The Boys: A Memoir of Hollywood and Family

Written by Ron Howard and Clint Howard

Narrated by Ron Howard, Clint Howard and Bryce Dallas Howard

AN AUDIOFILES BEST AUDIOBOOK OF 2021

WINNER OF AN AUDIOFILES 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.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperAudio
• Release date: Oct 12, 2021
• ISBN: 9780063065277

Ron Howard

Academy Award-winning filmmaker Ron Howard is one of his generation’s most popular directors. From the critically acclaimed dramas A Beautiful Mind, Frost/Nixon, Rush, and Apollo 13 to the hit comedies Parenthood and Splash, he has created some of Hollywood’s most memorable films. Howard made his directorial debut in 1977 with Grand Theft Auto. He began his career in film as an actor, performing in The Journey when he was four years old. He also starred in The Music Man, the long-running television series The Andy Griffith Show and Happy Days, and in the film American Graffiti. His most recent films as a director are Hillbilly Elegy and the upcoming Thirteen Lives.

Reviews for The Boys

[Angela Streeter · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Beautiful tribute to the Howard parents. Loved learning more about the whole family.

[Tina Carpenter · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Loved the story and tribute to two incredible boys parents.

[lorraine cheevers · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

very enjoyable easy listening..loved hearing about their childhood & growing up in hollywood

[Keith Snell · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A beautifully written account by two outstanding men of the remarkable and enriching their family’s journey through life. I found it fascinating, enlightening, and wonderfully uplifting.

[Thomas Townsend · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Theirs was my childhood too, thanks guys. Great book and memories!

[Jennifer Wall · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved this, thank you Howard Family! It was wonderful learning about your family and amazing careers!

[carol thomas · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Dual narration was interesting. A down to earth telling of a Hollywood family with loving parents, talented sons and a happy ending.

[luke Tenbuuren · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

An amazing story that takes you back through your own childhood.

[Ross Taylor · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Worth a listen. I didnt know anything about Clint but now I do. Know that it concentrates on the early years of Ron's career mostly.

[dollyricchi · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Love. The Howard family was different from other families. From the beginning you feel the love for each other and how they handled the good times and the bad. Lance had dreams that were not wholly fulfilled, he never gave up. The brothers relationship from the day Clint was born was beautiful, they loved to the fullest the day Ron held his baby brother.

Their careers were somewhat of an accident and an adventure that lasted through thick and thin.

The way the book was written with each of the boys telling their stories was perfect, you had a good sense of who they were from the beginning.

I highly recommend this book.

[Dean Goff · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is pure gold. As a child of the 70s, I grew up watching both brothers and have enjoyed their careers. What a privilege to be able to hear their perspective of their family and careers. This is by far the best memoir I have listened to. Now I have to go find some of the movies that their parents were in. I see a Beckenholdt (Howard) family movie marathon in my near future.

[Linda Stoval · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Love this book. It is about so much more than just the Howard Boys. Warm, funny, kind and loving. Thank you, Clint and Ron.

[Eileen · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

True and so nostalgic. I loved every word Ron and Clint spoke. This book is a bright light!

[Kristin Siemens · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Such an interesting history of famous people. Great listen as read by the authors

[pam gaines · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This book to me was just 2 people going on and about how wonderful their lives were..how wonderful they are and how wonderful their parents were. All in all a glorified version of how perfect they lived life. Any normal person would not have had a book published based on this drivel. Very boring, colorless and bland. Sorry I wasted my time.

[Sweo Kathleen · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved it! I’m going to read it again! I also watched Apollo 13 last night. Hadn’t seen it for years. We also watched American graffiti! So impressed with the Howard boys memoir!

[Christina Hartman Criona · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved the honest story telling without all the Hollywood glam. So refreshing to hear about a family even in the midst of media attention, success and failures who loved each other, supported each other and in many ways are just like my own family.
Thank you brothers for sharing your lives and talents!

[Angela Scafidi McQuillan · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Such a personal intimate look into the Howard’s lives and careers! Hands down the best memoir/biography I have read! Highly recommend!

[Arvin Phelps · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A deep dive into their personal and professional lives. Lots of tidbits and nuggets. An honest and uplifting read.

[Mark Trigsted · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A walk down memory lane for all American Boomers. We all grew up with Ron and Clint. Hearing them tell the story was magical.

[Yvette Westmoreland · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great book! Even if you know nothing about the Howard family, it’s a lesson in being amazing parents!

[Robyn Franks · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great read - good story telling. Ron and Clint spoke honesty and frankly

[James Noll · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wonderful book about Ron and Cliff's parents. Insights galore about Hollywood

[Andrea Brock · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved the honesty and the huge heart of the story.

[kathy · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The reading was wonderful. And it was great to get an insight on the brothers and their relationship with their parents

[Steven Stankevitz · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I was great to be told by the brothers in their words. Thanks

[Judi · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The book stirred some fond memories and made me smile, but most of all, it was lovely listening to two men speak about the love and respect they had for their parents.

[sriddell_8 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Loved this look back on Ron and Clint Howard's careers, families and lives.

Warm, honest and nostalgic. A great memoir!

[dianekeenoy · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was a wonderful book, especially in audio with Ron and Clint Howard reading it! It was so interesting to hear about their upbringing by their actor parents who let their careers slow down when Ron got the role that made him famous as Opy on the Andy Griffith show and Clint in Gentle Ben. Hearing about the people and how things worked on their shows and movies was fascinating especially since we have been watching The Andy Griffith show on MeTV! Highly recommended!

[janarose1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Rance and Jean, parents of Ron and Clint, move to California to pursue their dreams of becoming movie stars. Instead, their children become stars. Ron stars as Opie in the Andy Griffith Show, Richie in Happy Days, and in numerous movies. Once grown, he becomes a world famous movie director. Clint stars in numerous shows as a child, and then after battling addiction, becomes a character actor in films. However, this book is a tribute to Rance and Jean, who encouraged them, treated them fairly, and set them up for success.This was an absolutely fascinating book. I knew little about the Howard family before reading this book and was captivated by their family dynamic. The writing style was dynamic, oftentimes funny, and brutally honest. Overall, highly recommended!