Steven Spielberg: A Biography

Greenwood Biographies

by Kathi Jackson

Steven Spielberg is hailed as one of the most influential and commercially successful film directors in motion picture history. Through his role in developing, directing, and driving the special effects of many of the biggest blockbusters in movie history, including Jaws, Raiders of the Lost Ark, E.T., Saving Private Ryan, Jurassic Park, Schindler's List, and Minority Report, Spielberg changed the way movies are made and left an indelible mark on popular culture. This biography traces his rise from shooting films as a shy young boy with the family's 8 mm camera to his first unpaid job at Universal Studios, to the rise of DreamWorks, the studio Spielberg founded and quickly turned into a filmmaking powerhouse. While Spielberg's best work may lie ahead, this compelling biography puts his legendary career and work to date into perspective by offering analysis and commentary from fans and critics alike.

Whether about an alien lost in suburbia or the battles of World War II, Spielberg has directed and produced many of the most talked about movies of the past 30 years. Students interested in the history of film and the filmmaking industry will find this biography endlessly fascinating.

Genres: Biography

172 pages, Hardcover

First published March 30, 2007

About the author

​I inherited my love of writing and history from my father. After we watched
historical movies together, we investigated the people and events to see what they really looked like and what really happened to them. As a child, I read and wrote poetry and stories.

My interest in writing waned during the years of marriage and children until a university job enabled me to write for school publications. The next thing I knew, I had written five novels with time periods ranging from 1812 to current day.

Researching one of these about a World War II military nurse inspired me to tell the world about these women in a nonfiction format. This became my first published book, and the one that became a play in December 2008.

I am easily swept up and totally immersed into other eras and want to base novels on folk songs and fairy tales. My first novel, Lily's War, is based on the old folk song, "Lily of the West."

Reviews

[Shriyans Sairy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the book. It really dove in to Steven's entire life. It not only talked about just the events in his life but it also talked about how he felt and his emotional connection to other people involved in his life. For example it explains his relationship with his father and also how going into boyscouts changed his life. The book talked about how his experience in boy scouts taught him to set goals and achieve them. It talks about both his famous movies, such as Jaws(Released in 1975), and some of his other not as famous movies, such as Escape to Nowhere. Overall I feel like this book really shows how Steven Spielberg's life played out and how he has related countless of his own life.