Happy Days" ended. Seems his greatest fear was being type casted which was a well founded fear. Winkler worked to reinvent himself whether involving vocal work, collaborating with Adam Sandler, writing or co-writing children's books, or his acclaimed work in Bill Hader's "Barry." I’ve not seen, “Barry”, but plan to and soon, because he plays a killer. I think he’s succeeded in shedding The Fonz persona. Talented and preserving!


In "Being Henry," readers get a keen insight into the personal and home life of Henry, wife Stacy and three children, Jed, Zoe and Max followed by a bunch of grandchildren. Like Henry those of us who are in the grandchildren business find that to be the best part of life ever.

Henry and Stacey have been married nearly 50 years, a near impossibility in Hollywood. He doesn’t speak of his marriage as a big ole bed of roses. Like everyone else married or I relationships, there were ups and lots of downs with disagreements, health issues and loss of loved ones. Yet Stacy and Henry possess a remarkable chemistry that comes to life in the book.

He has an openness for
sharing childhood challenges, his dyslexia, learning how to improv as a way to compensate for difficulty reading, the difficulties of marriage and parenting, and his own overbearing parents. Winkler is charming, intelligent, open, funny, and everything one might want him to be if we meet him in real life. I want to meet this person I know now as Henry Winkler.

I predict “Being Henry” to become one of 2023's most popular memoirs. The writing is entertaining and a completely engaging memoir. And if you watched Happy Days as a youngster, be ready for lots of familiar name dropping and references to vaguely familiar scenes you will be tempted to You Tube: jumping the shark, his memorable one time appearance on The Mary Tyler Moore show, and on Arrested Development when Winkler becomes the only actor to ever jump the shark twice on television.

This is one of those reads for which you wish you could press the golden buzzer.
Five stars hands down!

(sending this review twice since I was approved for eARC and audiobook)

I was eagerly awaiting this audiobook and it was everything I hoped it would be! Henry Winkler (and, at times, his wife Stacey) shares stories from his life and career in a conversational way.

Thank you Macmillan Audio, Celadon, and Netgalley for the advance audiobook and eARC.

I grew up on Happy Days, did see Henry Winkler on Broadway with John Ritter and knew he produced my wife’s favorite television show, McGyver. I knew he was dyslectic and had written children’s books. What I didn’t know that he struggled as a child and throughout his adult life creating walls around himself that took decades to crack. His memoir is filled will vignettes of his career, the people he’s worked with, his personal life and the struggles with that. I also mentions he can’t stopped talking when he’s nervous, and it shows. I enjoyed his wife’s interjections, getting her point of view into the mind of Henry. I even cried some. Totally recommend.

I would like to thank Net Galley and Celadon Books for the opportunity to read this as an ARC. I really enjoyed this book. I have read a lot of celebrity autobiographies and unfortunately they seem to fall into 1 of 2 categories- "and then I did", with a list of projects and no real feelings or insights( how do you tell your life story and leave out spouses?), or a laundry list of the woes and indignities heaped on them. This one is neither. It reads like you are sitting with the author, having a meal and chatting. IT does describe the various acting , directing and writing projects Henry Winkler has been involved in over the years. It talks abut his family, his parents, wife , children and grandchildren. He talks a lot about various problems that had plagued him, being typecast, dyslexia, as well as various issues that have had him in therapy over the years.It is a straight forward, matter of fact discussion of his life, his obstacles and how he has overcome them( and still works at overcoming them).It is clear eyed, well written and fun. I completely enjoyed it.

I really enjoyed reading Being Henry: The Fonz . . . and Beyond by Henry Winkler and getting to know Henry Winkler. I sat down one Saturday to start the book, and before I knew it, the afternoon slipped away, and I finished the book, as it was very good, written well, and flowed nicely.

I loved the part where he was on set early in his career, and when the scene ended, all the stars departed, and he was alone. He made a commitment then that no one he worked with would ever have to feel as alone as he did at that time. It's such a testament to who he is and his character.

From reading his book, he seems genuine and open and reveals some hard and honest things he has gone through in his life and how he is still searching for himself. He is open about his insecurities and seeking therapy. He talks about his wife, their four decades together, and his commitment to his family.

I've recommended this book to my friends and colleagues.

#BeingHenry #NetGalley @celadonbooks

For those of us who grew up watching Happy Days, but more for anyone wanting insight into the life of an actor on Hollywood who hit it big early in his career and then struggled with how to maintain his own identity separate from that of his famous character and how to find his place in a fickle industry... over and over and over again. Winkler also shares about his dyslexia, his difficult relationship with his parents, and how side career as a children's author. This isn't the type of Hollywood memoir with salacious stories about six, drugs and rock n roll. This is one actor sharing how he worked to maintain a career and family life for over 50 years.

I was so excited to get a copy of Being Henry, as I absolutely love the show Happy Days. I grew up watching the DVDs with my dad and of course, Fonzi was my favorite addition to the Cunningham family. I really enjoyed getting to learn about the man behind the famous character and how he got started as an actor. My heart went out to him after seeing how his parents and teachers treated him and I couldn't believe it wasn't until his 30's that he realized he had dyslexia. I loved that despite that, he still went on to not only become such a beloved actor, but also the author of over 39 books. I enjoyed getting to read about his family, fellow actors, and his struggle with anxiety and not feeling good enough. We can all relate to that and he showed that he is no different than anybody else. He seems like such a genuinely good person and I feel like he would be so much fun to talk to. I definitely recommend this one if you are a fan of his! Thank you so much @celadonbooks and @netgalley
for my copy!

In Being Henry, Henry Winkler has given me everything I look for in a show business autobiography. Now age 77, Henry's illustrious career really took off when he famously became Arthur Fonzarelli on Happy Days. It made him a superstar, but it wasn't without bumps along the way, threatening his deep friendship with Ron Howard when the network wanted to change the name of the show to Fonzie's Happy Days, which he thankfully refused. Henry worried about typecasting but managed to overcome it after the series ended as a movie star, producer. director, voice actor, and later, series regular in Parks and Rec, Arrested Development and Barry.

There is enough behind-the-scenes detail to keep any fan satisfied. But it is also a very personal memoir about Henry's struggle with severe dyslexia. Undiagnosed until his thirties and punished by his German refugee parents for his poor grades, he has a bottomless empathy for others, especially children, with similar disabilities. For them, he has co-written the long-running Hank Zipzer series of books with a dyslexic young protagonist.

Most of all, the book succeeds as a profoundly affecting portrait of a man who didn't allow his struggles to prevent him from succeeding in his chosen field. Barely able to read, he somehow achieved an MFA at Yale School of Drama and triumphed at auditions where he could only give the "essence" of the lines he had struggled to learn, using humor as his super-power. Henry is a committed family man, and Stacey, his wife of more than four decades, pops in with her own perspective on her husband throughout the book. Henry is frank and open about everything from his insecurities and perceived failures to his treasured children and grandchildren and his love for dogs, gardening, and fly fishing. It's easy to see why he is considered one of the nicest people in Hollywood. My only disappointment is that he didn't mention his hilarious and touching reality adventure show with George Foreman, William Shatner, and Terry Bradshaw, Better Late Than Never.

My thanks to Celadon Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read read and provide an honest review of this book.

This autobiography will be published October 31, 2023. Celadon Book provided an early galley for review.

I have been a fan of this actor since the 70's. I was a devoted watcher of Happy Days each week. I remember seeing the movie Heroes, a 1977 drama with co-stars Sally Field and Harrison Ford where he played a troubled Vietnam vet, in the theater at age 12 with my cousin. Something about his ability to do both comedy and drama made me appreciate his talents. When I saw this book was coming, it was a must-read for me.

And right from the start, I had a warm smile on my face. The cover is welcoming - with his smiling face as a greeting from an old friend. It reads exactly the way I would expect it to. I can "hear" his distinctive voice as I go. I do not need the audiobook experience (though for this one I might listen to it any way). It is honest, it is funny, and it is entertaining. Everything I was expecting and then some.

I learned a lot about his career, especially more recent things. I was not aware, for example, that he co-authored a successful series of children's books.

I am very pleased that he was able to put his story down in his own words.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC for review.

I loved this glimpse into Henry Winkler's life as an actor, producer, and director. Who doesn't love him as The Fonz from Happy Days? This memoir gives more detail into his family, his early days, and his struggles with confidence as he grew more famous and had to break out his most famous character. Sometimes his talk of dyslexia was overused, but I empathize with his struggles and am in awe of how he persevered through it.

This was good. Learned a lot about him that I had no idea about. A little disappointed that he didn't mention anything about being in Holes, one of my favorite movies as a kid! I e got the privilege of meeting him twice in Cincinnati!

Being Henry was a thoroughly enjoyable read. Henry Winkler comes across as a charming and likeable man with a great sense of humor. This was a well paced book, beginning with his difficult childhood, his undiagnosed dyslexia, his Happy Days memories, the many projects he's worked on over the years, and his family life. A big thank you to the publisher and netgalley for this ARC to read and review. I give this a solid 5 stars! 5/5

Henry Winklers memoir is honest, informative and made me nostalgic for my own teenage years watching the original Happy Day broadcasts. He gives us an inside look at both his personal and professional life from his childhood to current day with the self insight that can only come from maturity and true self reflection.

I really enjoyed learning about the parts of his career I missed despite being a fan since the early days, especially his struggles with dyslexia, anxiety and self confidence and how he has worked to overcome them. I also appreciated reading a celebrity memoir that doesnt bash all his co workers and one where the author is honest about revealing his own issues that got in his way, issues that many of us non celebrities can relate to. The only thing that bothered me initially was that I found the writing style somewhat choppy, but I quickly adjusted.

I think any Winkler fan will enjoy this memoir, whether you are a fan from his Happy Days or his more recent work. Thank you to net galley and Celedon books for this e galley in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed reading this book. It is a good bio book about Henry Winkler. It is a well written book. I always liked Henry winkler acting .