The first man outside my family I ever loved was Dick Van Dyke. No one—and I mean no one—was more charming than Bert, the chimneysweep/one-man band/sidewalk artist extraordinaire. Once I discovered The Dick Van Dyke Show reruns, that was it for me. Game over. All these years later, he still has a special little corner of my heart.
100 Rules for Living to 100 isn’t really a rulebook—it’s more like a masterclass in how to be effortlessly beloved. The stories run the full emotional spectrum: you’ll laugh until you cry, and then you’ll cry until you’re laughing again. From his days as a proud big brother to Jerry, to early career highs and personal lows, to reflections on wildfires and aging, it’s part memoir, part love letter to a remarkable life.
Fair warning: keep tissues handy for the final chapters. As he looks ahead to his 100th birthday, he also looks back—with tenderness, honesty, and that signature twinkle. He’s exactly who you always hoped he was. He still is.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review this book—and thank you, Dick Van Dyke, for being everything.