Good biography of complicated popular entertainer and founder of an empire. ( )

A great, in-depth look at the man and his entire life. A whole lotta reading but well worth it. ( )

I just finished Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination by Neal GAbler.

A very interesting cradle to grave biography. While to those of us who are enchanted by Walt Disney, some of the general information is well known, but I was unaware that after World World due he disengaged and from hisanimation studio to a large degree to instead focus on what developed into Disney Land.

I found his voyage from boy, to Red Cross Volunteer in World War I, to a cartoonist/animator who along with his brother Roy ultimate founded the many renditions of Disney Studios and the creator of Mickey Mouse.

A innovative animator and entrepreneur who changed the way cartoon and animation were performed and perceived. He took the field from shorts for children to his first full length feature in Snow White. Many of what we now consider classic animation was not as financially successful at the time as we would think of it in retrospect.

Walt Disney Studios engaged in what we would consider pro war propaganda films and training films in World War II.

A giant of a man who even as he evolved in public perception in many ways never seemed to lose his midwestern persona who in spite of fame and wealth was every working man.

I would encourage those interested in business, animation, early cartoons e.g. Mickey Mouse and Walt Disney himself to read this moderately lenth biography. ( )

This is a monster of a book, and dense...took me far longer to finish than I expected. Gabler covered pretty much everything and he certainly didn't "Disneyfy" Disney, but he did convey, warts and all, the brilliance that Disney was.

Recommended, even if you aren't a fan...there is much to be learned (or recounted) from the steps he took in his innovations;from animation, to sound animation, to realism, to a theme park unlike any other. Who knows if the vision of EPCOT would have been realized had he lived to see it through? He made all his other dreams comes true. ( )

Good bio. Kind of.

I did have my problems with it. The author, whether for dramatic effect or disenchantment during his research, didn't seem to be on Walt Disney's side very often. In fact it seemed to have a kind of pro-leftist union feel to it. Gabler rarely came to Disney's defense on issues, branding him constantly dissatisfied and naive, especially when it came to politics. Walt was a conservative, not for naivete, but for certain convictions. The author subtly peppers his opinion throughout the more trying times in Walt's life, and more often than not he's a little unfair.

Also, despite Gabler's attempt to soften the issue, it is plainly apparent that the unions, more than once, ruined Disney's vision and were the source of much, if not all, of what went wrong with Walt Disney Productions. Disneyland was also plagued by union labor.

If you can look past the sympathies Gabler offers Walt's enemies and the grumpy asshole he paints Walt as at times, you do actually end up with a good idea of what this great man was like. It will take a careful reader to preen the facts from Gabler's misdirection though.

One more thing. The narrative was infected with if/then clauses and other devices that make long stretches of reading obnoxious. There were other constructions too that just made me cringe when I came to them.

OK. One more thing. The author did, in agreement with other reviews, make jumps in time that were a little confusing. You will read 50 or so pages and think you have a good idea about what was happening at the time, but then he goes back and, in effect, ruins or at least alters the perception you spent the last half-hour building. It's not bad, per se, it was just, well, fucking annoying.

It's a 4-star on account of the information, but on style and delivery a less than solid 2.5

I would have liked A LOT more information on Disneyland.But that's just me. ( )

It was never really about the money... well, almost never. Walt Disney was always more interested in "the next thing," and making money on a venture was usually just a way to finance his projects. Initially drawn to drawing and animation but burned by dishonest partners, he created his own studio to produce animated "shorts" – short Mickey Mouse and Silly Symphony cartoons shown before regular feature movies. But he was always pushing for better animation and quality, eventually creating "Snow White," the first feature-length animated movie, with the best animation for the time. But even then he wasn't breaking-even financially and eventually had to cut corners just to pay the bills. Even as his fame soared, money was tight and some movies were made just to generate income (like "Dumbo" and some live-action films). As Walt became bogged down in the studio and trying to make too many movies at once and always striving to create something bigger or better (realism in "Bambi" and high-class art in "Fantasia"), plus with WWII forcing him to rely on government work just to keep going, he became discouraged. As a result, the animation that was once the top in the industry lost its edge and Walt turned to other interests like trains and eventually television and Disneyland. But in the end he left a legacy of memorable characters and family-friendly entertainment that still continues.

Neal Gabler'sbook was especially enjoyable to read because Walt Disney is especially familiar to most of us. But I was surprised to learn that Disney was always financially strapped and borrowing anywhere he could until after Disneyland. And it was fascinating while reading to go back and watch some of the movies, like "Three Little Pigs" and "Snow White" (which I never really liked before) and compare the styles, knowing what went into them and what made them great. And visiting Disneyland after reading the book makes you look at the place differently and notice more details. But I was also surprised to learn that the genius behind "the happiest place on earth" usually wasn't a very happy man himself. Mr. Gabler describes Walt's constant need to create "control" in his surroundings that drove his efforts at perfection. Animation, his trains, and Disneyland each in turn gave him an escape from reality into an environment where he had near-total control.

Books about Walt Disney either paint him as a saint or an evil tyrant, and I guess he could be both depending on the perspective. Gabler is careful to point out where the "legends" were embellished, and that "Walt Disney" became more of a brand than a man, but I thought he portrayed him fairly and honestly. Gabler tells Disney's faults, ego, and the complaints many of his employees had, but also why he did what he did and what motivated him. It sometimes bogs down in too much detail about finances, but it not only shows why he was so culturally influential but also that he was as human as all of us.

(This review is modified from my 5/26/12 blog review at bookworm-dad.blogspot.com) ( )

It was never really about the money... well, almost never. Walt Disney was always more interested in "the next thing," and making money on a venture was usually just a way to finance his projects. Initially drawn to drawing and animation but burned by dishonest partners, he created his own studio to produce animated "shorts" – short Mickey Mouse and Silly Symphony cartoons shown before regular feature movies. But he was always pushing for better animation and quality, eventually creating "Snow White," the first feature-length animated movie, with the best animation for the time. But even then he wasn't breaking-even financially and eventually had to cut corners just to pay the bills. Even as his fame soared, money was tight and some movies were made just to generate income (like "Dumbo" and some live-action films). As Walt became bogged down in the studio and trying to make too many movies at once and always striving to create something bigger or better (realism in "Bambi" and high-class art in "Fantasia"), plus with WWII forcing him to rely on government work just to keep going, he became discouraged. As a result, the animation that was once the top in the industry lost its edge and Walt turned to other interests like trains and eventually television and Disneyland. But in the end he left a legacy of memorable characters and family-friendly entertainment that still continues.

Neal Gabler'sbook was especially enjoyable to read because Walt Disney is especially familiar to most of us. But I was surprised to learn that Disney was always financially strapped and borrowing anywhere he could until after Disneyland. And it was fascinating while reading to go back and watch some of the movies, like "Three Little Pigs" and "Snow White" (which I never really liked before) and compare the styles, knowing what went into them and what made them great. And visiting Disneyland after reading the book makes you look at the place differently and notice more details. But I was also surprised to learn that the genius behind "the happiest place on earth" usually wasn't a very happy man himself. Mr. Gabler describes Walt's constant need to create "control" in his surroundings that drove his efforts at perfection. Animation, his trains, and Disneyland each in turn gave him an escape from reality into an environment where he had near-total control.

Books about Walt Disney either paint him as a saint or an evil tyrant, and I guess he could be both depending on the perspective. Gabler is careful to point out where the "legends" were embellished, and that "Walt Disney" became more of a brand than a man, but I thought he portrayed him fairly and honestly. Gabler tells Disney's faults, ego, and the complaints many of his employees had, but also why he did what he did and what motivated him. It sometimes bogs down in too much detail about finances, but it not only shows why he was so culturally influential but also that he was as human as all of us.

(This review is modified from my 5/26/12 blog review at bookworm-dad.blogspot.com) ( )

It was never really about the money... well, almost never. Walt Disney was always more interested in "the next thing," and making money on a venture was usually just a way to finance his projects. Initially drawn to drawing and animation but burned by dishonest partners, he created his own studio to produce animated "shorts" – short Mickey Mouse and Silly Symphony cartoons shown before regular feature movies. But he was always pushing for better animation and quality, eventually creating "Snow White," the first feature-length animated movie, with the best animation for the time. But even then he wasn't breaking-even financially and eventually had to cut corners just to pay the bills. Even as his fame soared, money was tight and some movies were made just to generate income (like "Dumbo" and some live-action films). As Walt became bogged down in the studio and trying to make too many movies at once and always striving to create something bigger or better (realism in "Bambi" and high-class art in "Fantasia"), plus with WWII forcing him to rely on government work just to keep going, he became discouraged. As a result, the animation that was once the top in the industry lost its edge and Walt turned to other interests like trains and eventually television and Disneyland. But in the end he left a legacy of memorable characters and family-friendly entertainment that still continues.

Neal Gabler'sbook was especially enjoyable to read because Walt Disney is especially familiar to most of us. But I was surprised to learn that Disney was always financially strapped and borrowing anywhere he could until after Disneyland. And it was fascinating while reading to go back and watch some of the movies, like "Three Little Pigs" and "Snow White" (which I never really liked before) and compare the styles, knowing what went into them and what made them great. And visiting Disneyland after reading the book makes you look at the place differently and notice more details. But I was also surprised to learn that the genius behind "the happiest place on earth" usually wasn't a very happy man himself. Mr. Gabler describes Walt's constant need to create "control" in his surroundings that drove his efforts at perfection. Animation, his trains, and Disneyland each in turn gave him an escape from reality into an environment where he had near-total control.

Books about Walt Disney either paint him as a saint or an evil tyrant, and I guess he could be both depending on the perspective. Gabler is careful to point out where the "legends" were embellished, and that "Walt Disney" became more of a brand than a man, but I thought he portrayed him fairly and honestly. Gabler tells Disney's faults, ego, and the complaints many of his employees had, but also why he did what he did and what motivated him. It sometimes bogs down in too much detail about finances, but it not only shows why he was so culturally influential but also that he was as human as all of us.

(This review is modified from my 5/26/12 blog review at bookworm-dad.blogspot.com) ( )

This might possibly be the definitive biography on Walt Disney. I have personally taken the time to read most of the biographies on the man, and found this one to be the most unbiased, and most detailed. Though it does drag in the 1940s, this book clearly knows what it wants to say, and it said it well. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to know about him, and isn't afraid to read such a large book. ( )

This is the book for anyone who wants to know every single detail about the life and work of Walt Disney. I found this book to be extremely satisfying on many levels; being a fan of Walt Disney the person, the studio's television, cartoon and movie history, and being a huge fan of animation history.

The author, Neal Gabler, researched inexhaustibly for this book (there's about 200 pages at the end of bibliographies and notes) and it shows in all the details of every aspect of Walt's life that are shown here, and all of the quotes from friends, family and co-workers that fill up the pages. Some people have said that Gabler jumps to certain conclusions that are unfounded, and I can understand where those people are coming from; all throughout the book Gabler tries to tie Walt's desire for a perfect fantasy world as a way of escaping his harsh childhood. To me it's a real take it or leave it aspect, I'm not sure I agree with Gabler's conclusions, but if you just ignore it, the rest of the book reads perfectly well.

Reading this book as a fan of animation history was truly amazing as you realize while Walt is figuring out how to best do animation while he's still in Kansas City that no one knows anything yet about animation. Even the most basic principals are yet to be discovered, and Walt Disney really helped blaze the trail for animators of future generations.

There are a number of Walt Disney biographies out there, and if you're only mildly interested in learning about the man behind the mouse, you may want to check out some of the shorter options available, such as Walt Disney: An American Original, by Bob Thomas. However for those that want to go as in-depth as you're going to get into the life of Disney, this is certainly a book you won't be able to put down. ( )

This account of Walt Disney's life pours over every available and relevant detail in search of the man behind one of the world's most enduring brands. It's exhaustive so I wouldn't recommend this tome if you're looking for an overview.

My favorite portions are a young Walt first discovering his love for drawing, a look at Hollywood in the 1920's, the secretive development of Steamboat Willie, the animators renaissance during the 1930's, Walt conceiving of and developing Disneyland in the 40's and 50's, and of course his enduring legacy.

The author, Neal Gabler, makes a case for Disney's never-ending search for perfection which drove his work and art. I see that, and yet I also see a man who was simply meant to be the figurehead of this global creation because it was in his nature.

Henry Ford, one of Disney's influences, once said, "The question 'Who ought to be boss?' is like asking 'Who ought to be tenor in the quartet?' Obviously, the man who can sing tenor." ( )

Really good read if you like the Disney aesthetic, animation, and/or well-written biographies ( )

A very good, detailed biography, although the later years feel a little glossed over. Full review here. ( )

One of the most enjoyable biographies I've ever read. The work holds your attention from the very start and does a superb job in analyzing and discussing Walt's relationships and perceived motives in the context of recent history. I walk away in awe at how much a person can create in a life time with heart, drive and vision. ( )

The best and most thorough biography I've seen to date. Benefits greatly from the author's full access to the Disney Archives and interview transcripts. ( )

Non-fiction isn't exactly thrilling the way novels are, but this was very good. I loved learning about the Disney empire and the man who started it. This book only fed my Disney obsession, and now I need to see all the old films he created which were discussed in the book! ( )

When, initially, the primary hype for your book on the life of Walt Disney is that you had complete, total, unrestricted access to papers and documents residing in the Disney archives, and that you spent years going through those documents, you better do something important with that access. Such is the challenge that faces Gabler in this book (and such was some of the criticism I had seen in early reviews.) And there is some truth to the allegations, raising the question, “So, what did you do with all that information?”

The first thing he did was produce a large and well-documented product. The 800 pages seem formidable, until you realize 218 of those pages are appendices, bibliography, and index. And what of the remaining 600? Ultimately, this is as in-depth and comprehensive a review of Walt Disney’s life as I have seen. It suffers from the same thing many biographies suffer – that need to explain the lives of everyone around them spending too much time on the lives of people who brought to life the people that brought to life Disney (and his wife). But it is not as bad at this as some I have seen. And it does a good job of retelling the stories Disneyphiles already know in a context that is broader, while at the same time providing important details and stories that may not have been heard before. (In particular, this book contains some of the first real details [as limited as they may be] I have seen regarding Walt’s last days. These kind of personal details show up throughout the book.) At the same time, the unfettered access seems to have resulted in details that are hard to care about. The excruciating detail on monetary agreements (even footnotes explaining that some sources have one amount, and other sources have another amount) seem a bit more than is needed. And I got fatigued every time the author returned to his psychological premise about Walt – that all this activity, all these ideas, all that Walt accomplished, was about Walt trying to take ultimate control of his world by building his own world in cartoons, his own world in Disneyland, ultimately his own world in EPCOT. It’s a nice theory, but I don’t buy it. And, in spite of all the selling, I still wasn’t about to invest. I know biographers make their name by proposing such theses, but I just want the story, not an added interpretation. That part got a little old after a while.

The book is long, and at times it is a bit of a slog to read through. (Particularly, as noted above, when the details get too detailed, and the psychological analysis gets a little too psychological.) But, (as the old saying goes) if you only have one book on Walt Disney, this should be the one. Compared to all the Walt biographies I have read, it is the quintessential Walt Disney biography. And, if you have an interest in learning about Walt (and learning about everything he accomplished – because, if you think it is just the parks, or the movies, or the cartoons, you have missed the broad picture) this is the place to start. ( )

I'm not sure why I even picked up this book in the first place; I'm not exactly a big Disney fan. Somehow, I kept going through all 600 and something pages. I think it's the pull of Disney on American culture that's the lure. I still don't feel I know that much about Disney himself; it seems that Gabler was somehow not able to get too close to the man, but I did find myself renting several of his shorts after reading this, which I found very interesting. ( )

http://ginasblogging.blogspot.com/2007/04/fred-patten-reviews-walt-disney-triump... ( )