I didn't think I could love Henry Winkler any more than I already did. I was wrong. This memoir encapsulates everything I always believed about him and adds so many more layers. I had the opportunity in the late 2000's to interview him briefly and he struck me as real and unpretentious, as if he wanted to make MY day better. Remembering the authenticity in his voice, I was excited to receive an ARC of his audiobook.

Narrated by the man himself, with segments from his wife, Winkler shares stories from his childhood and how they shaped him into an actor, a person & an author. He provides a behind the scenes look at Hollywood, the theater and life with dyslexia. I don't want to spoil anything, but I can assure you this book reveals new things that will leave you saying, "Wow!" Mr. Winkler is a shining example of what we all should strive for as humans.

For fans of the actor & his roles, reading this memoir will make you a fan of the man himself. Thank you to #netgalley for the ARC of #BeingHenry

5 ⭐️
10/31 Release Date

Thanks, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio, for the Advanced Listening Copy. US PUB DATE: TOMORROW! Get out there and find a copy.

“Henry Winkler, launched into prominence as “The Fonz” in the beloved Happy Days, has transcended the role that made him who he is. Brilliant, funny, and widely regarded as the nicest man in Hollywood (though he would be the first to tell you that it’s simply not the case; he’s really just grateful to be here), Henry shares in this achingly vulnerable memoir the disheartening truth of his childhood, the difficulties of a life with severe dyslexia, the pressures of a role that takes on a life of its own, and the path forward once your wildest dream seems behind you.”

I adored this memoir, especially as an audiobook narrated by the charming, humble, insightful, and funny Winkler. It was comprehensive, gave the listener behind-the-scenes stories, and showcased an enviable approach to life. As a bonus, Winkler’s wife, Stacey, guest-narrates several passages.

Much love for this big-hearted man with a smile that lights up the world.

I can state without reservation that I have found a new best walking friend in Henry Winkler and his recent autobiography, “Being Henry.” Provided with an advanced audiobook copy by Netgalley (which does not influence this review), I began listening to Mr. Winkler’s book with the expectation of hanging up the airpods after my usual 40 minute walk and resuming the next day.

Nope. I kept listening, even after the walk, after the airpods ran out of charge, and late into the evening. It was just that entertaining and enjoyable! The narrator’s voice is expressive, engaging, and easily conveys the humor that infuses almost every moment (the exceptions come when he speaks about his difficult childhood with distant withholding parents, and a few negative professional encounters with producers). Now and again, when he recounts some details from this or that “Happy Days” episode, a memory floats up for me – why yes, I did recall that! His contributions to that show have been well documented over the years, but here you get to see events through his perspective, including the challenges of dealing with his huge and unexpected popularity. Even though it has been literally decades since I gave any thought whatsoever to that show, the scenes he refers to from time to time bring me back to those ‘happier days.’ Mr. Winkler’s ‘meet cute’ with his future wife, his experiences with his kids and friends, his progressively diverse work in the entertainment industry – all flow easily even with occasional digressions back in his timeline to revisit earlier events.

Above all, Henry Winkler comes off as a genuine and caring person, with charisma that I assume would leap off the written page, but here in the audiobook, you are hearing directly from the creator, which makes for a wonderfully immersive experience. It literally is like spending time with a dear friend – instead of “My Dinner with Andre”, it’s “my walk with Henry.” I highly recommend this listen for cheerful entertainment that also provides real food for thought about the struggles the author had to face and overcome with his severe dyslexia, and personal insights he finally gained after entering therapy late in life.

Thank you to Celadon Books for my complimentary copy of Being Henry The Fonz … and Beyond. And to MacMillan audio for my complimentary audiobook. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I highly recommend pairing the book with the audio (read by Henry). His voice is very soothing and it feels like he is in the room with you telling you all the stories of his life. I really wasn’t aware of the wide body of his work, I have only ever thought of him as The Fonz. But he is so much more than that one character.

His story about fly fishing is very touching. It is such a part of him, he actually brings it up twice in his memoir.

“Let the rod help you make the cast. You bring it up to twelve o’clock, hold for a second, and let the line load behind you. Then you move the rod forward with a gentle whip, to two o’clock, and the line floats like an angel onto the water. And that is serenity.”

Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC audiobook!

The second the audiobook clicked on a wave of nostalgia poured over me. Henry Winkler has been in many of my favorite shows and movies. When I was a kid and home sick from school, Happy Days was one of my favorite shows to watch. It hadn't been on in years, but I was fascinated with the Fonz. Once I realized who he was as I grew up, I started to notice that guy who played the Fonz popping up in some of my favorite movies and shows, so when I saw this on NetGalley I knew I had to request it to learn more about this amazing actor.

Listening to his story as he tells it was an incredible journey, and I loved the moments when his wife Stacey popped in to tell more of their relationship and life together. It was exciting to learn different things about him and follow along as he shared aspects of his life I would never have known otherwise. The style of how he organized his story and how he presented it was an excellent example of what an incredible storyteller he is.

I highly recommend readers listen to the audiobook! It felt like Henry was sitting right there in my house, and we were chatting throughout the day about his life as if we'd been old friends simply catching up. Non-fiction is not always my favorite genre, but I kept finding myself looking for ways I could get more time to listen and learn more about him. Again, I definitely suggest grabbing your favorite beverage, settling down into your favorite spot, and diving into the world of Henry Winkler.

When I saw this biography audiobook by Henry Winkler, I requested a review copy immediately. I'm from Milwaukee and "The Fonz" is a big deal around here. I also have a child with dyslexia who read and enjoyed many of Winkler's Hank Zipzer books. This audiobook was both informative and entertaining. Henry Winkler has had an interesting life! The book is read by the author which made it it even more fun to listen to. My only complaints are that Winkler tended to repeat a lot of the same expressions which got a little old and that I wanted to hear a lot more about his dyslexia and how he has been so successful when reading scripts is such a crucial part of his career.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for a review copy of this audiobook.

I grew up a child of the Happy Days and loved that show. I also am a BIG fan of MacGyver and have seen the name Henry Winkler, Producer, on many, many shows. To say I am a big fan would be an understatement. I am a lifelong fan of the soft spoken man who was always shining the light on others. It showed in all his shows and productions. Now, listening to his story I can see the back story and understand. Thank you Henry. I enjoyed this in audio and listening to your voice and the voice of your lovely wife was spectacular.

This audiobook is much deeper than recounting all of the shows and movies Henry performed in. While I found that information interesting, he shared much more. This memoir is a touch of humor, heartfelt honesty, and the raw feelings that Winkler experienced growing up. It is a story that I won’t soon forget. And while not all authors should narrate their books, Winkler was awesome.

Winkler first came to my notice as “The Fonz” in Happy Days. But who was he ahead of that time? He opens up about his challenges of being Jewish, short, and not finding his place in the family unit.

In Henry’s case, as with many others, his past experiences and emotions involved with his childhood tainted him for years. He was also faced with starting his career as a star. Would he always be type-cast as “The Fonz?” If you’re at the top, can you stay there, or do you slide downhill?

Henry's inner voice was also worrying him that he could barely read. This inability left him feeling below average, which is what his parents were always quick to point out. It wasn’t until he was in his thirties that he was diagnosed with severe dyslexia. Within the last few years, he’s written children’s books dealing with dyslexia. There is a link in my bio if you, like me, are interested in his books meant to help children who suffer from dyslexia.

A quote I loved:

“Only now do I understand that things come in their own time. That you couldn’t have known then what you know now. That only the process of living gets you there: you must do the work in order to eat the fruit of growing - - of being. In my late seventies, I am trying very hard to live in the moment [. . .]. But I’m also incredibly frustrated that it took me until now to get there.”

Thank you so much @celadonbooks @macmillanaudio @netgalley for this #gifted copy and for the ability to listen to the eARC.

This was a great memoir of Henry Winkler that I would recommend to anyone. I love it when the author reads the book and having it be Henry Winkler was the suburb.

We follow Henry Winkler through his early days including his “Happy Days” and his struggles with being stereotyped as “The Fonz” after the show ended.

Moments in the book that I enjoyed was when he met Robin Williams. Robin’s talent was discovered from being a street performer. Another part I enjoyed was hearing how Henry met his wife. I enjoyed hearing his wife, Stacy's side of their stories. They used her voice in the audiobook.

Henry Winkler has dyslexia. “I didn’t find out that I was severely dyslexic until I was thirty-one. For all those years I was the kid who couldn’t read, couldn’t spell, couldn’t even begin to do algebra of geometry or even basic arithmetic”. I loved hearing how later in life he wrote stories starring a boy with dyslexia in “The Hank Zipser”. This shows us how he took a weakness and turned it into a strength.

My biggest takeaway from this book is Henry Winkler is not perfect, but is a decent HUMAN. Henry is a humble man who has self esteem issues. He also has great stories and knows how to deliver a good story.

I listened to this memoir at 2 times the speed. There were no issues with the quality being sped up. My thanks to Net Gallery for the gifted audiobook of this memoir. It was my pleasure to read and review this title which is set to publish in October of 2023.

#BeingHenry
#netgalley
@netgalley
@crystalthereader

I was in grade school when Happy Days was first run, must see TV. Every Wednesday, you would hear comments about what happened, but much more often you'd hear a catchphrase from the show - usually Fonzie's 'Heyyyy". Jumping the Shark was just another cool episode for us, interesting because it took place away from Al's Diner or the Cunningham home and featured a motorcycle jump, like Evel Knievel, hero of the elementary-aged bicycle set. Happy Days defined must watch TV. And Fonzie was king. I wanted to read this to hear about those days for Winkler, and what happened after. The book reads mostly like you'd expect, with stories about his family and his career. This one, compared to other celebrity memoirs I've read, seemed to be a little more closely tied to ongoing counseling for Winkler. He portrays his family as quite bad folks over and over. While Winkler seems a gentle, goofy guy, he was too overbearing about how rough he had it growing up well off with confusing parents. It strikes a false cord in what I found otherwise to be an interesting entertainment life story. Overall, I liked the story, and I really enjoyed Winkler's narration of his book. He comes across as a regular guy who is a little attention-needy. And I may just have to watch Barry, he makes a good case to give it a try.

I received a pre-release download of the audiobook from the publisher in exchange for a review.

Book 82 of the year. Thank you to @netgalley and @macmillan.audio for an advanced copy of this book to listen to. After this book, I have even more respect and admiration for Henry Winkler than before which was already a great deal. Listening to this book was wonderful. I laughed, I cried. Check this out when it is released on October 31st. Five stars for me!

It is amazing to me just how many people know and love Henry Winkler - so many generations have watched him and loved him and supported his career [I so wish I could watch the show "Barry" as when he talks about that show, you can tell just how much everyone loved working on that show, him maybe more than others] - something he never ever thought would happen.

This was a lovely walk down memory lane with someone that I "grew up" with and have continued to watch when I can; his story is deep and rich and thoughtful, along with some harsh truths that he is still uncovering and dealing with.

Not going to really say anything more - this is best read with one's own memories of Henry, no matter what iteration you know him at [he will always be The Fonz first and foremost for me] and with an open mind and heart [some of the things he talks about are tough]; if you have loved Henry, you will love this book.

I was able to request and receive the audiobook ARC for this book and what a great thing that was. Listening to Henry tell his own story, in his own unique way was such a joy and I honestly recommend this way of reading this story - it truly comes alive while listening to him tell his story. Absolutely glorious.

Thank you to NetGalley, Henry Winkler, Celadon Books, and Macmillan Audio for providing the eBook and audiobook ARC's in exchange for an honest review.

Heeeeeyyyy! This is a wonderful memoir. I grew up watching reruns of Happy Days and loved the Fonz. Who didn't? Since then, Henry has appeared in many shows and movies that I have watched. Scream, The Waterboy, Arrested Development, Barry...

I learned that he has dyslexia but wasn't diagnosed until he was thirty-four years old. Imagine how hard that was for him with learning his lines! He is immensely thankful for his time as Fonzie but was afraid of being typecast. Plus, he is incredibly humble for all he has done, but also very vulnerable in his struggles with getting acting work. He has co-written 39 children's books, too!

When I learned that he was narrating the audiobook, I knew I had to listen to it. I loved that Henry's wife of almost 50 years even narrates portions of this book, too. A great listen! It's humorous and uplifting and really brought his story to life, I definitely recommend listening to this if you can.

Thank you to Celadon Books for the advanced readers copy and to Macmillan Audio/NetGalley for the advanced listener copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Of course, Baby Boomers like me associate Henry Winkler with his role as the Fonz on Happy Days but reading this memoir was so revealing in regards to his personal life as well as his many other professional roles and achievements. I really enjoyed the brief additions to his story written by his wife, Stacy. I don’t want to use any spoilers so will review in general terms. I was saddened by Henry’s descriptions of his childhood and his relationships with his parents. I think it is well known that he has dyslexia and his openness about his struggles with it are both heartbreaking and inspiring. I really enjoyed all his anecdotes about not only the cast of Happy Days, but also about other celebrities who he has worked with or just had encounters with over his professional career. Other than the story bouncing around a bit, I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book.
The audiobook version of this book was really enjoyable as it was read by Henry himself with Stacy also reading her own contributions. The emotions and passion are extra special and real when an author reads his own book and this was really evident in Henry’s audiobook.
#NetGalley #CeladonBooks

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC! I love Henry Winkler! I just finished the TV show Barry and downloaded this the next day. Perfect timing. He seems like everyone's Grandpa. The life he has lead and the career he has had is amazing! I loved this book.

Title: Being Henry: The Fonz…and Beyond
Author: Henry Winkler
Narrator: Henry Winkler
Pub Date: October 31, 2023

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Growing up, I remember my parents watching re-runs of Happy Days and I always loved listening to The Fonz. I actually remember my dad trying to impersonate him when I was little. When Celadon mailed me a copy of Being Henry: The Fonz…and Beyond, I was super excited to learn more about a person that played such an important role in the lives of many.

This has to be one of my favorite memoirs. I will admit, I usually read memoirs of people I’m pretty familiar with or know in some capacity. I am familiar with some of Winkler’s more recent work, but for not knowing much about Henry Winkler, I found him to be so personable, charming, funny, and just an absolute joy.

Perhaps my favorite part of Being Henry was the vulnerability showed when talking about his struggles with dyslexia, his childhood, and his relationship with his parents. I also had no clue Winkler wrote the Hank Zipper books which was about a boy with learning differences. I love how Winkler has used his experience to help others, especially children.

I alternated between the physical book and the audiobook. I LOVE when the author narrates the book, and I found hearing Henry Winkler narrate this memoir to be so impactful. I also loved when his wife, Stacey, would pop in and just thought it made the audiobook so fun and dynamic! I don’t think you can go wrong with either the physical copy or the audiobook, but I will say that it was so fun to hear Henry Winkler (and Stacey) narrate the audiobook!

Thank you #partner Celadon Books for my gifted advanced copy and Macmillan Audio for my advanced listening copy!

I'm going to start by saying I love the cover of Being Henry, the smile on Henry Winkler face makes me smile.

Celebrity memoirs when they narrate themselves is always a win in my book. Their voice, which is already so recognizable, brings their stories to live and Henry has certainly lived an extraordinary life yet comes across so normal.

I constantly felt emotional while listening to Being Henry, the nostalgic feeling is hard to replicate these days and Being Henry was like sitting down with an old friend you haven't talk to in a while and catching up.

All the stars and banners!

Thank you for the ALC!

I loved this memoir, especially with Henry himself narrating with his wife popping in. It was fascinating and made me love him even more.

When an email popped into my inbox from Celadon Books about the opportunity to read Being Henry: The Fonz... And Beyond by Henry Winkler, I asked my Dad if he had any interest in reading it. He said yes immediately, and since Fonzie was always someone I found intriguing, I couldn't wait to read it as well!

This book deserves to have two people from two generations reviewing it, so here we go!

Julie's review:
Listening to this book was like having coffee with a friend as they shared their memories. I blushed, I laughed and I teared up (more than once). I also learned a lot about Winkler's environment: about Garry Marshall (one of my favourites) and how Mork & Mindy was yet another spin off from Happy Days. But, what I will take away from Winkler's memoir is simply how human he is,

Dad's review:
I grew up watching Happy Days, but I never knew just how down to earth of an individual he is (especially for a celebrity). I was surprised to learn he stayed in touch with his co-stars from Happy Days and was shocked to find out just how much of a team player Winkler was; he truly wanted to make the show work. I learned a lot about Winkler: from how women really did find him attractive, to how he didn't go out on the town often, to how he just didn't care for his parents. He truly covered everything.

Both of us would absolutely recommend this memoir, certain that both old and young would be able to get enjoyment from it. We also can't stress just how amazing the audiobook is, making it even more personal as it's narrated by Winkler himself.

Five stars from each of us!

Thank you NetGalley, Celadon Books and Macmillan Audio for the complimentary copies to read and review.

Oh my gosh, “Henry can charms the pants off of anyone” is right. I absolutely loved listening to Henry talk about his life, his struggles and his wins. He is so open about his struggles with anxiety and dyslexia that he is helping to usher in a whole new era when kids with learning disabilities are recognized and teaching plans are changed to help them learn rather than just considering them to be “dumb dogs”. Yes. That was a nickname his father had for him. He did not know that he was dyslexic until he was 34 when his own kid was tested and diagnosed.

While this is an emotional read (let’s be honest, if I ever meet him in real life I’m going to ask if I can give him my best hug), it was also funny, dramatic and overall an engaging listen. It was interesting to hear behind the scenes of shows and movies that I have seen him in, and line up the personal events as he going through the timeline of his life. This is definitely a memoir that I would recommend!