Being Henry: The Fonz... and Beyond was a great read by Henry Winkler. Henry Winkler became a well known actor with his role as 'The Fonz" in Happy Days. He's not only brilliant and funny, but is also known as the nicest man in Hollywood. This book talks about his childhood, the difficulties with living with severe dyslexia, and trying to reach your dreams. I enjoyed reading this book and can't wait to read more by the author.

What a joy to listen to his book in his own, distinct voice. But a lot of this book made me sad. He never seemed like he was happy, even up until now. Even with all his fame, he wasn’t happy being type-cast, he was ever striving for more, but not in a productive way. He spent so much time comparing himself to others. When he got Fonzie, he compared himself to his theater actors who he trained with. When he was no longer Fonzie, he compared himself to other bigger actors in his field. It actually answered some of my questions about how non A-lister actor feel about A-lister actors. But the saddest part is that so much of this he blames on his parents. Maybe it is their fault, but he’s in his 70s (?) now and still blaming them for his issues. He doesn’t sound like he has forgiven them at all. And that is sad. Especially for a guy that comes across so happy on the outside. M favorite part was how he supported his fellow actors on Happy Days. He refused to let the studio pit him against Ron Howard. They truly loved each other. And I think that’s probably pretty rare in the field. Overall, good book—not great—though I could have done with less about his dogs!

What is not to love about Henry Winkler? From childhood hero to overall really great guy, his story shows hoe he is so much more than just a TV star. I listened to the audiobook and highly recommend that you do as well. Delightful, entertaining, and inspiring.

What a fabulous audiobook! I grew up watching the show, Happy Days, and always enjoyed "The Fonz". When I saw that Henry Winkler had an audiobook out about his life (and that he was narrating it), I had to listen to it. In fact, my husband and I listened to a chapter each night while eating dinner, and we still talk about this experience. I enjoyed learning the life story about a favorite actor, and it was especially heartwarming to learn how compassionate he became, coming from a harsh upbringing. Highly recommended, especially in audio format. I do not normally listen to many audiobooks, but this one inspires me to listen more.

This was such a sweet and endearing audiobook. All memoirs should be read by their author, especially if they’re as warm and friendly as Henry Winckler.

I appreciated Winckler’s candor when detailing his career, even calling out his lack of humility at certain points of his success.

Including brief moments of narration by Winckler’s wife was a huge win for me as a reader.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio for the ALC.

Five big fat stars!
I have always been a fan!
So I was so very glad to be approved for this absolutely delightful book!
If it's possible to now be an even bigger fan as I was before, here I am!

Henry Winkler will always be The Fonz; however, he is just Henry. I love how he was so down to Earth in this book. Hearing him read the book was delightful. His warm, smooth voice made his words gently glide off the page. It broke my heart to hear of his mistreatment by his parents because of his undiagnosed dyslexia. His ability to overcome and work hard to make his dream come true is a testament to who he is today, not only as an actor but as a person.

In 2014, Henry Winkler was speaking at the Texas Library Association Conference. I was very sick at the time and therefore not able to attend. I was devasted. A few years later, I was thrilled to meet him in person and get my picture taken with him. I told him I did not get to see him when he spoke at the Texas Library Association Conference because I had been so sick. He took me by the shoulder, turned me around from the crowd, and said, "That's why I'm here...to see you." We turned around for my husband to take our picture together and both had the biggest smiles, we had a little secret, well, now not so much a secret. (Sorry Henry.) I know he was not there just for me, but in that moment, he made me feel as if I was the most important person in the world for him to meet. He did not have to take time to stop, talk, and take a picture. He could have just had me stand behind him while he signed his book as most authors do at signings. The little extra he gave made a world of difference and created a special memory. I have the picture of the two of us in my hallway now and pass it numerous times every day reminding me of the time I created a secret with Henry.

REVIEW: Being Henry The Fonz . . . and Beyond ⭐⭐⭐⭐

“It’s so funny about time - you get into these nice little grooves with people you love and think it’ll go on forever. But time goes so fast, and nothing goes on forever.”
― Henry Winkler, Being Henry: The Fonz . . . and Beyond

I was very excited when I saw that Henry Winkler was releasing a book. I enjoyed watching him as the Fonz on Happy Days, of course, but I also loved seeing him in so many other places, like Waterboy and Parks and Rec, to name a few.

First of all, Henry Winkler is such a great storyteller. He explained his different stories well, making it feel like you were talking with a friend. He also narrated the audiobook, making it feel even more personal. Henry shared many elements of his life, including positive and darker stories. He rarely shied away from anything. Learning about his childhood and how he got on Happy Days was fascinating. He went further in his other acting jobs and life with his wife and kids. You can tell Henry really wanted to reflect on his life and some of his choices; he seemed to learn so much looking back.

One thing I struggled with was the organization of the book. Although much of it was in chronological order, there were many times when the order would jump back and forth. Sometimes, it is hard to follow his life when it moves around.

Overall, I really enjoyed the Being Henry audiobook, especially with Henry Winkler’s narration. The book felt like catching up with an old friend, which I absolutely loved.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio, Netgalley, and Henry Winkler for a free advanced copy for my honest review!

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Before reading this book Henry Winkler was a face you occasionally saw on that show or in that movie. He was that "Fonzie" fellow. After listening to his book, hearing his story, hearing his struggles, he became a person. He became an average, yet extraordinary individual. This book will touch your heart and make you tear up. It is personal and authentic not just to Henry but to people in hollywood, being more than their roles.

I've always been a huge Henry Winkler fan. Being a child of the 1970's meant that I regularly tuned in the show Happy Days with my parents. The Fonz made being kind and doing the right thing cool. I always wondered what the actor Henry Winkler, the man behind the character was truly like. By getting the chance to read "Being Henry" by Henry Winkler I wonder no more. Of course the Audiobook is the way to go with this book as it's narrated by the man himself. I loved listening to him tell the story of his life, professional and personal in a mostly chronological order. It was fun to peek behind the curtain with a few Hollywood stories sprinkled throughout the book.


Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Audio ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4 stars

Who doesn't love Henry? I had to read this. Henry is so humble and appreciative of life. His story is very interesting and I love memoirs for the sheer fact that no one's life is easy and for this gentle man to go through his trials and end up ... well where I want to hug him for staying true to who he is. Sigh.

Henry writes about his life and life as an actor. He also talks about friendships in the industry, as well as family relationships. It was a quick read.

**This review is specifically for the audiobook**

I appreciated the style of Henry’s book. The book isn’t a chronological retelling of his story. However, the pieces come together in a mosaic of sorts—you feel as if he is sitting with you and chatting over pancakes and cream (you’ll get the reference in the book). I was pleased the editor didn’t push for the story to be more traditionally written—chronologically or otherwise.

The humanity of Henry’s inner healing is a powerful reminder that life is precious and we all deserve to live to our fullest potential. It’s even more touching since Henry began therapy late in life and is able to fully appreciate peace more now than ever before.

Henry does a fantastic job narrating his book and I loved that his wife also narrates from her perspective. I was completely engaged the entire time.

Love Henry! Thank you Net Galley I learned more about the Fonze and was pleasantly surprised by him.

A truly enjoyable memoir of Henry Winkler, written by Henry Winkler, and the audiobook was charismatically and enthusiastically narrated by Henry Winkler. There are many laughs -- some self-deprecating and some deeply personal and genuinely hilarious. Henry Winkler has lived a rich and storied life and overcome MANY obstacles, academically and throughout his professional career.

He seems to have endured and succeeded through sheer determination and resilience (and charm). His family history is especially interesting (as was his squinchy first sexual experience). He holds nothing back and it's hysterical.

For FANS of Henry Winkler -- from the Lords of Flatbush to Happy Days to Barry (and it's hard not to be a giant fan of the man himself after listening!!) this is a must. Thank you #NetGalley for this wonderful audiobook. Apologies that it took so long to submit feedback and I am grateful for the opportunity to review this book.

***** I have received and read an advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for giving my honest feedback. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.*****

Apart from seeing a few episodes of "Happy Days" when I was younger, I never really saw anything in which Henry Winkler appeared, but knowing how much of a cultural icon he became, this book immediately drew my attention.

How is it that someone who is known as the epitome of cool can suddenly seemingly disappear for what seems like decades?

In his memoir "Being Henry" we get to find out how his leading role as "the Fonz" not only started his career but also almost ended it due to being typecast.

We get to follow along as he reorients and rebuilds himself into a producer, writer, and finally one of the most well known actors working today.

The week he arrived in Hollywood from a theater education at Boston’s Emerson College and then the Yale School of Drama, Henry Winkler landed the role that would define him for decades: Arthur Fonzarelli, the ultracool “Fonzie” on the TV hit “Happy Days.”

But when the show ended after 11 seasons, Winkler found himself typecast as the epitome of ’50s cool. For years, acting jobs were hard to come by.

So this mostly charming memoir isn’t a tale of unrelenting success. Instead, it’s the story of how, bit by bit, Winkler, now 78, reinvented himself. As the co-author of 39 children’s books, many of them starring a kid who — like Winkler — has dyslexia. As a director and producer, and as an actor who scored with later-in-life roles on “Arrested Development,” “Parks and Recreation” and, especially, “Barry,” the comedy-drama where he won an Emmy as acting teacher Gene Cousineau. And as a devoted husband, father and grandfather who finally — after a ton of therapy — has learned to open up.

He has good things to say about almost everyone he talks about, from Ron Howard in “Happy Days” to Adam Sandler in a stream of movies including “The Waterboy” and “Click” and to Bill Hader in “Barry” … with a couple of key exceptions.

One is John Rich, the director who ignored him for seven seasons while Winkler produced “MacGyver,” refusing to listen to a single one of Winkler’s ideas. Winkler wonders aloud if it’s fair to talk so badly about a man who’s dead and can’t defend himself — and decides that it definitely is.

The other is his German-Jewish parents, who never loved him as he needed to be loved, and whose funerals he contemplated skipping before giving in to his wife’s urging to attend. His impression of their accents is funny — he does a lot of great voices throughout as he tells his story — but there’s nothing comical about the bitterness that all his years of therapy clearly has not softened.

An audiobook that I finished the end of 2023 and one that I loved.

The first words that come to mind for most readers when you hear the name Henry Winkler are . . . THE FONZ! Known for a character he played in his late 20s, Henry Winkler has spent many years trying to play characters that were not The Fonz. Recounting the fun days of Happy Days and the trying time after where his professional life was many ups and downs and a lot of anxiety.

While I may not have watched Happy Days, I can remember watching a few episodes with my parents and loving the Grease like air of the show. I fell in love with Henry Winkler while reading this book. I loved his recounting of those Happy Days, but I loved more his behind the scenes stories of all of the sets and projects he worked on. And even more than that I loved hearing about his love story and his friendships that were made in and out of the Hollywood life.

After reading this book, I was encouraged to go look up other celebrity memoirs and listen to them in 2024 as I do housework, walk the dogs, and spend time in my garden!

I loved listening to the audiobook by Henry Winkler. I have always liked him but now I love him! He is raw, honest, funny and so down to earth! What a wonderful career for him. Thank you!

I don’t know Henry Winkler from the Fonz, but I do from his later appearances in Barry, Parks & Rec, and more. As someone who didn’t know much about his life, I really enjoyed this story. He seems like such a kind, thoughtful person. And I definitely would not have appreciated this book as much if I didn’t listen to the audiobook told in his amazing voice!