This is my first celebrity memoir. Like most of us, I had been familiar with the author from having seen Happy Days when I was a kid. But I only have vague recollections of that. More recently, I really enjoyed the show Barry, in which the author did a great job playing a bad acting teacher. And it was only while reading this memoir that I remembered that he was in Arrested Development! He was excellent in that. Mr. Winkler walks us through his many varied roles and there is some name dropping related to people he has met and worked with but it’s not gossipy. Some of these anecdotes (I liked the Burt Reynolds recollections) and his star-struck encounters are quite amusing. I laughed several times.
But the book is much more than his acting portfolio. He also shares recollections from his childhood (and briefly his family’s background too) and more importantly, his feelings. It turns out, his life was plagued by angst and self-doubt. These insecurities and his self-deprecating humor make the author quite endearing. And you can hear his voice, with his casual and chatty tone, which makes him very personable. I was impressed with how open Mr. Winkler was and how much he lets the reader in. It is also heart-warming. Due to his own struggles with dyslexia, the author has been trying to help academically challenged kids through his children’s books and talks.
I was provided with an ARC (thanks to the author & publisher!) and I am voluntarily posting my honest review.
But the book is much more than his acting portfolio. He also shares recollections from his childhood (and briefly his family’s background too) and more importantly, his feelings. It turns out, his life was plagued by angst and self-doubt. These insecurities and his self-deprecating humor make the author quite endearing. And you can hear his voice, with his casual and chatty tone, which makes him very personable. I was impressed with how open Mr. Winkler was and how much he lets the reader in. It is also heart-warming. Due to his own struggles with dyslexia, the author has been trying to help academically challenged kids through his children’s books and talks.
I was provided with an ARC (thanks to the author & publisher!) and I am voluntarily posting my honest review.