And Jerry Mathers as the Beaver

It would be quite irresponsible to ignore the pop culture that surrounds us from our birth to our death. And certainly ignorant to belittle it. Though many do...ignorantly. From music to movies, plays to novels, magazines to television, the time in which we live IS the time we are given to live. For baby boomers LEAVE IT TO BEAVER is as important to who they are as Elvis, Kennedy and the Space Age. It defined an optimistic decade that was secure in its moral center, struggling in its quest to seek right over wrong, and boundless in its dreams. The record of the man at the center of LEAVE IT TO BEAVER is a record of post-World War 2 America. To understand that period is to understand the pop culture, to understand life as it was back then, and to understand the standards and expectations thrust upon those that lived back then. Whereas the show LEAVE IT TO BEAVE aptly laid out those standards and expectations by example and decree, the book demonstrates that the lives of those that made the show were not exempt from those standards or expectations in their personal lives and leaves a lasting record of that period of time for us to study.

I went into this book with an open mind as I am a baby boomer who grew up on shows like "Leave It To Beaver". It really wasn't a book that I thought would be solely about what was behind of the scenes of "Leave It To Beaver" but was anticipating more of an autobiography of Jerry Mathers. I must say, I wasn't disappointed in the slightest.From the first page, as you read about Jerry Mathers from infant to adult, the reader is made to feel like you are actually sitting down with Jerry as he tells you his story on a one to one basis. I found integrity, honesty and humbleness of memories, facts and words as I read along listening to what Jerry wanted to tell his reader.The reader is treated to the pre-Beaver era and how Jerry got into acting..to the Beaver era with some behind the scenes memories shared..to the post-Beaver area (one of how Jerry chose to leave acting for an education...not many child stars opt to get out of the business while the going is good)...to where Jerry's adult life's journey took him..to what he is doing most recently.The LITB fan is treated to some behind the scenes memories as well as actual paragraphs and pages written by former fellow cast members. The book has a few chuckles along the way from the horse story from the first episode that Hugh Beaumont wrote and directed to the impromtu telephone ringing when Jerry and Tony Dow were acting in "So Long Stanley", which had me chuckling out loud as I sat reading it as I had a lunch out in a restaurant.It's such an easy and delightful read, this book could be easily be read in a day or two. It took me a little longer because I was out of town travelling as I was embarking on the book.It you are a "Leave It To Beaver" fan and a Jerry Mathers fan, you can't go wrong purchasing and reading this book! This is a two thumbs up release!

As a baby boomer, I grew up watching "Leave It To Beaver". Jerry Mathers does a great job of describing his life as "The Beaver" on the show and how it compared with his personal life away from the studio. He gives the reader a thorough description of the ups and downs of being a child actor and how it has affected his adult life. What a trip down memory lane!! If you ever wondered what happened to all those wonderful characters on the show, then I encourage you to buy this book. It's a "Where are they now?" readers dream. Once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. I now look forward to reading Frank Banks book about his acting days on the set of "Leave It To Beaver".

It was great to finally hear from Jerry Mathers himself. The story he tells is interesting, starting with his big break into show-biz and throughout the ups and downs of his life. He comes off as a pretty down-to-earth guy who seems grateful for the opportunities he's had. He doesn't seem bitter like a lot of child actors who didn't make it as huge stars. He blames no one. He looks back on it all with a lot of warmth. He seems to realize that luck and timing sometimes help. But he certainly took advantage of what was presented to him and aquitted himself well. It's gratifying to know that he really likes his co-stars and is still in touch with many of them. On the negative side, it would have been nice to hear more about the Beaver series and to have heard more inside stories. He obviously enjoyed it and I'm sure there are more anecdotes to share. Also at times he seems to be rather self-congratulatory, as when he mentions the expensive car he had while attending Berkeley - (a little unnerving to those of us who munched on Ramen noodles or macaroni to survive while in school). He also doesn't fail to mention his rich, well-connected friends. It seemed to smack of name-dropping after a while. But all in all Jerry Mathers seems to have kept a good head on his shoulders and seems to have a healthy perspective on life and his fellow man. Though I can't help thinking that he's lead a rather sheltered life he seems like he'd be a fun guy to know; he'd be a loyal friend and an approachable person. He is certainly someone I'd like to meet. My image of him is certainly enhanced by this book.

This book is excellent for people who enjoy the show "Leave It to Beaver" or who are interested in American popular culture and television. Jerry Mathers shows that he has kept a lot of common sense through the years of being a celebrity and the general turmoil in America during the past few decades. While he admits his own mistakes, he shines through as a decent person--just what we'd expect from "The Beav." In addition to his life story, the book has background on the show "Leave It to Beaver" and some interesting extended quotations from other members of the cast. The book shows how "Leave It to Beaver" was a top quality TV show and how it provided elements of realism that are missing from today's supposedly more realistic programs. It is written in a very down-to-earth way, and it is a refreshing read.