What a treat to get to listen to Henry Winkler read his memoir. Henry (we're on first name basis now) starts out with his early acting days and how he really lucked into tryouts for Happy Days. Henry had some pretty special education including Yale Acting School, but he still had to go out and hit the pavement trying to get acting jobs.

Henry shares a lot about his family and his upbringing, although he never had to scrounge for food, he was a very unhappy child. Thought to be dumb, it wasn't until he was in his 30's that he was diagnosed with dyslexia. That diagnosis allowed Henry to finally understand what he had struggled with all his life.

Henry's wife, Stacey, is a grounding center in his life, She has been there to help get him though the good but also the very disappointing times in his life. He spent many years after Happy Days being typecast and only offered other biker-type parts.

Since Henry has always had a fear of not having money, he did voice-over work and wrote a series of children's books just to keep the money coming in, He also spent years producing shows and then directing, He's a multi-talented guy and it was really interesting listening to his story.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

What a fabulous, interesting and Lively book this was.
Henry reads the audio with his wife Stacey reading some parts as well. A well rounded actor who is as versatile and animated as you would think he is. While he is accused of talking endlessly by many I can definitely see that but I loved listening to his stories about his childhood, Fonzie and Happy Days, other acting gigs and his life with his beloved Stacey and his children. I am slated to meet him in person and get a signed hard copy of his book in November and I am so looking forward to it.
Thank you to Netgalley, Mcmillian Audio and the Author Henry Winkler for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Henry Winkler is iconic to me, and I loved hearing about his career from him. It amazed me that his work was so sporadic since he is so prominent in my mind. He's a great champion of people with dyslexia, and I'm really interested in reading his kids books. His narration was great. I always love a good celebrity memoir read by the author. It makes it feel so much more personal.

The life and career of Henry Winkler, in his own words--and occasionally those of his wife. From The Fonz to a slew of supporting characters for Adam Sandler, Mr. Winkler covers the good, the bad, and the ugly of his time acting. He also covers his early life, family relationships, his shortcomings as husband and father, the work he did to better himself, his dyslexia, and the children's books he helped to write later to inspire others. This is a thorough and in-depth look into the psyche of one our more notable, decades-long careers. From daytime tv to prime time, movies to the stage, and voice work to writing, Mr. Winkler has given it all a shot. He comes off equal parts funny, humble, warm, and honest. A truly enjoyable read about the human side of the business and the uncertainty that we constantly work to shake.

An awesome look at the "Fonz". The book was written by Henry Winkler about Henry Winkler and I had the privilege of listening to Henry Winkler read the book himself. Burdened with a learning disorder that, at the time, did not have name, dyslexia made it difficult throughout his career to read scripts and learn lines. He became a master at improvisation. I rarely give out 5-stars, but this book well deserved each one.

Winkler's career has been astounding--spanning decades, starting with an iconic role as the Fonz to his best work as Gene Cousineau in HBO's brilliant series Barry. (He also had some great turns on Parks & Rec and Arrested Development in between.) Anyone would admire his career. The memoir/biography is consistently engaging, very honest, and laidback and Winkler takes fun shots at his strict German parents and some industry big shots. The book feels like spending an enjoyable afternoon in conversation with a living legend who can be both a little curmudgeonly while simultaneously undeniably charming. Not to be missed for Winkler fans.

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio and most of all, to Henry, who I like way better than The Fonz.

My guess is whomever has read/listened to this story did so because they know Henry Winkler as The Fonz from Happy Days. He actually wasn't my favorite character on the show. I was kind of a nerd so I wasn't really into "the cool guy". That's how I knew him and I thought to myself, hmmm, this might be interesting. But Wow, there is so much more to him and I am so glad he tells his story so that everyone can know who Henry is!
You find out just how deep of a person he is. His struggles, his passion for what he does and what he does for others. As he tells his story, you meet his family - his parents, his wife, his children, his grandchildren, his furry family, all of them. I fell in love with his family (well, maybe a little iffy on his parents but, his wife Stacy... I love her and how she joins in. I could just hear the love they have for each other.
I'm not going to spoil this for anyone but I'm going to say there are parts in here that just grabbed a hold of my heart strings and didn't let go. I see an entirely different person than I saw on that sitcom. Such a big heart, full of compassion.
Aaaayyyy, (sorry I had to throw at least one of those in there) I really enjoyed getting to know Henry beyond The Fonz and I think others will too.

Thank you @celadonbooks for the early copy!

I absolutely loved Henry telling his story! I loved how honest he was about the struggles of being type cast for many years after playing The Fonz. His journey as an actor and director was amazing.

My favorite roles of his were on arrested development and Barry. But let’s not forget about his guest appearance on New Girl.

He is just so charming and it really shows in this book.

The audiobook is the way to go with this memoir as Henry narrates himself, with a guest appearance by his wife.

This is a must read…out October 31st

Besides being the Fonz and seeing Henry Winkler in shows & movies I didn't really know much about him before starting this memoir. I found this story interesting and I find him very likable, witty, candid and like an average person which I love. He has his insecurities and career struggles and never gave up. I felt like he really did appreciate everything he has and all of the people in his life. He was also very open about his personal relationships and family struggles. Great Memoir.

The narration was great, I do love when the author narrates their own memoir, it feels more personal to me. I also really enjoyed that his wife also popped in and gave her thoughts on a lot of things in the book!

#BeingHenry #NetGalley

Listening to Henry Winkler read his memoir was a treat but more than that, this memoir is fascinating from start to finish. Having grown up watching "Happy Days," I was certainly aware of his role on that long running series. (Full disclosure: I met Henry Winkler as a child when I was hospitalized and recovering from surgery at Newington Children's Hospital in 1976!)

As a parent and later a children's librarian, I was aware of his Hank Zipzer books with Lin Oliver. Learning about all the aspects of his life, upbringing, parents and relationships was very enlightening. His honesty was touching and heartbreaking at times. I really admire his ability to be so open and honest about his dyslexia and going into therapy as an adult. I know this will fly off the shelves.

I liked this more that I thought I would. Henry Winkler is funny, charming and self-depreciating. I enjoyed listening to him talk about the various stages of his life. I also like how his wife narrated and shared her perspective in some parts.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Going into this book, I knew of Henry Winkler but I honestly couldn't tell you very much about him. I've never seen even an episode of Happy Days and didn't realize how many other parts he's had in my favorite shows and movies. After listening to his book, I feel like I made a friend and I really want to watch Happy Days. I really enjoyed listening to him tell his story and he was very open and honest about his struggles throughout his life and in Hollywood. I also enjoyed that he let his wife tell parts from her side. They were both so easy to listen to, funny, and I really enjoyed learning more about this sweet, kind, sometimes self-deprecating man. I'll definitely be seeking out some of his work now that I know a lot more about him.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed this audiobook very much listening to Henry Winkler describe his life, challenges and successes was great. I didn't get caught up in the names too much, but really appreciated how real he chose to be. He discusses his dyslexia and anxiety. His fears of not being able to provide for his family, his fears of being washed up. When you think about celebrities you rarely think about them being star struck when meeting other celebrities, or their idiosyncrasies, i.e. speaking too much.

All in all, congrats to you Henry for Being Henry!

4.5⭐️

I’ve been hearing good things about Being Henry, Henry Winkler’s memoir, and I’m glad I got a chance to check it out. It was utterly delightful- far more than I’d anticipated. If his story is any indication, Henry seems like the kind of celebrity you could sit down and break bread with as one human to another, and become fast friends. He’s just so relatable and down-to-earth. And clearly he knows how to tell a story, as this held my attention the whole way through in one sitting, disappointed it was over so soon. When you have a chance, sit down and enjoy an afternoon with the charming man behind The Fonz.

The audiobook is narrated perfectly by the man himself, Henry Winkler- with a nice little guest appearance by his lovely wife.

Thank you Henry Winkler, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for providing this ALC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

Audio rating 5⭐️
Book rating 4 ⭐️
Years ago I was waiting for my parents at the airport and a man walked out of the baggage claim and I though “he looks like Fonzie - a much older Fonzie and he’s a bit short “ then I saw him walk towards a man holding a sign that said. “ Henry Winkler “ .. I was totally tempted to walk over and say hi 👋🏻 but I’m sure he was not looking to talk to fans after potentially a long flight ; and us Torontonians generally don’t bother celebrities ( authors are another story 🤣)

Listening to this book , I kept thinking this is such a lovely man - I bet he would have talked to me if I had approached him, even if he doesn’t want to be known only as “The Fonz” .

I have to admit I didn’t know much of Mr Winkler’s story , other than Happy Days, and seeing his name as a producer on some tv shows over the years . This was a beautiful story of family, friendship, and one man’s struggle to find his place in the world - after shooting to stardom and being typecast as a well known and loved character . There’s a lot of name dropping, but all happy and lovely stories ; and where he has maybe not so nice things to say, Mr Winkler rarely gives us names which is refreshing

Although I have the physical copy for my #bookshelf ; I was happy to listen to an audio version narrated by Henry Winkler himself and really enjoyed listening to him tell his own story .

Being Henry: The Fonz … and Beyond

I Picked Up This Book Because: Bookspin Bingo Spinner. “G3” An ARC

Media Type: Audiobook
Source: Netgalley
Dates Read: 9/24/23 - 9/28/23
Stars: 4
Narrator(s): Henry Winkler

The Story:

Writing: Good. His stories are interesting and as he says himself several times, he is quite charming.
Overall Interest: Great. It’s a book I looked forward to turning on in the morning on the way to work and in the afternoon after work.
Length of Reading Time: I think it was just enough. No draggy bits.
Re-read-ability: No but not because it isn’t good, I just rarely reread memoirs.


The Random Thoughts:

. I really like his wife and I’m glad she was so involved in the book.

I grew up watching Happy Days. I always liked Henry Winkler. I heard a few things about him ( short, kind, and dyslexic) but I didn't know much more about him. I was excited when I got the opportunity to read Being Henry.

I haven't listened to a lot of audiobooks. I have learned it's either a wonderful experience or an odd one. This was a wonderful experience. Henry Winkler ( and a guest narrator he has at times) has a beautiful voice. You feel like he is in the room talking to you. His voice has so MUCH personality.

The book takes you from his childhood to today. You learn so MUCH about his life. You feel like a treasured friend. He takes you through the ups and downs of his life.

The book shows the kindness and gratitude this amazing man has. You learn about his family and his experiences in show business.

I don't think I have ever read a book like this. It takes you down the roads of disappointments he has had. You feel like you are with him with the many challenges of his life. You feel his joys and accomplishments.

The book makes you feel like you know the real Henry. That's something rare to see in a book ( or even in a friend). He is vulnerable, real, and shows us parts of his brokenness in this book.

The book makes me want to be better. Henry shows us that we can change for the better. We can grow, meet challenges, and become better as we age.

Thank you for the opportunity to listen to this book. I look forward to seeing what is in Henry's future.

As someone who grew up watching Happy Days, I added this book to my TBR list as soon as I saw it was coming out. Henry Winkler did an amazing job narrating his autobiography, Being Henry The Fonz ... and Beyond. I was instantly hooked the minute I heard Henry's voice and thoroughly enjoyed learning about his childhood, family upbringing, struggles with self-confidence, dyslexia, being an actor, and so much more. The stories of what happened behind the scenes of his films and TV shows, the lifelong friendships that were formed, and the loss of good friends that were taken too soon will pull at your heartstrings and leave you wanting more. Thank you for sharing your story with us Henry.

This book was everything I anticipated and more. Definitely one to add to your bookshelf.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an early copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I'm a child of the 70's and 80's, so Happy Days was a big part of my childhood. Henry Winkler brought the "Fonz" to life and he is a beloved character for so many. Listening to Henry read his autobiography was a treat indeed. Henry has had an interesting life and I'm glad he shared it in this manner. I've always felt that Henry is an underrated actor, so I hope he will continue to get some great rolls like he did in the series Barry. Henry seems like such a nice guy, along with being a really great actor. I think anyone would enjoy learning more about him and hearing him tell his story. Loved it!

This audiobook was so good! I grew up watching him on Happy Days and learning about the man behind the leather jacket.
I highly recommend this book.

I received a copy from Netgalley for my honest review