Our best years

by Helen Hayes

Book by Hayes, Helen

234 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1984

About the author

Helen Hayes Brown (October 10, 1900 – March 17, 1993) was an American actress whose career spanned almost 70 years.

She eventually garnered the nickname "First Lady of the American Theatre" and was one of eleven people who have won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony Award. Hayes also received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America's highest civilian honor, from President Ronald Reagan in 1986. In 1988, she was awarded the National Medal of Arts.

The annual Helen Hayes Awards, which have recognized excellence in professional theatre in the greater Washington, D.C. area since 1984, are her namesake. In 1955 the former Fulton Theatre on 46th Street in New York City's Broadway theater district was renamed the Helen Hayes Theatre. When that venue was torn down in 1982, the nearby Little Theatre was renamed in her honor.

Hayes wrote three memoirs.

"We rely upon the poets, the philosophers, and the playwrights to articulate what most of us can only feel, in joy or sorrow. They illuminate the thoughts for which we only grope; they give us the strength and balm we cannot find in ourselves. Whenever I feel my courage wavering, I rush to them. They give me the wisdom of acceptance, the will and resiliance to push on." - Helen Hayes

Reviews

[Joy Gerbode · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book of snippets of wisdom collected over a lifetime by the wonderful actress, Helen Hayes. Not a memoir of her life, but just short tidbits of things she has learned and wishes to pass on. How to have a happy marriage, how to tell a story, how to improve your memory, etc. A lot of sage advice, including an entire section devoted to introducing us to some of her heroes. My only regret about this book is that I read it too fast .. I intend to read it again much more slowly. Perhaps put it in the bathroom to read just a snippet or two each day.