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Life Is Not a Stage: From Broadway Baby to a Lovely Lady and Beyond
For millions of people around the world, Carol Brady is synonymous with motherhood, but growing up as the youngest of ten children in rural Indiana in the aftermath of the Great Depression, Florence Henderson lived a life quite different from that of the quintessential TV mom she later played on television.
Florence's father was a dirt-poor tobacco tenant farmer who was nearly fifty years old when he married Florence's twenty-five-year-old mother and was nearly seventy when Florence was born. Florence's childhood was full of deprivation and abandonment. Her father was an alcoholic at a time when there was no rehab or help for the disease. Their home rarely had electricity or running water. When she was twelve, Florence's mother left the family to work in Cleveland and never returned.
Florence opens up about her childhood, as well as the challenges she's faced as an adult, including stage fright, postpartum depression, her extramarital affairs, divorce, her hearing loss, and heart problems. She writes with honesty and wisdom of how her faith and ability to survive has brought her through rough times to a life of profound joy and purpose.
Florence's father was a dirt-poor tobacco tenant farmer who was nearly fifty years old when he married Florence's twenty-five-year-old mother and was nearly seventy when Florence was born. Florence's childhood was full of deprivation and abandonment. Her father was an alcoholic at a time when there was no rehab or help for the disease. Their home rarely had electricity or running water. When she was twelve, Florence's mother left the family to work in Cleveland and never returned.
Florence opens up about her childhood, as well as the challenges she's faced as an adult, including stage fright, postpartum depression, her extramarital affairs, divorce, her hearing loss, and heart problems. She writes with honesty and wisdom of how her faith and ability to survive has brought her through rough times to a life of profound joy and purpose.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2011
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548 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews
December 8, 2016
i wanted to read Florence Henderson's memoir in memory of her. She writes a pretty good memoir.she writes of her painful childhood growing up the youngest of ten children. Her family was very poor. Her dad drank a lot and when she was 12, her mother left the family and the youngest kids with the father. Florence writes of her years on broadway and traveling the country in plays like Oklahoma.Getting married young, having four children in nine years. Her move to Hollywood, and of course, her five years as Carol Brady in the Brady Bunch. she made it clear since this famous tv show was only five years of her life, she was not going to spend her whole book talking about The Brady Bunch. She does talk about it some but it is just a small section of her memoir. She writes about life after her famous show up until when she published this book in 2010. A nice memoir from a lovely lady.
June 1, 2011
Really fun and interesting. I had a very distinct image of who Florence Henderson was in my mind and in certain ways I was absolutely right but in many I was completely off. This is a fast read and very well written (although sometimes the time line is a little hard to follow) and completely enjoyable. I read an advance copy- it will be out in September. I recommend if you are at all a fan.
February 10, 2018
A very good memoir about a very talented lady. Many only know her from The Brady Bunch. I also remember her Wesson Oil commercials and her cooking show. I did know that she was a talented singer because my Mom had told me that she and my Dad once saw her perform at a resort in the Poconos. I did not know though of her illustrious career on Broadway. There was so much more to her than just The Brady Bunch. I had this book sitting on my shelf for quite awhile and I'm sorry that I did not read it until after Ms. Henderson's untimely passing on Thanksgiving, 2016. Towards the end of the book, she comments about continuing her career and that Betty White should watch out. Unfortunately, she did not get her wish and we will just have to imagine what she still had in store. Rest In Peace Florence!
October 18, 2011
I picked up this book because The Brady Bunch is one of my favorite TV shows. I thought I would skim those parts, look at the photos and that's it. But no! The book was so good from start to finish -- with Florence explaining how her rough childhood impacted her as an adult, balancing motherhood (with 4 kids), a marriage and working, and sharing inspiring things about her Catholic faith. This is one of the best autobiographies I've read in a long time.
August 28, 2014
I picked this book up mostly to read about Florence Henderson's experience with The Brady Bunch. For the most part I enjoyed reading about her personal and professional life before and beyond. I thought it was a decently written biography. There were things that bothered me. From the Introduction she called herself a victim and I felt like she had a "victim" mentality. Several times she blamed choices that she made later in her life on the "abuses" she endured as a child. First, I'm a firm believer in the "survivor" mentality and the whole "bad childhood, great life" thing. Also, perhaps it was the way she wrote about her experiences, but her "abuses" didn't really seem as traumatic and horrific as she tried to make them sound.
Another thing I didn't like was when she said that her mother was "courageous" for finally getting up the nerve to leave when Florence was just 12 years old. I'm sorry, but I can't really think of any situation where leaving your children behind and moving on with your own life separately is a "courageous" decision.
And call me a prude, but I found it incredibly sad that she held to her Catholic morals and beliefs well into her adulthood, even remaining a virgin until her wedding night, only to have a SLEW of adulterous affairs in her 30's. She spoke kindly and highly of her ex-husband, but truly her actions spoke louder than words. She's obviously had no respect for him or the sanctity of marriage.
I enjoyed her story well enough though and am happy for her continued good health and happiness in her Golden Years.
Another thing I didn't like was when she said that her mother was "courageous" for finally getting up the nerve to leave when Florence was just 12 years old. I'm sorry, but I can't really think of any situation where leaving your children behind and moving on with your own life separately is a "courageous" decision.
And call me a prude, but I found it incredibly sad that she held to her Catholic morals and beliefs well into her adulthood, even remaining a virgin until her wedding night, only to have a SLEW of adulterous affairs in her 30's. She spoke kindly and highly of her ex-husband, but truly her actions spoke louder than words. She's obviously had no respect for him or the sanctity of marriage.
I enjoyed her story well enough though and am happy for her continued good health and happiness in her Golden Years.
January 25, 2012
Henderson's early life was tragic, but she is not. In this frank and fun memoir, she describes the dire poverty in which she was raised, but dwells more on the people who helped her get out of her rural town and into a successful stage and TV career. Parts of her story serve as a lesson on breaking into the Broadway theatre scene, and working in early live TV. Sometimes she can get a little too philosophical for some of us, because she is a licensed hypnotherapist, but she doesn't over do that aspect of her thinking. Kudos to her for telling such an interesting story, and not being the least bit bitter.
July 31, 2019
I have always loved Florence. Reading her book I was struck by her optimism and energy. At times she seemed to have a bit of an ego about how she could do anything but I realize it is her drive that kept her going. She died suddenly and it is a loss to the old school Hollywood. They don't make them like her anymore. She was a true professional.
January 12, 2024
Uninspiring and at times depressing book that has relatively little in it about her most famous role, Florence Henderson's memoir is a disappointment. She has a somewhat interesting early life story but her insistence on turning everything positive and making herself the hero of every story gets old quickly.
Instead, we get a lot of fake-sunshine with what end up being negative stories about her parents and Robert Reed. She spends a lot of time defending bad decisions and blame-shifting, failing to take responsibility for being a pretty bad absentee mother to her four children.
If you're looking for any insights into the Brady Bunch you won't find them here--only 22 pages, which I could have told you everything she mentions. Henderson even admits, "Many people would assume that I could write several books on just The Brady Bunch experience alone, because so much has been written about the history and impact of the show already, I am not going to attempt that." HUH? She denies readers the stories that are the main reason for getting the book!
This supposedly innocent young woman, who had a benefactor pay her way to New York City, caught a lot of breaks due to her looks, never really having to suffer much. She does mention her affairs, where she not only cheated on her first husband but fell in love with her hypnotherapist while she was still married. So not only was she incredibly immoral without remorse but participated in unethical patient/therapist behavior.
From that point on she became an outspoken, pushy, liberal woman who went on to also become a therapist and turned away from her Catholicism to become a New Age spiritualist that thinks "the universe" orders her life.
Once she gets into long sections about her diseases and her husband's death, while ignoring significant career moments and Brady revivals, the book becomes a real yawner. She skips many years of her life and has difficulty admitting anything negative about herself beyond a silly fear she develops of flying and singing.
But overall Florence thinks very highly of herself, is a know-it-all who loves to give unasked for advice, and has a celebrity Hollywood ego that goes beyond reality. Life may not be a stage but she sure acts like a diva.
Instead, we get a lot of fake-sunshine with what end up being negative stories about her parents and Robert Reed. She spends a lot of time defending bad decisions and blame-shifting, failing to take responsibility for being a pretty bad absentee mother to her four children.
If you're looking for any insights into the Brady Bunch you won't find them here--only 22 pages, which I could have told you everything she mentions. Henderson even admits, "Many people would assume that I could write several books on just The Brady Bunch experience alone, because so much has been written about the history and impact of the show already, I am not going to attempt that." HUH? She denies readers the stories that are the main reason for getting the book!
This supposedly innocent young woman, who had a benefactor pay her way to New York City, caught a lot of breaks due to her looks, never really having to suffer much. She does mention her affairs, where she not only cheated on her first husband but fell in love with her hypnotherapist while she was still married. So not only was she incredibly immoral without remorse but participated in unethical patient/therapist behavior.
From that point on she became an outspoken, pushy, liberal woman who went on to also become a therapist and turned away from her Catholicism to become a New Age spiritualist that thinks "the universe" orders her life.
Once she gets into long sections about her diseases and her husband's death, while ignoring significant career moments and Brady revivals, the book becomes a real yawner. She skips many years of her life and has difficulty admitting anything negative about herself beyond a silly fear she develops of flying and singing.
But overall Florence thinks very highly of herself, is a know-it-all who loves to give unasked for advice, and has a celebrity Hollywood ego that goes beyond reality. Life may not be a stage but she sure acts like a diva.
December 8, 2022
When I first saw this back in 2011, just 5 years before Henderson’s passing in 2016, being a Brady Bunch fan it piqued my interest a little. But knowing that her career spanned decades before and after the show, I wasn’t sure how relevant it would to me, so I walked on by. Now, 11 years later, after reading both Maureen McCormick’s and Barry Williams’ memoirs, I thought, “Why not?”
Once again, I was surprised. Let’s just say, try to get Carol Brady out of your mind. (I know it’s hard) for 2 reasons: 1) She had already had a successful Broadway and blooming movie career way before she was asked to do “The Brady Bunch.” In fact, I did not know that she was the first woman to guest host “The Tonight Show” and had done so several times. She only spends two or three chapters talking about the show, because as she said, plenty had been written already. (But she does give us her version of the “date” she went on with Williams). And reason 2, her real life was WAY more interesting!
The youngest of 10 kids, Henderson grew up extremely poor with an alcoholic father and an abusive mother who left when she was just 12. She takes us through how she “escaped” after high school to New York City, her battles with postpartum depression, her 40-year marriage and subsequent divorce, and her affairs (yes I said affairs!) Like she said, “I’m a flawed human being like everyone else, and I’ll in no way make the short list for sainthood.” You’ll never look at “TV’s Favorite Mom” the same way again!
Once again, I was surprised. Let’s just say, try to get Carol Brady out of your mind. (I know it’s hard) for 2 reasons: 1) She had already had a successful Broadway and blooming movie career way before she was asked to do “The Brady Bunch.” In fact, I did not know that she was the first woman to guest host “The Tonight Show” and had done so several times. She only spends two or three chapters talking about the show, because as she said, plenty had been written already. (But she does give us her version of the “date” she went on with Williams). And reason 2, her real life was WAY more interesting!
The youngest of 10 kids, Henderson grew up extremely poor with an alcoholic father and an abusive mother who left when she was just 12. She takes us through how she “escaped” after high school to New York City, her battles with postpartum depression, her 40-year marriage and subsequent divorce, and her affairs (yes I said affairs!) Like she said, “I’m a flawed human being like everyone else, and I’ll in no way make the short list for sainthood.” You’ll never look at “TV’s Favorite Mom” the same way again!
September 2, 2021
This is not a tell-all book. In keeping with her positive, move-on personality, Ms. Henderson alludes to a lot of pain and dysfunction in her life, but skips over the most painful details in the retelling. Often, she does this to protect the reputations of her co-workers and family. This seems to be what what made her so successful with work opportunities up to the very end. People could trust her to see the best in them.
August 29, 2011
Article first published on www.blogcritics.org
Florence Henderson, best known for her role as Carol Brady on The Brady Bunch opens up about the challenges of her life. Her childhood, stage fright, divorce, and hearing loss are but a few highlights. Her memoir, Life Is Not a Stage: From Broadway Baby to a Lovely Lady and Beyond is co-authored with Joel Brokaw. Her ability to survive despite setbacks shines throughout the book. She notes that her memoir is written, “as a natural consequence of forgiveness and compassion, not only for those who harmed me, but most importantly, for myself.”
You may be surprised that this woman, best-known for her role as a cheerful, handle-it-all mother of a large blended family grew up in an abusive home, the youngest of ten children. In short, Carol Brady was the kind of mother Florence Henderson desperately wished she had. She left home at seventeen, suitcase in hand, with a one-way ticket to New York City and a life full of hope. She had a talent for singing and a desire to be on the stage. Her destination? The American Academy of Dramatic Arts.
Taming her complex accent of southern drawl and mid-western twang was an essential part of her early acting lessons. She writes fondly of her singing and acting training and admits that learning how to portray sad feelings was a challenge. Auditioning for her first role, a rite of passage for any actor, gave her a break. She joined the cast of Wish You Were Here and subsequently signed with an agent. Soon she landed the lead role in a tour of Oklahoma. Her television career launched when she became the first “Today Show Girl.” She claims the famous television series, The Brady Bunch, was a small part of her list of credits. Read to the book to hear her account of other triumphs.
Personal and professional photos grace the middle of the book. The book is peppered with names of greats Henderson worked with—Rodgers and Hammerstein, David Merrick and Ed Sullivan.
Henderson opens up on her personal life. Stardom and its impact on her family are discussed. She speaks freely of marriage, motherhood, extra-marital affairs, depression and spiritual questioning.
Her glass-half-full personality kept her optimistic during the worst of times. Even though the scars from her childhood haunt her, she says that voicing them in this book has helped her to heal. Carol Burnett, a dear friend, says, "I have always loved the way she looks at life with humor and inspiration. This book proves that in spades!"
Miss Henderson’s spirit is what triumphs in this memoir. Amidst the triumphs and chaos of a public life, she was able to create a life full of joy and purpose. “Be grateful and forgiving.” That is sage advice from a celebrity who has lived life on many levels.
Hatchette Book Group graciously supplied the review copy for my unbiased review.
Reviewed by Holly Weiss, author of Crestmont
Florence Henderson, best known for her role as Carol Brady on The Brady Bunch opens up about the challenges of her life. Her childhood, stage fright, divorce, and hearing loss are but a few highlights. Her memoir, Life Is Not a Stage: From Broadway Baby to a Lovely Lady and Beyond is co-authored with Joel Brokaw. Her ability to survive despite setbacks shines throughout the book. She notes that her memoir is written, “as a natural consequence of forgiveness and compassion, not only for those who harmed me, but most importantly, for myself.”
You may be surprised that this woman, best-known for her role as a cheerful, handle-it-all mother of a large blended family grew up in an abusive home, the youngest of ten children. In short, Carol Brady was the kind of mother Florence Henderson desperately wished she had. She left home at seventeen, suitcase in hand, with a one-way ticket to New York City and a life full of hope. She had a talent for singing and a desire to be on the stage. Her destination? The American Academy of Dramatic Arts.
Taming her complex accent of southern drawl and mid-western twang was an essential part of her early acting lessons. She writes fondly of her singing and acting training and admits that learning how to portray sad feelings was a challenge. Auditioning for her first role, a rite of passage for any actor, gave her a break. She joined the cast of Wish You Were Here and subsequently signed with an agent. Soon she landed the lead role in a tour of Oklahoma. Her television career launched when she became the first “Today Show Girl.” She claims the famous television series, The Brady Bunch, was a small part of her list of credits. Read to the book to hear her account of other triumphs.
Personal and professional photos grace the middle of the book. The book is peppered with names of greats Henderson worked with—Rodgers and Hammerstein, David Merrick and Ed Sullivan.
Henderson opens up on her personal life. Stardom and its impact on her family are discussed. She speaks freely of marriage, motherhood, extra-marital affairs, depression and spiritual questioning.
Her glass-half-full personality kept her optimistic during the worst of times. Even though the scars from her childhood haunt her, she says that voicing them in this book has helped her to heal. Carol Burnett, a dear friend, says, "I have always loved the way she looks at life with humor and inspiration. This book proves that in spades!"
Miss Henderson’s spirit is what triumphs in this memoir. Amidst the triumphs and chaos of a public life, she was able to create a life full of joy and purpose. “Be grateful and forgiving.” That is sage advice from a celebrity who has lived life on many levels.
Hatchette Book Group graciously supplied the review copy for my unbiased review.
Reviewed by Holly Weiss, author of Crestmont
February 9, 2017
I grew up watching Florence Henderson on The Brady Bunch so that's the main reason(like many of other people in my age range)that I picked up this book at the library. Yes,she played Carol Brady but she also appeared on Broadway in a starring role within 2 years of arriving in New York from a small town in Indiana. The 9th child(out of 10) of a Tenant Farmer father & Housewife mother who were both alcoholics and divorced when she was a teen;Henderson's up-bring was as far as the idealized Brady Family as you can get. Luckily,she realized early on that she could sing and so did a wealthy family( whose daughter she was best friends with) whom paid for her airfare to NYC after she was accepted on scholarship at the prestigious American Academy Of Dramatic Arts. Henderson,who was raised as a Devout Catholic,also attributed a higher power in helping her achieve a successful career and while I'm not religious myself,I admire her faith in God though I found her philosophizing a bit tedious at times. However,I did appreciate that she's wasn't a prude and seemed to a have a very earthy sense of humor. Also,Outside of a surprising incident involving a one-night stand with the mayor of a major American city,she doesn't spill much "tea" about the other performers and people she worked with or befriended so if you want a lot of gossip,this might not be the right biography for you. Also,she only devotes one chapter to her most famous role(for which she received,at times,some very poignant fan mail long after the show went into syndication),but I think because she just didn't want to be defined as just playing Carol Brady,which was actually only a small part of her long career. That aside,If you want to read about a classy,dedicated performer and know about the more about actress who portrayed one of America's perfect TV mom's, I suggest this fast,involving read. P.S. I edited this review in lieu of her passing away last year.
August 15, 2011
Does anyone really see the person behind the movie star? Florence Henderson was iconic in her T.V. show years, but how many people actually knew her as Florence rather than, say, Carol Brady? She has a very diverse and complicated background.
The reader will get to read a little about her mother and father, how different they were and the problems Florence faced as a young child. She endured abuse and abandonment...described with a fair amount of detail in the book. The reader will immediately like Florence as a person and be drawn into the book. The book is very factual, it doesn't feel as if the author is attempting to sway the reader to a certain side or way of thinking. Florence makes it to her adult years, where more trouble lies in wait for her. She also has plenty of good events occur to even out the bad. The reader will likely find him/herself more interested in Florence's life rather than her movie star years. She will become just a person with an interesting story to the reader, the reader will think of her as Florence rather than Carol. This book is very well-written and recommended to adults/young adults who enjoy nonfiction.
The reader will get to read a little about her mother and father, how different they were and the problems Florence faced as a young child. She endured abuse and abandonment...described with a fair amount of detail in the book. The reader will immediately like Florence as a person and be drawn into the book. The book is very factual, it doesn't feel as if the author is attempting to sway the reader to a certain side or way of thinking. Florence makes it to her adult years, where more trouble lies in wait for her. She also has plenty of good events occur to even out the bad. The reader will likely find him/herself more interested in Florence's life rather than her movie star years. She will become just a person with an interesting story to the reader, the reader will think of her as Florence rather than Carol. This book is very well-written and recommended to adults/young adults who enjoy nonfiction.
December 2, 2011
Many of us equate Florence Henderson with Carol Brady...the mother of a blended family from the Brady Bunch....but did you know she has also done other television, Broadway productions, and even has sung? All that and more....
Her autobiography is a decent read....it seems she puts more emphasis on the beginning of her life and how she got into show business eventually getting the roles in different plays and untimately getting role of the matriarch of the Brady clan...but there is so much more. Her latter life is touched on but without the detail you find from the first half of her life.
For those that love the Brady Bunch...meet the real lady behind Carol Brady...Mrs. Wessonality, Florence Henderson!
Her autobiography is a decent read....it seems she puts more emphasis on the beginning of her life and how she got into show business eventually getting the roles in different plays and untimately getting role of the matriarch of the Brady clan...but there is so much more. Her latter life is touched on but without the detail you find from the first half of her life.
For those that love the Brady Bunch...meet the real lady behind Carol Brady...Mrs. Wessonality, Florence Henderson!
December 5, 2011
Florence Henderson is quite a person and since her young years has always been an uplifting and vibrant person. The book was very interesting. Biographies are interesting in that they give me a perspective into how I lacked something or how I may incorporate something good into my life. On the other hand some biographies teach you how not to be the ungrateful living dead, like "Hitler". Hooray for those who help themselves and try to uplift others with them.
June 4, 2012
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. While it wasn't an account of Florence's painful childhood, it was a relfection of her life as an adult, forging in her career and her personal life, despite some personal obstacles!
This book is a testament to faith, courage and perseverance in breaking free from your emotional troubles. I really enjoyed reading about Florence's life. It was honest and inspiring. It wasn't a typical "rags to riches", stardom autobiography!
This book is a testament to faith, courage and perseverance in breaking free from your emotional troubles. I really enjoyed reading about Florence's life. It was honest and inspiring. It wasn't a typical "rags to riches", stardom autobiography!
November 14, 2011
I liked it very much. It was written with a clear, comfortable style that made me want to finish it. I originally planned to just read the "Brady Bunch" parts but got hooked by her hard working Midwest demeanor and was glad that she didn't spend more time than was necessary on that part of her life and career. An interesting book about an interesting woman.
August 18, 2012
There's more to Florence Henderson than Mrs. Brady, and she doesn't pull any punches in this autobiography.
April 19, 2020
Henderson spends little time talking about "The Brady Bunch", having already had a long career in musicals and comedies on the stage, in movies, and on television before and after the show's existence.
She in fact had a poor and unhappy childhood, with an elderly alcoholic father and an unstable mother, but she also had a number of siblings who turned out all right. She went into show business in New York mainly to get a better life, and luckily was spotted early on and was an early success. She married early and had four children, but her own mental problems and not knowing how to deal with them made life not entirely pleasant for her. Her religious faith and stubbornness, however, did keep her going throughout all the stresses and strains of her career.
The book's biggest virtue is that unlike other biographies it does not meander back and forth in time as was the case with several others I've read, though an index would have helped matters. Though she might have been most famous as "The Brady Bunch" matriarch, it was actually only a small part of her life, and she was one of the first women who made it big on television. Recommended.
She in fact had a poor and unhappy childhood, with an elderly alcoholic father and an unstable mother, but she also had a number of siblings who turned out all right. She went into show business in New York mainly to get a better life, and luckily was spotted early on and was an early success. She married early and had four children, but her own mental problems and not knowing how to deal with them made life not entirely pleasant for her. Her religious faith and stubbornness, however, did keep her going throughout all the stresses and strains of her career.
The book's biggest virtue is that unlike other biographies it does not meander back and forth in time as was the case with several others I've read, though an index would have helped matters. Though she might have been most famous as "The Brady Bunch" matriarch, it was actually only a small part of her life, and she was one of the first women who made it big on television. Recommended.
November 28, 2024
A joke on “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” about 70s NYC mayor John Lindsay giving Florence Henderson crabs brought me to the book, and that true story is indeed in here (which, for many reasons, is endlessly hilarious) but there’s a lot more to recommend. A (very) few more (lightly) shocking anecdotes like that one aside, it’s mostly a pretty standard yet interesting story about a pre-Feminist trailblazer in showbiz during the 50s and 60s. The last third drags a bit with self-help and spirituality nonsense, but a lot of memoirs do — as their time time in the public eye recedes, a lot of stars resort to navel gazing in place of having interesting stories to tell, so i don’t knock her for that.
This was written pre #me-too and she has a few mildly icky stories to tell, so be careful o triggered ones.
This was written pre #me-too and she has a few mildly icky stories to tell, so be careful o triggered ones.
April 16, 2022
Have to admit that I came to this book wanting to hear about all the juicy bits from her stint with the Brady Bunch but that was probably the shortest chapter. I've taken away from this book that she had a lovely voice and that she too struggled with normal life changing issues as did the rest of us. Thank goodness for YouTube where you can watch some of her memorable Broadway songs being sung on popular shows back in the day.
I feel the book itself could have been edited better and ,if so, perhaps would have been able to connect with Florence better but it did give me a sneak peek into what her life once was.
I feel the book itself could have been edited better and ,if so, perhaps would have been able to connect with Florence better but it did give me a sneak peek into what her life once was.
July 13, 2017
What I liked about the book was learning about the other career achievements Henderson made - besides the obvious role in the Brady Bunch. What a talented lady! I was particularly surprised to learn that she was the first female guest host of The Tonight Show. Clearly her humor was intrinsic and not projected through that show, which is what I had always assumed.
What I did not like about the book was its random, very minor details. I don't need to know about the first time you felt the erection of a boy you were dancing with.
What I did not like about the book was its random, very minor details. I don't need to know about the first time you felt the erection of a boy you were dancing with.
January 12, 2023
I was given this as a Christmas gift by a family member, or I probably wouldn't have finished it. I enjoyed reading about Henderson's childhood ... well, I'm not sure enjoyed is the right word, as it was rough, but it was interesting and inspiring how she overcame it through faith and perseverance. There were things about her pre-Brady career that I had never heard, so I liked learning about those. Once she got into deeply intimate details of her personal life, marriage, "liberation", etc., I started learning things I would have preferred not to have known and it just left me feeling sad.
February 10, 2025
Read this book years ago when it first came out in 2011! It touched me deeply enough to send an email to Florence Henderson and to my surprise, she wrote back! This started a pen pal relationship, we became Twitter pals back when it was cool space and chill to connect… and also occasional phone chatter through the years until her unexpected passing in 2016.
I miss her very much, and reading her memoir (while listening to the audiobook which she of course narrates herself, felt good to hear voice again. 🥲 5 STARS for that alone!
RIP & lots of LOVE, “Flo”.
I miss her very much, and reading her memoir (while listening to the audiobook which she of course narrates herself, felt good to hear voice again. 🥲 5 STARS for that alone!
RIP & lots of LOVE, “Flo”.
December 28, 2023
Go ahead, make fun of me! I found this to be a really interesting book with lots of info on her early Broadway career. There wasn't a ton of stuff about The Brady Bunch, which was fine with me, although I've been a Barry Williams fan since I saw him in the touring company of "City of Angels." But I digress. Florence came from proverbial humble beginnings and got where she did through talent, determination, and a little bit of luck. An easy and enjoyable read.
March 29, 2025
A truly lovely lady
I really enjoyed her story. Classy lady who told of her interesting life and time in show biz. No cursing, scandals or garbage. Just a very nice woman with a wonderful family and career. Was she perfect? No. Did she tell a good story about her life? Yes. RIP FH. You were a hell of a performer and my generation will always remember you as Mrs. Brady.
I really enjoyed her story. Classy lady who told of her interesting life and time in show biz. No cursing, scandals or garbage. Just a very nice woman with a wonderful family and career. Was she perfect? No. Did she tell a good story about her life? Yes. RIP FH. You were a hell of a performer and my generation will always remember you as Mrs. Brady.
January 1, 2026
I loved this book. Florence is not the best writer, but her story is worth hearing! Her saccharine point of view flattens some of the devastating moments in her life, but perhaps this attitude is what made her able to push through wildly terrible things. She’s a tough lady!
For those of you trying to learn more about the Brady bunch - this is not for you. She talks about it for maybe 5 pages.
For those of you trying to learn more about the Brady bunch - this is not for you. She talks about it for maybe 5 pages.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 13, 2018
Interesting. This one was recommended by Matt’s grandma. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a full episode of The Brady Bunch but I have seen reruns just flipping through channels. I would not want an actress’s life - too much auditioning, traveling and self-care involved.
January 12, 2023
Who knew that Florence Henderson could sing, dance, act, AND write? This memoir was full of ups and downs, good times and bad ones. Most of all, she was engaging and held my interest throughout. Her optimistic personality shone through.
January 11, 2026
There's a lot more to Florence Henderson than just playing Mrs. Brady! She tells her life story from when she grew up very poor to having performed throughout her life.
I liked it. She narrated the audiobook herself.
I liked it. She narrated the audiobook herself.
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