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4.16 AVERAGE
4.16 AVERAGE
The only thing keeping this from a perfect rating is (a) some of the Freudian analyses of Disney's personality traits which got kinda sideways, and (b) this strange disconnect when it came to the Communist influence of his time. More than once, the author wrote about Disney worrying about Communists in his studios dismissively, while in a footnote on the same page mentioning that some of the people were actually members of the Communist Party. Otherwise, very good and very thorough.
I thought I might finish this in time for the 2020 Reading Challenge, but ah well.
This book was very well-written and -researched, as well as impartial, but I did start to lose interest towards the end because I felt that the same narrative of seeking control (shown in Disney's commitment to Snow White, Disneyland, and then Epcot) is repeated too many times. That might be more of a problem with the subject matter than Gabler himself. (I would've rather heard more about the process behind the features, and I got frustrated when Disney's attention veered towards his amusement park--probably an unpopular opinion.) I also felt that the book gets mired in a few too many details, but Gabler's good about reminding readers about past events he's mentioned. Nonetheless, I showed a bit of Disney's obsession while tearing through this book: even when I was "losing interest," I kept coming back. I admired and condemned Disney in equal measure. Gabler's got some skills, and there's enough humour between the serious bits to make for an informative, enjoyable read.
This book was very well-written and -researched, as well as impartial, but I did start to lose interest towards the end because I felt that the same narrative of seeking control (shown in Disney's commitment to Snow White, Disneyland, and then Epcot) is repeated too many times. That might be more of a problem with the subject matter than Gabler himself. (I would've rather heard more about the process behind the features, and I got frustrated when Disney's attention veered towards his amusement park--probably an unpopular opinion.) I also felt that the book gets mired in a few too many details, but Gabler's good about reminding readers about past events he's mentioned. Nonetheless, I showed a bit of Disney's obsession while tearing through this book: even when I was "losing interest," I kept coming back. I admired and condemned Disney in equal measure. Gabler's got some skills, and there's enough humour between the serious bits to make for an informative, enjoyable read.
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
VERY detailed biography. I’m not a Disney fanatic so it was hard for be to get through (it’s super long), but I now know a ton of trivia about one the world’s greatest capitalists!
slow-paced
Although very long, this biography kept me engaged throughout. It is very well researched and does provide a multi-faceted, more realistic account of Walt Disney, the person. My main complaint is Gabler’s inability to fully engage in a conversation about Walt’s more unsavory sides. I appreciated Gabler’s inclusion of accusations of racism, anti-semitism and sexism, yet many of these were dismissed or explained away. Walt so carefully crafted an idealized version of himself, a more honest critique is needed to get a full picture of the man. Overall, I would recommend this biography to anyone with an interest in Walt Disney and his reaching influence on pop culture.
I listened to the audiobook. A fascinating review of Walt Disney from birth to death. I found the chapters on Marceline Missouri interesting because I just visited the town. The biographer, I felt, was fair in his portrayal of Walt. He was shown neither as a visionary or a monster but floated in-between, as most people do. There were multitudes of false stories about Walt, some perpetuated by the man himself, and these were handled deftly. Walt seemed to be dealing with some mental and behavioral health challenges which were also presented straightforwardly, without attempt at a posthumous diagnosis.
It was fascinating to see the struggle. Even as Disney was internationally celebrated, he still felt like they hadn’t quite made it. Significant financial strife, problematic business dealings, and some hurtful betrayals. Walt didn’t always handle these well, but in his very human responses, I found more understanding than the public image I was familiar with prior to this book.
But his successes and the very real ways he changed animation and entertainment, over many decades, were celebrated. I understand his contributions much better… and they are significant. His status is deserved, in my opinion.
An excellent biography, if you have the time.
It was fascinating to see the struggle. Even as Disney was internationally celebrated, he still felt like they hadn’t quite made it. Significant financial strife, problematic business dealings, and some hurtful betrayals. Walt didn’t always handle these well, but in his very human responses, I found more understanding than the public image I was familiar with prior to this book.
But his successes and the very real ways he changed animation and entertainment, over many decades, were celebrated. I understand his contributions much better… and they are significant. His status is deserved, in my opinion.
An excellent biography, if you have the time.
Surprisingly, a little heart-breaking in the end. Walt was the type of person who never felt like he was finished, or like he did enough. He didn't expect his company to survive him, and he didn't believe he had done enough good for this world. The book did such a good job at showing the reader what it was Walt saw as his motivations, how the world interpreted them, his colleagues and personal connections; and then put them all together to help the reader to see what it really was that drove Walt. What Walt really yearned for and meant to do within his lifetime, even if Walt couldn't see it himself. You felt you understood Walt in a way no one ever had before. Walt was known for saying that he didn't want to be remembered simply for creating a mouse, he wanted his legacy to mean more. And although many people do see it that way, this book allows the reader to see that he did do so much more than that, but also that in just creating that mouse, he did so much more than that.
I gave the book a 4 out of 5 because, while I appreciated every bit of information we were given, some parts I felt were over-explained or could have been presented in a more interesting way. It's so much information, and the author does a fantastic job of finding a way to include it all, and I feel I understand Walt and his life so much more because of all of it. But it did drag at times. I'm not sure if it was possible to avoid that to some degree, though.
Overall, an excellent book. Very well-researched and moving. Great insight. And, an important note, in the acknowledgements, Neal even makes sure to inform the readers that the Disney company, in no way, other than providing him with access to much information, affected the way he presented Walt in the book. Walt's positive and negative attributes are both presented in the book, for a very unbiased portrayal of a man who built the American image.
For anyone interested in entrepreneurial efforts, it's a great read, to see how Walt and Roy balanced each other, and how Walt emphasized quality, well before considering a budget.
I gave the book a 4 out of 5 because, while I appreciated every bit of information we were given, some parts I felt were over-explained or could have been presented in a more interesting way. It's so much information, and the author does a fantastic job of finding a way to include it all, and I feel I understand Walt and his life so much more because of all of it. But it did drag at times. I'm not sure if it was possible to avoid that to some degree, though.
Overall, an excellent book. Very well-researched and moving. Great insight. And, an important note, in the acknowledgements, Neal even makes sure to inform the readers that the Disney company, in no way, other than providing him with access to much information, affected the way he presented Walt in the book. Walt's positive and negative attributes are both presented in the book, for a very unbiased portrayal of a man who built the American image.
For anyone interested in entrepreneurial efforts, it's a great read, to see how Walt and Roy balanced each other, and how Walt emphasized quality, well before considering a budget.