I recently had the chance to read the digital ARC of Dean Butler’s forthcoming book, Prairie Man: My Little House Life & Beyond. As someone who grew up watching the series (it was appointment viewing for our family) and eventually married a real Prairie Man of my own, I was excited to read this book. Thanks to Kensington Publishing Corp. and NetGalley for the opportunity.
About the book, Prairie Man: My Little House Life & Beyond 
- Publisher : Citadel (June 25, 2024)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 288 pages
Buy, read, and discuss this book:
Pre-Order from Amazon | Pre-Order from Barnes & Noble | GoodReads
About the author, Dean Butler 
Connect with Dean:
Website | Cameo | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok
My Thoughts 
As a lifelong fan of all things Laura Ingalls Wilder (though my first loyalty is to the books), the television show Little House on the Prairie was an important part of my childhood, partly because I share a first name with two of the leads, and partly because I have fond memories of watching it with my mother. (I was born in 1970 -years before the show – so, no, I was NOT named after either of those two famous Melissas). I remember being giddy with joy when the character of Almanzo Wilder was finally added to the show, and, as I’ve shared with more than one person, I remember getting permission from my mother to do my homework in front of the TV (during commercials) so I wouldn’t miss a minute of the two-part episode where Laura and her “Manly” get married.
Needless to say, I’ve read all of the memoirs from various cast members, all women – until now – and I was excited to learn about this memoir.
I was not disappointed. Author Dean Butler is honest in the way he shares his story, and the tone is down to earth. Early in the text he mentions that a common attitude in his family is that of “modest pride,” and that really fits Butler – at least as he portrays himself here – perfectly.
If you’re expecting a salacious tell-all, this is not the book for you. Butler says himself that not all stories need to be told. So when discussing the relationship that ended in his first marriage, he withholds the woman’s name. I respect him for that. He’s not a saint. He’s made human mistakes and has human flaws. And yet, he’s one of the good guys.
A through-line of Butler’s story is that his role as an actor -and in life – is to be the guy who supports a young actress, and it’s a role he’s particularly good at. From Forever (yes, there was a movie based on Judy Blume’s infamous young adult novel), to Little House, to The New Gidget, and even to Buffy the Vampire Slayer Dean made his name as the good guy the heroine could count on. (We don’t count the nightmare version of Hank Summers – that was fiction within fiction.)
When his career turned from being in front of the cameras to being a documentarian, writing, narrating, producing, and editing, it seems as if Butler found his true niche. He’s been a champion of the real Almanzo Wilder’s story, carried the torch for the Laura Ingalls Wilder legacy, and become half the heart of contemporary Little House fandom (Alison Arngrim is the other half). He spent years producing a talk show for the Golf Channel. He comes across as a thoughtful, self-aware man who has access to an incredible platform, and uses it for good.
They say that you should never meet your heroes. Butler himself recounts more than one encounter with someone he admired that did not go well. I haven’t met him, but if this book is anything to judge by, Dean Butler is exactly the person he seems to be. If you want to read a memoir that will shock you with secrets and harsh truths, go read anything Carrie Fisher wrote – she was candid and hilarious in her writing. If you want a fairly accurate portrait of one of Hollywood’s genuine “nice guys,” especially if you’re a fan of Little House on the Prairie, you’ll find Prairie Man a satisfying read.
Goes well with: cinnamon chicken (but personally I prefer shawarma).
A shocking proposal that changes everything
