Walt Disney: An American Original

I have a confession -- I don't like biographies. I have read too many which contain extraneous information, are completely boring, or lag in all the wrong places. When I bought this book, therefore, it would be safe to say that my expectations were not sky-high. I was wrong. Bob Thomas's Walt Disney -- An American Original is among the best biographies I have ever read. This book checks all the boxes a biography should while also managing to remain interesting and entertaining. Anyone can read it -- high schoolers, college students, an adult looking for something to read on a long car trip. The entire course of Walt's life is covered -- the history of his family in America, his childhood, his time in World War I, his marriage and family life, and his tumultuous journey into the world of film and animation, culminating in Disneyland and the ever-famous Walt Disney World. Bob Thomas was aided in creating this litany of Walt's experiences by the willing cooperation of the Disney family, which gave Thomas an amazing source of information. This ranges from letters and telegrams written by Walt to personal photographs and humorous anecdotes involving Walt (when Walt said that he would look down on the company after death, Disney's nurse tartly remarked that he may be using a periscope instead). It is this attention to detail, the little stories and experiences in Disney's day-to-day life, which helps the reader feel as if he or she truly understands Disney. I'm not a fan of five star reviews, particularly for biographies, but try as I might, I cannot find something to criticize. Therefore, it is with both reluctance and excitement that I award this book five stars, as it cannot be denied that this may just be the best biography which it has ever been my pleasure to read. Basically, if you want to know the secret behind the Disney company, you have to understand the founder. And if you want to understand the founder, the man, the genius Walter E. Disney himself, you should read this book.

I bought this book years ago after a trip to Disney World, caught up in the magic of it all. Like many things you buy on a whim, it ended up on my bookshelf, collecting dust. I finally picked it up to read after a recent return trip, and I'm so glad I did. Seeing the parks again reignited my curiosity about the man who started it all, and this book was the perfect way to dive in. This isn't just a simple story of "a man had a dream." It's a detailed look at Walt Disney's life, from his childhood in the Midwest to the creation of a global entertainment empire. What I found most interesting was learning about his mindset. The book gives you a real sense of his relentless drive and his thought process behind the characters, the movies, and the parks. It paints a picture of a man who was constantly innovating and pushing the boundaries of what was possible. For anyone who, like me, is in awe of what Disney created, this book offers a fantastic look behind the curtain. It’s not a fairy tale version of his life; it touches on the struggles and the immense challenges he faced along the way. Reading it has given me a much deeper appreciation for the parks and the films. A Deeper Look at the Man Behind the Magic Summary: This biography gives a comprehensive and chronological account of Walt Disney's life. It covers his early life, his start in animation, the creation of Mickey Mouse, the ventures into feature films and television, and the monumental task of building Disneyland. The book really shines in providing context for the creative and business decisions that shaped the Disney company. Pros: It's incredibly detailed and well-researched, offering a thorough history of Walt's life and work. The book provides great insight into his innovative spirit and his hands-on approach to his projects. Learning about the numerous setbacks and financial hurdles he had to overcome was genuinely interesting. It gave me a newfound appreciation for the details and storytelling in the Disney parks and movies. Cons: At times, the book can be a bit dense with business details and names, which might slow some readers down. While it covers his whole life, the focus is heavily on his professional achievements, with less on his personal family life.

I've read 20+ books about Mr. Disney, his life and the genesis of his theme parks. This book by Bob Thomas is by far the finest. It is both detailed and interesting; a combination often difficult to achieve. I appreciated this book even more because I worked at the Anaheim Park when I was in high school, back in the 1960s. It generated many nostalgic memories for me. Thank you, Mr. Thomas.

I am a huge Disney, specifically the theme parks. Always looking for a good book to read to discover new information. So far I've read around 50 pages and this is one of the better Disney books in the sense that it gives the reader little but interesting facts and information about Walt Disney's life. This is truly a good book that so far I love

as anyone who enjoys animation walt disney can not be overlooked.millions of people worldwide have enjoyed his work through there childhood and beyond.as for the book bob thomas captures walt disney perfectly from his early life to disneyland it is a brilliant read and i would highly recommend it.

The story of a man that invented several industries at the same time: animation, amusement parks, TV for kids, merchandising, etc. Very entertaining and surprising.

Un ottimo libro per gli amanti del solo e unico Walter Elias Disney, questo grande genio del secolo scorso. La biografia è super dettagliata - anche fin troppo in alcuni punti in cui si dilunga su dati vari come costi e incassi dei primi lavori della casa di Topolino - con un sacco di informazioni e aneddoti sull'infanzia di Disney, sulla creazione dei primi personaggi e sulla fondazione della Walt Disney Company. Scritta da un autore che ha avuto l'onore di intervistare più volte Walt Disney negli anni e che ha avuto accesso, dopo la morte di Disney, ai suoi archivi personali. Lo consiglio sia a chi ha già conoscenze sul personaggio che a quelli che vogliono rifarsi una cultura su questo straordinario artista.

Pour qui veut connaître le parcours du plus grand rêveur de notre époque. Reste que ce livre seul ne suffit pas. A compléter avec d'autres ouvrage sur le sujet.