Book 168 - Dick Van Dyke - Keep moving

Dick Van Dyke is a phenomenon…born in Dec 1925…still acting and dancing in his 90s. Famous for having his own show in the 60s…starring in Diagnosis Murder in the 90s and then a return to the character 10 years later…never mind his star turn in both Mary Poppins and Mary Poppins Returns…Dick Van Dyke is incredible.

This book first published in 2015 is a joy from start to finish…part biographical…part raconteur story telling…his wit…his charm…his honesty and openness in why he keeps moving is so engaging.

My favourite story is when he is getting a check up and his doctor tells him he is riddled with arthritis…literally from head to toe…every inch …he will soon be unable to walk and will need to use a wheelchair…Van Dyke then proceeds to get up and dance round the office…this was a check up when he turned 40…

He keeps moving …with his children…grandchildren…great grandchildren and wife. The book reads as a who’s who of entertainment.

When asked about ‘acting his age’ , he is very quick to respond how does one act ? Should he be sitting in an armchair…slippers on…having hot cocoa? He continues by simply saying he does what he does because he loves life…he dances through each day…singing and humming and welcoming each day as a special time.

Other snippets include how he will never appear in anything that his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren couldn’t watch…whether due to violence or language. He speaks at length about how helping is always better than hating. His warmth and wit shines through in every chapter… having a sense of humour allows us to make sense of humour…love it.

It is literally a joy to be in this man’s company and be part of this incredible life…even in this small way…simply joyful. It is subtitled ‘…and other tips and truths about aging’ …nothing could be further from the truth…it is simply a book about living…

He loves life and lives to love. ( )

I’ve been a fan of Dick VanDyke’s since my childhood. I’ve had this book tagged to check out of my local library for a long time, and when I needed to find another audio book, I decided to get it. Dick narrates the book, which is wonderfully read by him. I had to remind myself that Dick is still alive because when I realized the book came out in 2015, nine years ago, and Dick was 90 at the time, I did the math in my head to realize that the man is nearly 100. I hope he makes it to that milestone, and I have no reason to think that he won’t. Dick talks about his career, but he talks more about lessons his long life have taught him. But he doesn’t preach even when he gets to the subject of religion at the very end of the book. He and I are on the same page on social and political issues, so that helped. I’m not a fan of self help books, but this book didn’t seem like self help. It seemed more like wisdom from an elder statesman. Being 74 myself, I’m not in much of a mood to listen to anyone tell me how to live what’s left of my life, and Dick didn’t do that. What he said, however, applies to anyone regardless of age, so I’m glad I read it, and I encourage you to too. ( )

Listening to Dick Van Dyke read this book of his is like listening to a beloved but kookie uncle ramble about all sorts of random things that come to his mind. I don’t know that my life is richer for having listened to it, but it was an okay way to spend a few hours. I think Dick’s message can be boiled down to this: Don’t forget to LIVE your life.

That all said, there are some douchey parts - his stealing the show at his wife’s dance performance immediately comes to mind. I also have a really hard time getting past the idea that his wife is 46 years younger than him. I mean, it’s none of my business, but… ick. ( )

Part memoir, part book of advice, I chose to listen to the audiobook, which Dick Van Dyke reads himself. Though I’m a few years younger than the book’s primary audience, I still enjoyed the advice, humor, and sections about Van Dyke’s life. As can often happen when you don’t already know much (if anything) about an actor’s real self and tend to conflate his/her on-screen appearances with real life, it was a bit jarring to hear some of the things about his life. However, I’ve read reviews for the full memoir he wrote a few years before this, and it sounds like this is pretty tame in comparison. I had planned to read that too, but I think I’ll leave it at this.

Some of my favorite parts involved Van Dyke’s brother Jerry Van Dyke, who seems to have a considerably different (and quite humorous) outlook on getting older. I was particularly surprised to learn that Van Dyke has never had any formal dance training; I am one, apparently of many, who always assumed he had. I appreciate parts of his outlook on life, while some of his take on politics and religion left me shaking my head. When he basically says that no one can really know the truth about God, I think to myself, “Is that the truth?” It’s an age-old argument that probably never solves anything, though. In the end, I mostly enjoyed this book, and if you plan to read it, I highly recommend the audiobook. ( )

For once, I am really glad I listened to a book instead of read it. This felt like sitting down with Dick Van Dyke and having him share stories and insights with me. All my life I have enjoyed talking to older people and hearing their stories and having one of my favorites do it was awesome. 'He talked about so many things in this book. He talks about his family and friends. He talks about politics and religion. He talks about aging and mostly, he spoke about love. He made me laugh and he made me cry. I loved how he spoke about his wives, all three of them. He has been a lucky man to have found the "love of his life" more than once. I loved the part when he was talking about his dog and his current wife. I could see his wife slowly falling for the dog and becoming his greatest defender. I loved hearing him talk about his brother Jerry. I could have listened for many more chapters.

I highly recommend this book to anyone. There were great things about every chapter. ( )