--And Jerry Mathers as "the Beaver"

Book excerpt: ... And Jerry Mathers as "The Beaver" is the story of a child star who managed to elude the ravages of drugs and alcohol that so many of his peers could not avoid. It is Mathers's account of his chance entry into the realm of Hollywood - and his transition back into "normal" life as a teenager. With poignant input from both his real and TV families - as well as reminiscences from his celebrity friends - Mathers reveals intimate details about his childhood ... living life as America's favorite kid ... his struggle with dyslexia ... his most embarrassing moments on the set ... his relationships with cast members: Hugh Beaumont, Barbara Billingsley, Tony Dow, and Ken Osmond ... those Vietnam rumors ... and more. Taking us behind the scenes of one of America's most beloved TV series, Mathers invites us into his life - with the same warmth and charm that the Cleaver family brought to us forty years ago.