Note: Thank you to NetGalley, Hachette Audio, and author Dick Van Dyke for the advanced reader copy of this book. This review will also be posted on NetGalley. What follows is my unbiased review of the book.

I grew up watching reruns of The Dick Van Dyke Show, and of course, was a fan of Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. I can’t remember ever hearing a negative rumor about him from the tabloids. As he celebrates 100 years on the planet, I thought this would be a great book to listen to, and I was right.

In the times we currently live in, it can be hard to find reason to be optimistic. Dick Van Dyke acknowledges that, without getting too deeply into politics. After listening to this, though, I definitely know which side of the political spectrum he’s on without a doubt. At the same time, he doesn’t spend time on negativity, but instead inspires people to find the joy in their daily lives. He approaches many things with a sense of humor, and that’s a lesson we all could learn.

One piece of advice he has that I have always told my grandchildren is to learn to laugh at yourself. I do think that’s very important to see your own failings as humorous whenever possible.

From there, it turns into more of a memoir of his life, with it leaning heavily on the later part of his life. He talks about growing older and accepting things like failing eyesight or having to give up driving. He seems like he could be a bit of a curmudgeon at times, and I’m sure his close friends and family will tell you he’s not always happy-go-lucky, but his positivity is infectious. By the time I was done listening to the book, I actually felt better.

He dishes a bit about his time as a celebrity. He talks about how he worked toward success as a younger man and the breaks that came his way. We get a peek at what it was like working on The Dick Van Dyke Show. He’s honest about not liking the directors of both Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, even though he loved how the movies turned out. When he talks about working with his family, he radiates happiness, whether it was his brother Jerry or his son, Barry.

The one memory that surprised me was the fun he had working on The Masked Singer. I always thought the show was kind of ridiculous, but he had a really good time with it.

Dick Van Dyke reads the introduction to the book, and then the narration is provided by Tom Bergeron. He’s a good narrator, which isn’t surprising, having seen him on television for years. He has something of a whimsical tone while reading this, which is the perfect feel for the material.

Near the end of the book, Van Dyke talks about the losses he’s faced in life. You don’t get to 100 without watching some of your family, friends, and contemporaries leave us. This was particularly the case as he reminisced about the relationship with Carl Reiner, since we just lost his son to a family tragedy. Van Dyke has also lost a daughter and granddaughter, and I can tell you from experience that hurts the most. Yet, he has managed to still find happiness in life, which is something we can all strive for.