Walt Disney

The Triumph of the American Imagination

By: Neal Gabler

Narrated by: Arthur Morey

Length: 33 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's summary

ONE OF THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER'S 100 GREATEST FILM BOOKS OF ALL TIME • The definitive portrait of one of the most important cultural figures in American history: Walt Disney.

Walt Disney was a true visionary whose desire for escape, iron determination, and obsessive perfectionism transformed animation from a novelty to an art form, first with Mickey Mouse and then with his feature films–most notably Snow White, Fantasia, and Bambi. In his superb biography, Neal Gabler shows us how, over the course of two decades, Disney revolutionized the entertainment industry. In a way that was unprecedented and later widely imitated, he built a synergistic empire that combined film, television, theme parks, music, book publishing, and merchandise. Walt Disney is a revelation of both the work and the man–of both the remarkable accomplishment and the hidden life.

Winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Biography and USA Today Biography of the Year

©2006 Neal Gabler (P)2006 Books on Tape

Critic reviews

2007, L.A. Times Book Prize (Biography), Short-listed

"Thorough...[and] engrossing." (Publishers Weekly)

"A balanced treatment of the man and his achievements, realistically assessing Disney's considerable impact and offering insight into the hidden, restless soul who constantly challenged himself." (Booklist)

"We've all been waiting for the perfect book on Walt Disney; it has finally arrived and Neal Gabler's done it. Wonderful!" (Ray Bradbury)

If you're considering this one, GO FOR IT!

Any additional comments?

I was unsure about listening to a biography but Walt's life was plenty interesting to keep me riveted. I listened all day and also into the night until I finished. It is that good. Of course, the story is most interesting once it gets into his animating and creation of Disneyland. I was completely shocked by the reported reception of his classic animated feature films by the public. My one complaint is that I want more detail in his creating Disneyland. Perhaps, I will need to read another bio or some writings specifically geared toward Disneyland history.
I recommend this book to anyone remotely interested in Walt as a man, leader, business owner, or creative genius. You will also love this if you love his films and Disneyland.

Dry in places, but overall fascinating

Like a lot of people my age, I grew up on Walt Disney; in my case, it went way past childhood. I got a lot of ribbing in high school because I continued to insist that he was a genius. I still think that, even though there is, undeniably, a saccharine quality to a lot of his work. Disney always considered himself more a "story man" than a master animator, and the grace and strength of the story structure in his best features is one of his most enduring monuments.

Gabler's biography is a fascinating look at Disney's life and work - especially his work. The emphasis here in on the professional, and Gabler provides totally absorbing accounts of the studio's process in creating some of the great features of the 30s and 40s. Disney did go wrong at certain points in his career, some of it financial and some of it political, and the fact that he was able to oversee the creation of so many masterpieces in spite of these wrong turns is astonishing. In the 50s, with the advent of Disneyland and the weekly TV show, Disney began once again to hit his stride.

When Disney is totally committed to what he's doing, Gabler is wonderful. When Disney is bored, Gabler becomes much less interesting. The biggest weakness in the book is the overly-detailed account of the financial dealings. It's an essential part of the story, but (as Gabler himself makes clear) it's not really what Disney was about.

The book is a useful corrective to the only other biography of Disney I've read - "The Disney Version" by Richard Schickel. That was clearly hostile; Gabler takes a much more balanced and nuanced approach. While I understand from browsing the web that not everyone agrees with me, I get the sense from the book that Gabler actually likes Disney. The book isn't the celebration some would prefer, but neither is it an indictment. It's a portrait of a man who smoked too much and drank too much and never lost a yearning for the turn-of-the-century small town perfection he'd known as a child: a man with a brilliant vision of what animation could do and the ability to motivate others to join him in the pursuit of the insanely great.

I enjoyed Arthur Morey's narration (as I always do). He maintains a steady, straightforward tone that matches the material.

MUST READ for any visionary modern entrepreneur.

There's a lot of what I call "business porn" out there: stories of business success that gloss over the hard times. This book tells the truth and in my opinion is essential reading for anyone looking to start a company or similar major endeavor. There are 2 reasons 1) this is hard; and knowing what you are up against in pushing through barriers is hugely helpful. 2) When you face the navigable set backs, the Disney story will normalize your experience and understand how to persist. From negotiations to lawsuits, from bankruptcy to selling the car and mortgaging the house, the story of Walt Disney is as relevant today as it was during the 20th century when these events played out. Explained in excruciating but fully relevant detail, this book compliments recent documentaries about Disney's life to show the struggles he encountered as well as the victories he achieved in breaking through one barrier after another.

Incredible

While well done, detailed, and interesting…. Walt Disney, himself, left me wanting more…. Wanting to know more, ask questions, learn… what a remarkable life.

A wonderful look at Walt and his accomplishments

A wonderful look at Walt Disney and his accomplishments. A very comprehensive look at his life. Well written and well researched.

Captivating journey into Walt's legacy!

In depth and informative, this story of Walt's life will captivate you from the beginning and enthrall you till the end. You will feel and think like Walt as you learn about and are given a detailed your of his life, successes, failures, and world changing contributions.

Very well written and researched with historical facts, quotes from people from every part of his life, and interesting facts and trivia!

Fantastic book! Dive into one of the most interesting books you'll read!

Interesting story of interesting man.

I enjoy this audiobook. Narrator was fine. Life of Walt Disney was unkmown for me until now ;) I am recommending this book.

Extensive research

If you could sum up Walt Disney in three words, what would they be?

Very well put

What other book might you compare Walt Disney to and why?

The Illusion of Life. Sums up Disney's work.

What about Arthur Morey’s performance did you like?

Very much. Very fluid, not monotone.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The introduction quote from William Blake and cryogenic story.

Any additional comments?

Very long, but very interesting.

Testament to a Visionary Man

Neal Gabler has written a masterpiece. The story is fantastic and paints a beautiful picture of a man who, even with his flaws, created a whole new world separate from the trials of the early 19th century and yet inspired generations to face their challenges head on.
Gabler’s clear portrait is both honest and endearing. By the end, I was sad to have lost my new friend from history. I hope others will find as much joy and inspiration from this book as I did.

The Steve Jobs of his generation

Every bit the hardworking, driven, egocentric, undiplomatic visionary as Jobs...and changed the world just as much. We need more people like this