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Dec 13, 2011

Cara rated it:

As a rule I usually do not read memoirs because in reality not all famous people are good writers. But I wanted to make an exception here because as a kid I loved watching the Dick Van Dyke show and Mary Poppins. Well... I may not change my opinion anytime soon I guess.

Van Dyke writes the book in chronological order and you get to hear about some of his rough times, how he grew up, and how sometimes he truly did get lucky. Some of the parts of the books I did enjoy were when he talke More...

2 comments like (9 people liked it)

Aug 06, 2011

Erin aka The Flashlight Reader rated it:

Follow all my reviews at: http://flashlightcommentary.blogspot.com...

I had every intention of writing a review after I finished this book. It didn’t happen. Instead I picked up my daughter and sat down with her in our living room. I popped in a DVD and introduced her to Mary Poppins, Bert and Mr. Banks. She loved it. She grinned and giggled and clapped and danced. To me, this is the magic that marked Dick's career. He is a song and dance man with a timeless brand of humor that can be More...

10 comments like (10 people liked it)

Jul 17, 2011

V. rated it:

Dick Van Dyke's celebrity memoir, spanning his career of sixty years, goes down like mayonnaise on white bread--unobjectionable, but hardly interesting. Everything passes by without much impact or examination. His work on the groundbreaking The Dick Van Dyke Show was fun. Mary Tyler Moore was a sweet gal. Walt Disney was a heck of a guy. Martin Luther King Jr. sure was swell.

It's a little odd that the most emotionally-resonant scene in the book (moreso than either his divorce or the More...

0 comments like (4 people liked it)

Feb 14, 2012

Manya added it

I loved Dick Van Dyke before I even knew his name. When I was little, I watched Mary Poppins just like any kid I knew, and just like all my friends, I loved Burt. It was such a funny character and what a dancer! And then I saw Scrubs years later, and there he was. And it made my day. He just has such an amazing smile and timing and well presence.

So when I was at the library and saw My Lucky Life in and Out of Show Business, I was enticed by the title. I didn't know who it was by but wh More...

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Jan 20, 2012

Trike rated it:

Dick Van Dyke is quite a good entertainer, but he's not a great writer. This memoir is sort of a travelogue that's rather unfocused. Much like Van Dyke himself. His friends call him a loner and he insists that he's contemplative, yet he undercuts that by also claiming he's a people person and offering many examples of that. He does say that he never had a plan and simply lucked into the things that happened to him, and that really does seem to be the most accurate description of both the man and More...

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Jan 16, 2012

Jeremy rated it:

If you *love* Dick Van Dyke, or even just the "Dick Van Dyke Show" era of television, you will find this readable (I count myself a fan of his and found the book decent). It starts out with the crises of his early life which make for a fascinating read as he attempts to break into show business, but once he becomes famous, Dick's life - and, consequently, his autobiography - becomes predictable and fairly boring. He shares some cute anecdotes from the set of his early show, and after t More...

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Jan 05, 2012

Ame rated it:

There's something that just draws me to bios stemming from comedians/actors involved in comedic feats. This may be one of my all-time favorite tales to read, but I'd expect nothing less from a person as interesting as Dick Van Dyke. I recommend this autobiography for any hardcore fan, or anyone that has enjoyed his previous works. There's a humble, gracious tone throughout the book. For instance, his take on why he was selected for "The Dick Van Dyke Show" (before Carl had a name for i More...

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Jun 21, 2011

Mark rated it:

The Dick Van Dyke Show ran 5 Seasons, from 1961-1966. I would have been to young to remember it, first run but I do recall this wonderful comedy being a staple in our household, along with Get Smart, Cream of Wheat, Twinkies and SpaghettiOs. This must have been in the late 60s.
My first film going experience, that I can remember, is my Mother taking my sister and I, downtown Chicago, by train or bus, (she did not drive at the time) to see Mary Poppins. I must have been 6 and my sis 4, most l More...

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Jun 10, 2011

Joe rated it:

I've enjoyed Dick Van Dyke ever since I saw Marry Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang as a child. Later in life, I saw episodes of The Dick Van Dyke show and enjoyed them too. So, when I saw this book pop up in the library, I eagerly snagged it.

It was a very easy and engaging read. The book sounds exactly like Dick Van Dyke—as I read, I could easily hear his voice in my head and it sounded exactly like the Dick Van Dyke that I’ve heard in interviews before.

The book was the st More...

0 comments like (4 people liked it)

Jul 22, 2011

Kyle rated it:

Wow, what a great read! I usually don't spend time reading bio/autobiographies of still-living people, but I'm such a long-time fan of Mr. Van Dyke that when I heard about his newly published memoirs, I just had to read it. Believe me, it was not a disappointment. From the first paragraph on, this book was almost as full of laughs as the original The Dick Van Dyke Show series. With the wonder and enjoyment of Mary Poppins thrown in, to boot! As he points out right from the start, there are More...

2 comments like (1 person liked it)

Sep 09, 2011

Kate rated it:

It's an old-school celebrity memoir. As many have already noted in earlier reviews, My Lucky Life In and Out of Show Business is told in the gosh-golly-gee-whiz voice of a PG-rated narrator who finds everyone and everything very nice.

I don't find this to be particularly objectionable. I pick up a book like this one to serve as a mental palate cleanser, and the likeable Mr. Van Dyke, now in his mid-eighties, has earned the right to present himself as a big bowl of orange sherbet if th More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

May 14, 2011

Chandni rated it:

I LOVE THIS MAN! :)

4 comments like (4 people liked it)

Jan 22, 2012

Sally rated it:

I love Dick Van Dyke. I was introduced to him through - what else? - Mary Poppins. Burt was always my favorite character. I've also seen reruns of the Dick Van Dyke television show and loved them - they're pretty timeless - and I've seen several other films with him. He is just such a fantastic entertainer - he always makes me smile. So, I picked up the book already his fan.

I ended the book liking him and understanding him even more. Though I can't/don't agree with all his personal v More...

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Sep 17, 2011

Heidi rated it:

Oh, how I love Dick Van Dyke! The audio version of his book is superb, as it is narrated by the man himself. It is an honest look at the ups and downs (and there were more than a couple downs) of his life, from growing up in the rural Midwest and learning he was born out of wedlock to his rise as a performer. He tells of his struggles with alcohol and his attraction to a woman other than his wife, which ultimately leads to a divorce from the mother of his four children. The sneaking around a More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jun 07, 2011

Jamison rated it:

dick van dyke had a lot of choices in life. he had to choose between the wife who gave him several children, and a lover who gave him a listening ear, and the support he needed as an actor. he had to choose between being a star, and being a man who could share his films with his family.

but, most importantly, van dyke had to choose between himself, and the bottle. unfortunately, this book doesn't really go into the hardships he had with alcoholism. but, he gives credit where it's More...

0 comments like (3 people liked it)

Feb 04, 2012

Mike rated it:

I love reading the biographies of TV stars past and present. Some of them are wild rides through adulthood with the highs and lows of drug/alcohol abuse and yet others are stories of the stars struggles to make it....Dick Van Dyke's story is more of the latter..story of how an ordinary person from the Midwest (Danville, IL to be exact) worked his way into the early days of TV as Rob Petrie through his other various projects including his Murder: Diagnosis series.

His story is not dev More...

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Oct 20, 2011

Allison rated it:

I fell in love with The Dick Van Dyke Show when I was still in elementary school and Nick at Nite began playing it in syndication (it's when I also fell in love with Lucille Ball and Mary Tyler Moore, not to mention Dragnet and Happy Days... I was a weird kid). Recently, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the show, TV Land hosted all-day marathons for a week solid, and I rekindled my love of Rob and Laura Petrie. So, I immediately snatched this book from the library.

I'll be hone More...

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Feb 15, 2012

Alyssa rated it:

Let me start by saying that I am a huge Dick Van Dyke fan! I love Mary Poppins and Diagnosis Murder and the Dick Van Dyke Show and so much more, and I just love this guy! He has that awkward voice that is just great, and is such a funny guy that is the innocent kind of funny. When I saw this in the 'New Books' section at the library, I grabbed it. And the original plan for reading this book was to spread from Tuesday to Friday, because that was the first I could get to the library and it was my More...

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Dec 04, 2011

Jon rated it:

I barely read any non-fiction (outside of the technical writing found in information technology reference guides) in any given year. When I do branch out away from fiction, I prefer to read a biography, autobiography or memoir, or a history book, usually on a particular brief period.

I breezed through Dick Van Dyke's autobiography quickly, probably because it felt like he sat in my living regaling me with tales from his past in his engaging and witty manner. His charm and good will More...

4 comments like (3 people liked it)

Jul 23, 2011

Verona rated it:

I love Dick Van Dyke! And after reading his book, I like him even more. I appreciate his sticking to his goal of working only on projects that are wholesome and family entertainment. He tells his own story in this book, and I felt like he was telling it just to me. It was like he was talking to me and telling me his goals, his dreams, his values. It read like a conversation. He doesn't cover up any of his problems and issues; he tells it like it was. He doesn't sensationalize his getting h More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Jun 03, 2011

Natalie rated it:

I always loved Dick van Dyke and now even more.

This book is an autobiography written by a humble, talented, humorous and sweet human being. Its honest, insightful and funny.

As so many entertainers/artists/actors, he was torn between his self-perception and his public image. Witch he desperately tried to live up to.

All trough the book you can feel the respect and love he and his fans shared, and his appreciation for it.

The anecdotes including Buster More...

0 comments like (3 people liked it)

Jul 07, 2011

Kimberlee rated it:

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here

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Aug 08, 2011

Gerald rated it:

I adored the Dick Van Dyke TV series, so I really looked forward to this biography, narrated by Dick, himself.

I was disappointed by the narration, because it was not as I had hoped, having this great star share himself, but even though he wrote the book, the narration sounded exactly as it was: him "reading" the words and not at all natural.

I suppose I hoped for the feelings of fun and entertainment that we all enjoyed from the TV series, but that was not to be had More...

1 comment like

Jan 01, 2012

Katy rated it:

This is quite simply one of my favorite autobiographies and one that I highly recommend to fans of Classic Hollywood. Dick Van Dyke shares his tales in showbusiness with a voice that is extremely conversational and makes you feel like you've known him forever. He doesn't give the dirty lo-down on the biz, which will disappoint people who only want the scoop...but Dick's tone is frank and honest, you know he's pulling no punches about his experiences. In an interview on the Late Late Show with Cr More...

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May 23, 2011

Kellie rated it:

This was an interesting book. Dick Van Dyke was in my peripheral vision throughout my child hood. Someone I was familiar with but did not give much thought. I am glad I read this book. Dick Van Dyke seems like a happy, funny, complete person. Someone I admire. Van Dyke had only one wife and one mistress. Almost a record in Hollywood. I love the stories about his relationship with Stan Laurel and Buster Keaton. How he found Stan’s number in the phone book one day and just called him up. More...

1 comment like

Jun 01, 2011

Kristin rated it:

I enjoyed this memoir, but I was hoping for a little more. I adore "The Dick Van Dyke Show," and I've enjoyed all of his movies that I've seen so far. It seems like Dick Van Dyke is exactly the kind of person you'd expect him to be, and this book is exactly the kind of book you'd expect him to write. It's light and amusing. I didn't read this book looking for scandal, and he doesn't dwell on any scandal, though he does write about his addiction to alchohol and cigarettes, and the break More...

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Oct 07, 2011

Steve rated it:

The first night reading this caught my interest as it took me through Van Dyke's journey from youth to the Dick Van Dyke Show and Mary Poppins, which brought back memories from my younger days. Oddly enough, when I picked it up the next night to continue it soon lost its charm as it made its way through show business productions that weren't so familiar to me and as it drove down the customary Hollywood pathway of divorce, addiction, politics, etc. Granted, those detours were mild by typical sho More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jul 13, 2011

Patty rated it:

A straight ahead autobiography of the versatile entertainer who's now in his mid 80s. I was a big fan of his show. Interesting fact—show creator Carol Reiner deliberately did not put any current affairs references in the scipts so the show would be 'timeless.' Van Dyke doesn't dish up dirt but does admit that he left his first wife for Michelle Triola (of palimony fame), that he went to rehab when you did it in a hospital and that he continually fell off the wagon and he was involved in the civi More...

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Jul 05, 2011

Chris rated it:

Dick Van Dyke reads his own memoir, detailing his rocky road up the ranks in show business, his bad luck with automobiles, and the lucky break that led to The Dick Vank Dyke Show and Mary Poppins. He reveals some personal details about the first half of his life with wife, Margie, who never really liked the Hollywood lifestyle and the second half of his life with Michelle, who did. Though he battled alcoholism and smoking and cheated on his wife, he comes off as a fairly decent chap. Some les More...

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Jul 21, 2011

Jane rated it:

I have loved Dick Van Dyke since I was a kid. Mary Poppins was the first movie I paid to see more than once in the movie theater (and it was 30 years before I did that again), and the Dick Van Dyke show is my all time favorite tv show. Dick Van Dyke as Robert Petrie is my ideal man. In junior high we had to write a report on a contemporary hero (someone living we admired), and I picked Carl Reiner while everyone else in the class was picking Dorothy Hamill and Barry Manilow.

All that More...

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