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Walt Disney: An American Original
Walt Disney is an American hero--the creator of Mickey Mouse, and a man who changed the face of American culture. After years of research, with the full cooperation of the Disney family and access to private papers and letters, Bob Thomas produced the definitive biography of the man behind the legend--the unschooled cartoonist from Kansas City who went bankrupt on his first movie venture but became the genius who produced unmatched works of animation. Complete with a rare collection of photographs, Bob Thomas' biography is a fascinating and inspirational work that captures the spirit of Walt Disney.
Unknown Binding
First published January 1, 1960
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About the author
Bob Thomas
131 books33 followersRobert Joseph "Bob" Thomas was an American Hollywood film industry biographer and reporter who worked for the Associated Press from 1944.
Born in San Diego, he grew up in Los Angeles, where his father was a film publicist. He attended UCLA. He lived in Encino with his wife, Patricia. They have three daughters. Thomas, aged 92, died on March 14, 2014 at his home.
Thomas made his mark by engaging celebrities in activities that brought out their personalities, whether by measuring their waistline after childbirth (as he did with Betty Grable) or testing just how tall a leading lady needed to be by kissing her himself (as he did with June Haver). Acclaimed as the dean of Hollywood reporters, Bob Thomas wrote about the movie business for the Associated Press since the days when Hollywood was run by the men who founded it: Jack Warner, Darryl F. Zanuck, Harry Cohn and Louis B. Mayer.
During his long history of reporting for the AP, Thomas authored at least 30 books. Many in the film industry credit his 1969 biography of producer Irving G. Thalberg as sparking their interest in pursuing a career behind the scenes. Other Thomas biographies include Joan Crawford, Marlon Brando, David O. Selznick, Walter Winchell, Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Howard Hughes, Abbott & Costello, Walt Disney, and a children's book, Walt Disney: Magician of the Movies. - Wikipedia
Born in San Diego, he grew up in Los Angeles, where his father was a film publicist. He attended UCLA. He lived in Encino with his wife, Patricia. They have three daughters. Thomas, aged 92, died on March 14, 2014 at his home.
Thomas made his mark by engaging celebrities in activities that brought out their personalities, whether by measuring their waistline after childbirth (as he did with Betty Grable) or testing just how tall a leading lady needed to be by kissing her himself (as he did with June Haver). Acclaimed as the dean of Hollywood reporters, Bob Thomas wrote about the movie business for the Associated Press since the days when Hollywood was run by the men who founded it: Jack Warner, Darryl F. Zanuck, Harry Cohn and Louis B. Mayer.
During his long history of reporting for the AP, Thomas authored at least 30 books. Many in the film industry credit his 1969 biography of producer Irving G. Thalberg as sparking their interest in pursuing a career behind the scenes. Other Thomas biographies include Joan Crawford, Marlon Brando, David O. Selznick, Walter Winchell, Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Howard Hughes, Abbott & Costello, Walt Disney, and a children's book, Walt Disney: Magician of the Movies. - Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 489 reviews
May 17, 2012
This book was an absolute treasure to read. I first started reading this book when I lived in Walt Disney World on the Disney College program. After so many years I finally finished it and regret that I never did it when I lived there. I think this would have had more of an impact then it did now. For the number of pages that I did read, it was a true magical experience of going to work and school there knowing that this all was designed by one man who took pain in knowing that everything had to be perfect.
Walt Disney was truly a genius that could move mountains and oceans. His ideas were so far ahead of everything else that it took teams of people to construct. The story of Walt Disney is that of a true American original because one, he grew up living the small town farm life to the hustle and bustle of somewhat city life. He started working as a basic artist making small cartoons and creating characters and small comics from that.
He struggled with getting established but to him, the issue of money was something he never worried about because as he said, that's what his brother is for, Roy. He would hire people and start different projects without worrying about where he was going to get the money to pay them. He would do this many times over even when he started making movies.
In Walt's mind it always came down to, if you create the best story or experience you can, people will come. This is what drove him all those years to imagine and build. His love for entertaining went beyond anything else. He entertained on so many different levels and mediums that not even Hollywood was able to compete. He created new industries and ways of thinking that no other person had thought of before.
The story of Walt is for anyone who wants to know what the true habits and understandings are of a real genius. His work ethics were always sharp and on the ball. He kept track of everything going on around him and whenever his men were having trouble with something, they could count on Walt to find the solution. He was self-taught in everything he did. With no formal college training, he received honorary degrees in various fields from all the top Ivy league schools and still felt he didn't know enough.
I plan on reading this book again, later in life to relive that amazing experience of knowing who Walt Disney was.
Walt Disney was truly a genius that could move mountains and oceans. His ideas were so far ahead of everything else that it took teams of people to construct. The story of Walt Disney is that of a true American original because one, he grew up living the small town farm life to the hustle and bustle of somewhat city life. He started working as a basic artist making small cartoons and creating characters and small comics from that.
He struggled with getting established but to him, the issue of money was something he never worried about because as he said, that's what his brother is for, Roy. He would hire people and start different projects without worrying about where he was going to get the money to pay them. He would do this many times over even when he started making movies.
In Walt's mind it always came down to, if you create the best story or experience you can, people will come. This is what drove him all those years to imagine and build. His love for entertaining went beyond anything else. He entertained on so many different levels and mediums that not even Hollywood was able to compete. He created new industries and ways of thinking that no other person had thought of before.
The story of Walt is for anyone who wants to know what the true habits and understandings are of a real genius. His work ethics were always sharp and on the ball. He kept track of everything going on around him and whenever his men were having trouble with something, they could count on Walt to find the solution. He was self-taught in everything he did. With no formal college training, he received honorary degrees in various fields from all the top Ivy league schools and still felt he didn't know enough.
I plan on reading this book again, later in life to relive that amazing experience of knowing who Walt Disney was.
June 14, 2024
I was four years old when Walt Disney re-released Fantasia in 1956. Mom took me to a fancy downtown Buffalo theater to see it. It is one my earliest and most vivid memories. And I do believe it influenced my love of classical music.
In 1991 Disney released Fantasia on VCR and I bought it for our son, who was—yes—four years old!
I watched The Mickey Mouse Club and Walt Disney Presents. I was smitten by Sleeping Beauty and had the Madame Alexander Sleeping Beauty doll that also came out in 1959. I enjoyed all the fun family movies with my younger brother. And all the new feature length cartoons that came out during our son’s childhood.
Sometimes I forget the impact Walt Disney had on my life, but reading this biography was such a nostalgic trip through my childhood, I was ready to cry when Walt dies at the end.
The Disney executives had found two previous writers’ biographies of Walt unsatisfactory when they approached Bob Thomas. Thomas had worked with Walt in 1956 when he was asked to write a book about animation. “I want to give credit to the guys who have made these picture for me,” Walt told him. In 1965, Thomas wrote a biography of Walt for children.
Thomas offers a complete treatment of Walt, from his life story to the products of his creative genius. We see the best of Walt, and his not so great moments. But overall, Walt emerges as a man driven by his vision of what could be, who put the excellence of his product foremost, who literally was Mickey Mouse.
I delighted in reading every page.
In 1991 Disney released Fantasia on VCR and I bought it for our son, who was—yes—four years old!
I watched The Mickey Mouse Club and Walt Disney Presents. I was smitten by Sleeping Beauty and had the Madame Alexander Sleeping Beauty doll that also came out in 1959. I enjoyed all the fun family movies with my younger brother. And all the new feature length cartoons that came out during our son’s childhood.
Sometimes I forget the impact Walt Disney had on my life, but reading this biography was such a nostalgic trip through my childhood, I was ready to cry when Walt dies at the end.
The Disney executives had found two previous writers’ biographies of Walt unsatisfactory when they approached Bob Thomas. Thomas had worked with Walt in 1956 when he was asked to write a book about animation. “I want to give credit to the guys who have made these picture for me,” Walt told him. In 1965, Thomas wrote a biography of Walt for children.
Thomas offers a complete treatment of Walt, from his life story to the products of his creative genius. We see the best of Walt, and his not so great moments. But overall, Walt emerges as a man driven by his vision of what could be, who put the excellence of his product foremost, who literally was Mickey Mouse.
I delighted in reading every page.
August 2, 2020
Words cannot describe how much I loved this book. Disney has always been part of my life but what fascinated me most was the fact that two brothers - one with creative ingenuity and the other with an articulate understanding of business - created the most loveable empire in the world despite the odds, in multiple occasions, not being in their favor.
Bob Thomas's Walt Disney: An American Orginal is beautifully written. You can see the admiration Thomas had for Walt through the writing and I love that he made the effort to make the small connections between moments and Walt's early life - like the farm in Marceline or his time in France - and how they ended up being the inspiration for his future creations.
But the biggest thing I adored was how prevalent Walt's personality was throughout the whole book. I found myself feeding off of Walt's passionate conversations about his newest project or a new opportunity to advance the entertainment technology. And I found Disney's philosophy to life brilliant; he had a desire to never stop learning and often encouraged it in others, Walt and Roy even went to the extent of creating a college (CalArts) that allowed you to take classes outside of your chosen degree to expand your horizon. Walt's undying optimism, perseverance, and drive to be the best possible creator possible are impactful, I was filled with the inspiration to better myself and look at the world like Walt does.
Overall, I'm even more in love with Dinsey than I already was after reading Walt Dinsey: An American Orginal. If you want to learn more about the creators behind Disney productions or if you're an inspiring creator yourself I recommend Bob Thomas's works a million times over - I guarantee you won't be disappointed!
Bob Thomas's Walt Disney: An American Orginal is beautifully written. You can see the admiration Thomas had for Walt through the writing and I love that he made the effort to make the small connections between moments and Walt's early life - like the farm in Marceline or his time in France - and how they ended up being the inspiration for his future creations.
But the biggest thing I adored was how prevalent Walt's personality was throughout the whole book. I found myself feeding off of Walt's passionate conversations about his newest project or a new opportunity to advance the entertainment technology. And I found Disney's philosophy to life brilliant; he had a desire to never stop learning and often encouraged it in others, Walt and Roy even went to the extent of creating a college (CalArts) that allowed you to take classes outside of your chosen degree to expand your horizon. Walt's undying optimism, perseverance, and drive to be the best possible creator possible are impactful, I was filled with the inspiration to better myself and look at the world like Walt does.
Overall, I'm even more in love with Dinsey than I already was after reading Walt Dinsey: An American Orginal. If you want to learn more about the creators behind Disney productions or if you're an inspiring creator yourself I recommend Bob Thomas's works a million times over - I guarantee you won't be disappointed!
July 26, 2016
I always find it hard to create a well organised review with a biography or non-fiction book. Especially since I feel so passionately over this book and I think that will make it harder for me to create a well structured review. However, I will give it my best shot!
This is the beautiful and powerful story of Walt Disney and it was worded beautifully with such enthusiasm. The author Bob Thomas was a really good choice for a writer, he gave you enough detail about Walt’s life but at the same time I feel like he didn’t break into Walt’s personal life which I actually thought was really great. Especially into relation to Walt as it leaves some of the magic behind. The book was structurally well written moving through Walt’s life in a good chronological order. It made it really easy to read and it was definitely not a chore to read through. Which I normally struggle with when reading non-fiction normally.
In terms of the time it has taken me to read I always wanted to read a Disney biography but I did have further motive, I picked this book up for my Disney extended project and found that it contained a lot of really interesting and useful information about Disney and his life. i was able to learn so much from it and interpret it into my essay. It is great for information and it will put you in such a Disney mood! Take me to Disneyland please!
This is the beautiful and powerful story of Walt Disney and it was worded beautifully with such enthusiasm. The author Bob Thomas was a really good choice for a writer, he gave you enough detail about Walt’s life but at the same time I feel like he didn’t break into Walt’s personal life which I actually thought was really great. Especially into relation to Walt as it leaves some of the magic behind. The book was structurally well written moving through Walt’s life in a good chronological order. It made it really easy to read and it was definitely not a chore to read through. Which I normally struggle with when reading non-fiction normally.
In terms of the time it has taken me to read I always wanted to read a Disney biography but I did have further motive, I picked this book up for my Disney extended project and found that it contained a lot of really interesting and useful information about Disney and his life. i was able to learn so much from it and interpret it into my essay. It is great for information and it will put you in such a Disney mood! Take me to Disneyland please!
June 6, 2023
4.5*
I loved this, and I can see why it's considered essential reading for Disney fans and cast members alike. It's straightforward, succinct, and communicates so much about the man that Disney was, along with his personal and professional ups and downs. Excellent read.
I loved this, and I can see why it's considered essential reading for Disney fans and cast members alike. It's straightforward, succinct, and communicates so much about the man that Disney was, along with his personal and professional ups and downs. Excellent read.
January 13, 2014
Being a "Disney Baby" all my life, and having recently seen Saving Mr. Banks, I decided it was time to delve into the full story of the man whose work was so much a part of my childhood. I couldn't be more glad that I did! The warmth and humor that I remembered seeing in his television appearances (re-aired on cable for the benefit of 80's kids like me) were no persona, but a facet of the real man, and that makes me happy. Thomas doesn't ignore his flaws, though--he gives considerable attention to Walt's temper, particularly in his battles with Roy, when Walt was hell-bent on tackling his next idea and his elder brother tried to get him to accept the limits of their often shaky finances.
Walt's no-repeats mantra (coined after film distributors requested that he make a sequel to the 3 Little Pigs short), "You can't top pigs with pigs," kept appearing at moments like these. The possibility of easy money to be made on the tried-and-true had no allure for him--he wanted always to find the next big challenge (such a far cry from what the company has moved to these days, in acquiring pre-existing franchises and sequelling its films into direct-to-video hell!). That pioneering spirit is what set him apart. A highly enjoyable book about a very unique individual.
Walt's no-repeats mantra (coined after film distributors requested that he make a sequel to the 3 Little Pigs short), "You can't top pigs with pigs," kept appearing at moments like these. The possibility of easy money to be made on the tried-and-true had no allure for him--he wanted always to find the next big challenge (such a far cry from what the company has moved to these days, in acquiring pre-existing franchises and sequelling its films into direct-to-video hell!). That pioneering spirit is what set him apart. A highly enjoyable book about a very unique individual.
May 16, 2018
If you’re looking for the single best (and condensed) bio of Walt, start here...
February 21, 2018
Taaaaka dawka inspiracji! 😻Wszystkiego w sam raz, autor skupia się na tym, co najważniejsze. Zdecydowanie polecam!
July 29, 2018
An in-depth biography of Walt Disney that shows all sides of Disney, his vision for the future, and his love of storytelling.
Recommended 12+ because contrary to popular belief, people in the 20s-60s swore (a lot) and Disney was no exception.
Recommended 12+ because contrary to popular belief, people in the 20s-60s swore (a lot) and Disney was no exception.
November 4, 2022
Read this years ago and really enjoyed it.
March 19, 2020
This was fascinating. Took me a long time to read because I'm not a big non-fiction reader so I just picked it up between other things. I kept having to renew it at the library!
I learned so many things I didn't have a clue about. I grew up with Disney cartoons, Mickey Mouse Club, Bambi and the early princeses. I also had to check out Oswald Rabbit, one of Disney's first creations and one that doesn't have his name on it. I was surprised to learn that Walt was the voice of Mickey. The man was quite brilliant and always looking out for his customers, especially the children.
I've always felt a connection to Walt Disney, certainly seeing him announcing some of the TV shows in my youth. However, I think that the the biggest connections were that I was born in Los Angeles, my Dad was raised there and he was set to study with Disney as an animator. But then World War II started and he went into the Army. My parents moved to Massachusetts when I was still very young and I never saw Disneyland. Now I live in FL and have been to Disney World!
I enjoyed the pictures of Walt through his life. He wasn't perfect and Bob Thomas portrays him honestly I think, although I believe he really did admire him. Thomas did a little time-leaping back and forth, I think to complete a theme he might be on. It wasn't too distracting but just a bit.
I learned so many things I didn't have a clue about. I grew up with Disney cartoons, Mickey Mouse Club, Bambi and the early princeses. I also had to check out Oswald Rabbit, one of Disney's first creations and one that doesn't have his name on it. I was surprised to learn that Walt was the voice of Mickey. The man was quite brilliant and always looking out for his customers, especially the children.
I've always felt a connection to Walt Disney, certainly seeing him announcing some of the TV shows in my youth. However, I think that the the biggest connections were that I was born in Los Angeles, my Dad was raised there and he was set to study with Disney as an animator. But then World War II started and he went into the Army. My parents moved to Massachusetts when I was still very young and I never saw Disneyland. Now I live in FL and have been to Disney World!
I enjoyed the pictures of Walt through his life. He wasn't perfect and Bob Thomas portrays him honestly I think, although I believe he really did admire him. Thomas did a little time-leaping back and forth, I think to complete a theme he might be on. It wasn't too distracting but just a bit.
March 12, 2022
Of all the Disney books I’ve read, somehow this one has escaped me - until now. I loved learning about one of my ultimate heroes, and though this is the “Disney-approved” biography, I still feel closer to the real Walt. The beginning of the book drags a bit, but those are the details of Walt’s life that few knew of, including me. That said, once I got to the development of Snow White, it was hard to put down.
March 8, 2019
It was a very interesting book about Walt Disney, and it was pretty cool to learn about him.
May 22, 2021
Ok I loved this biography!! One of my new favs. Inspirational to the core! And fun to read the stories about the background of iconic characters we know today. Lots to learn here about leadership, innovation, and hard work!!
October 13, 2025
Great audiobook. Makes me proud to be a cast member.
January 13, 2015
An in depth look at the man behind Mickey Mouse and Disneyland and how he reshaped the world of cartoon and entertainment.
My Opinion: The tale of Walt Disney through the eyes of Bob Thomas is reminiscent of a fairy tale. There are humble beginnings, failures, heartbreak, dwarves, a castle, and evil villains. But the protagonist manages to break free from the chains that tried to weigh him down and, finally, arises as a hero who makes everyone's dreams come true.
The main character, Walter Elias Disney, started off in humble circumstances in Chicago in 1901. His interest in art and cartoons started in his grammar school years and continued as he grew into an ambitious adult. Despite his talent and drive, he seemed to fall down on his luck several times before he created Mickey Mouse and, later, successful movies. Though he died before all of his dreams came to fruition, the legacy Disney left behind is one that no one will forget. Every time someone watches Mary Poppins or takes their child to Disneyland, they are participating in the dream of a man who really changed the world of entertainment.
Author Bob Thomas was able to get us into the head of Walt Disney through meeting minutes/transcripts, notes, and interviews with those closest to him. This book focused mostly on the aspects of Disney's life that influenced his profession, from his early beginnings as a cartoonist to his final days making plans for Walt Disney World. This in-depth look at Disney's life is very thorough, at times even a compelling read. It may have lacked details as to much of Disney's personal life, though I'm pretty sure Disney would have wanted it that way.
The author did a great job at following Disney's life chronologically while still keeping life events that spanned several years together so they made sense. I liked how he included small pieces in Disney's younger years that influenced his later ones. Through dialogue and letters, I was able to get to know Disney's voice and personality and feel a connection to this great man.
I have a new appreciation for cartoons and the extensive work that went into the very first ones. I also now have a deeper love and awe for Disneyland. I don't know if anyone could have come up with such a crazy idea at the time and made it a success.
My overall feel for Walt Disney could be summed up in these words taken from the book as Bob Thomas quoted Eric Sevareid from CBS Evening News after Disney passed away from lung cancer at age 65:
"He was an original. Not just an American original, but an original. Period. He was a happy accident, one of the happiest this century has experienced. And judging by the way it’s behaving, in spite of all Disney tried to tell it about laughter, love, children, puppies, and sunrises, the century hardly deserved him. He probably did more to heal - or at least soothe - troubled human spirits than all the psychiatrists in the world. There can’t be many adults in the allegedly civilized parts of the globe who did not inhabit Disney’s mind and imagination for at least for a few hours and feel better for the visitation.
"It may be true, as somebody said, that while there is no highbrow in a lowbrow, there is some lowbrow in every highbrow. But what Disney seemed to know was that while there is very little grown-up in every child, there is a lot of child in every grown-up. To a child, this weary world is brand-new, gift wrapped. Disney tried to keep it that way for adults.
"By the conventional wisdom, mighty mice, flying elephants, Snow White and Happy, Grumpy, Sneezy and Doc - all these were fantasy, escapism from reality. It’s a question of whether they are any less real, any more fantastic than intercontinental missiles, poisoned air, defoliated forests, and scrap iron on the moon. This is the age of fantasy, however you look at it, but Disney’s fantasy wasn’t lethal.
"People are saying we will never see his like again."
I'm grateful to the author, Bob Thomas (who just recently passed away). Thomas gave me a more than just a glimpse of this American original of a man. He opened my eyes to the hero that was Disney. There is something to be said about a man who has broadened my vision of the world through his amazing movies and yet still have me convinced that it is a small world after all.
My Opinion: The tale of Walt Disney through the eyes of Bob Thomas is reminiscent of a fairy tale. There are humble beginnings, failures, heartbreak, dwarves, a castle, and evil villains. But the protagonist manages to break free from the chains that tried to weigh him down and, finally, arises as a hero who makes everyone's dreams come true.
The main character, Walter Elias Disney, started off in humble circumstances in Chicago in 1901. His interest in art and cartoons started in his grammar school years and continued as he grew into an ambitious adult. Despite his talent and drive, he seemed to fall down on his luck several times before he created Mickey Mouse and, later, successful movies. Though he died before all of his dreams came to fruition, the legacy Disney left behind is one that no one will forget. Every time someone watches Mary Poppins or takes their child to Disneyland, they are participating in the dream of a man who really changed the world of entertainment.
Author Bob Thomas was able to get us into the head of Walt Disney through meeting minutes/transcripts, notes, and interviews with those closest to him. This book focused mostly on the aspects of Disney's life that influenced his profession, from his early beginnings as a cartoonist to his final days making plans for Walt Disney World. This in-depth look at Disney's life is very thorough, at times even a compelling read. It may have lacked details as to much of Disney's personal life, though I'm pretty sure Disney would have wanted it that way.
The author did a great job at following Disney's life chronologically while still keeping life events that spanned several years together so they made sense. I liked how he included small pieces in Disney's younger years that influenced his later ones. Through dialogue and letters, I was able to get to know Disney's voice and personality and feel a connection to this great man.
I have a new appreciation for cartoons and the extensive work that went into the very first ones. I also now have a deeper love and awe for Disneyland. I don't know if anyone could have come up with such a crazy idea at the time and made it a success.
My overall feel for Walt Disney could be summed up in these words taken from the book as Bob Thomas quoted Eric Sevareid from CBS Evening News after Disney passed away from lung cancer at age 65:
"He was an original. Not just an American original, but an original. Period. He was a happy accident, one of the happiest this century has experienced. And judging by the way it’s behaving, in spite of all Disney tried to tell it about laughter, love, children, puppies, and sunrises, the century hardly deserved him. He probably did more to heal - or at least soothe - troubled human spirits than all the psychiatrists in the world. There can’t be many adults in the allegedly civilized parts of the globe who did not inhabit Disney’s mind and imagination for at least for a few hours and feel better for the visitation.
"It may be true, as somebody said, that while there is no highbrow in a lowbrow, there is some lowbrow in every highbrow. But what Disney seemed to know was that while there is very little grown-up in every child, there is a lot of child in every grown-up. To a child, this weary world is brand-new, gift wrapped. Disney tried to keep it that way for adults.
"By the conventional wisdom, mighty mice, flying elephants, Snow White and Happy, Grumpy, Sneezy and Doc - all these were fantasy, escapism from reality. It’s a question of whether they are any less real, any more fantastic than intercontinental missiles, poisoned air, defoliated forests, and scrap iron on the moon. This is the age of fantasy, however you look at it, but Disney’s fantasy wasn’t lethal.
"People are saying we will never see his like again."
I'm grateful to the author, Bob Thomas (who just recently passed away). Thomas gave me a more than just a glimpse of this American original of a man. He opened my eyes to the hero that was Disney. There is something to be said about a man who has broadened my vision of the world through his amazing movies and yet still have me convinced that it is a small world after all.
December 28, 2023
So, my review of this book is going to read more like a diary entry, kind of like when I read Neal Gabler's Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination earlier this summer. It's hard not to directly compare this book to that one, so I won't make the attempt.
This is sort of considered the "definitive" biography of Walt Disney. The book is commonly cited by most other Disney books and is utilized heavily even within the Disney archives (both facts that this 2023 commemorative "Disney 100" edition are proud to point out). This was also the first Walt Disney biography I ever read back when I was in elementary school. Though the original is from the 1970s, there was another edition in 1994 which I assume is the one I read back then.
Gabler's book had a tremendous impact on me and I adored it, but it's clear to me why this one is the one most people point to. The Gabler book is a whopping 912 pages compared to the 384 in this one and much of the material is very academic in nature. It is a dense book and this one is much more easily readable. This one also consists of a lot more engaging anecdotes and stories. This book presents a much more entertaining account of Disney's life. That said, it's also organized much more topically than Gabler's book, which is laid out in a pretty rigidly chronological way. There are events that play a major part in the Gabler book that are moved past much more quickly in this one (like the Disney strike, though I also read an entire book about the strike this summer and I may be erroneously attributing some of the content in that book to the Gabler one).
The 2023 edition of this one includes some more recent essays and selections to "contextualize" the work Bob Thomas did in the 1970s (including a lot of selections from another book I've just started, Ink & Paint which very much excites me to read that one!). However, even in doing this it's clear why the Disney company embraces this piece with such open arms- it is a very glowing portrayal of Walt. I sometimes see it described as a "fair" portrayal that looks at both the good and bad about him, but I struggle to find any criticism of Walt in this book. By contrast, the Gabler book really looks at some uncomfortable elements of the Disney story- the controversy around Song of the South both in the 1940s and since, the turbulence in the Disney marriage, and the accusations of Walt being racist or anti-semitic, to name a few. Make no mistake- Walt Disney was a childhood hero of mine and remains a hero to me to this day. Based on thousands of pages of reading about the man, I don't think he was actively racist or anti-semitic, but it is a notable omission of this book (Walt Disney: An American Original, that is) to not mention any of it. There's also some complexity around the Disney strike that is missing here but is discussed at length in Gabler's book.
All in all, I think this is a better book to go to, especially for Disney fans who have a generally favorable view of Walt going in. This book has more entertaining stories and is much more succinct than Gabler's, but I really felt like I understood Walt as a man after reading the Gabler book. Gabler was able to trace a throughline from Walt's struggles in childhood to the struggles during the war and the strike and straight through to the creation of Disneyland. Gabler paints a portrait of a man who struggled with things he could not control and lays the events in Walt's life directly onto a Disneyland map, which was very moving. Maybe this attempt to "figure out" Walt is something the company resists.
I hope my review doesn't sound overly critical- I think this is a fantastic book. It is just wildly different from Neal Gabler's book and serves a very different purpose. I personally am thankful to have both because I find great value in combining the two perspectives.
This is sort of considered the "definitive" biography of Walt Disney. The book is commonly cited by most other Disney books and is utilized heavily even within the Disney archives (both facts that this 2023 commemorative "Disney 100" edition are proud to point out). This was also the first Walt Disney biography I ever read back when I was in elementary school. Though the original is from the 1970s, there was another edition in 1994 which I assume is the one I read back then.
Gabler's book had a tremendous impact on me and I adored it, but it's clear to me why this one is the one most people point to. The Gabler book is a whopping 912 pages compared to the 384 in this one and much of the material is very academic in nature. It is a dense book and this one is much more easily readable. This one also consists of a lot more engaging anecdotes and stories. This book presents a much more entertaining account of Disney's life. That said, it's also organized much more topically than Gabler's book, which is laid out in a pretty rigidly chronological way. There are events that play a major part in the Gabler book that are moved past much more quickly in this one (like the Disney strike, though I also read an entire book about the strike this summer and I may be erroneously attributing some of the content in that book to the Gabler one).
The 2023 edition of this one includes some more recent essays and selections to "contextualize" the work Bob Thomas did in the 1970s (including a lot of selections from another book I've just started, Ink & Paint which very much excites me to read that one!). However, even in doing this it's clear why the Disney company embraces this piece with such open arms- it is a very glowing portrayal of Walt. I sometimes see it described as a "fair" portrayal that looks at both the good and bad about him, but I struggle to find any criticism of Walt in this book. By contrast, the Gabler book really looks at some uncomfortable elements of the Disney story- the controversy around Song of the South both in the 1940s and since, the turbulence in the Disney marriage, and the accusations of Walt being racist or anti-semitic, to name a few. Make no mistake- Walt Disney was a childhood hero of mine and remains a hero to me to this day. Based on thousands of pages of reading about the man, I don't think he was actively racist or anti-semitic, but it is a notable omission of this book (Walt Disney: An American Original, that is) to not mention any of it. There's also some complexity around the Disney strike that is missing here but is discussed at length in Gabler's book.
All in all, I think this is a better book to go to, especially for Disney fans who have a generally favorable view of Walt going in. This book has more entertaining stories and is much more succinct than Gabler's, but I really felt like I understood Walt as a man after reading the Gabler book. Gabler was able to trace a throughline from Walt's struggles in childhood to the struggles during the war and the strike and straight through to the creation of Disneyland. Gabler paints a portrait of a man who struggled with things he could not control and lays the events in Walt's life directly onto a Disneyland map, which was very moving. Maybe this attempt to "figure out" Walt is something the company resists.
I hope my review doesn't sound overly critical- I think this is a fantastic book. It is just wildly different from Neal Gabler's book and serves a very different purpose. I personally am thankful to have both because I find great value in combining the two perspectives.
April 21, 2017
WALT DISNEY
Two words, which everyone knows, every once in a while we hear these two words which means so many things: a legacy, many tears of joy, entertainment and lots of lots of time comes to our mind when we were happy, enjoying life to its fullest.
This is what Walter Elias Disney put down in his short life. A legacy! for entertainers to follow, to catch on, to develop for the cause of entertaining millions of people, children and adults.
I couldnt be obiective with this topic, cause like almost all of us I grew up on this genious mans fantasys, work and I recommend this book to all the people who feel the same way about this world.
It was such a great pleasure to know the man and his crew behind these all time classics and all of their work!
As a self thaught artist myself..I remember when being like 10 years old, I tried to find sketches about the disney grafics ... also documentaries about him, about his company. And this passion never stopped till now.
I even have some behind the scenes montages on my old VCR at home about Disney telling at the end of the Snow White how they made it come true. Even as a child I loved to watch it aaaaaall the time.
Magical moments. Indeed.
This book its so detailed!
I was such a shock when I first started to read it. From the origins of the family till the bitter end of two brothers who made their wishes come true! With a perfect end line in the final chapter. Heartworming experience.
All of the picture do tell their stories. Be sure to check them out!
The autor Bob Thomas used all of his sources so well! The story went cronologically and he tried to show Disneys every aspect as much as he could, being a young hard working family loving man, to the businessman who accomplished his dreams.
Disney helped others to get into his fantasy world, for which we always be truly gratefull, for all times!
February 6, 2017
Thomas's book was one of the first biographies of Walt Disney, and remains a classic. Thomas's style is a nice mix of chronology, anecdotes and characterization, using memories of multiple people who knew him. Thomas had family approval, and could use their archives, which means that we not only get a portrait of Disney the business man, but also of Disney as a husband and a father. For me as a lover of animation film the book becomes less interesting when Disney moves on to live action, television and theme parks, but that's of course a problem of any book telling the complete Disney history.
Thomas's book is not without its flaws: for contemporary audiences this book is too shallow on its sources, especially on Disney's earliest history. With many an anecdote I wondered how Thomas knew. Besides, there are some clear indications of censorship. For example, the tragic story of Fred Moore is related, without revealing the animator's name. Moreover, Thomas shuns an analysis of his subject: his biography remains a pretty straightforward story from birth to death. Nevertheless, 'Walt Disney: An American Original' remains a nice introduction to who Walt Disney was and why he was so unique and important, and it's absolutely justified that it's still in print.
Thomas's book is not without its flaws: for contemporary audiences this book is too shallow on its sources, especially on Disney's earliest history. With many an anecdote I wondered how Thomas knew. Besides, there are some clear indications of censorship. For example, the tragic story of Fred Moore is related, without revealing the animator's name. Moreover, Thomas shuns an analysis of his subject: his biography remains a pretty straightforward story from birth to death. Nevertheless, 'Walt Disney: An American Original' remains a nice introduction to who Walt Disney was and why he was so unique and important, and it's absolutely justified that it's still in print.
May 14, 2015
There are two ways of looking at this book. It is either a hagiography of a man with control issues, or a respectful treatment of one of the prime shapers of American culture in the 20th century. Either way, there is no doubt that the writer admires his subject and cheerfully tells the story of an admirable man. And if only half of it were true, one would have to conclude that Walt Disney was one of the most remarkable men ever to walk the earth. His gifts and drive and moment in history combined to form a man who was ever-learning, ever-leading, and ever-pioneering new ways of teaching, entertaining, and serving the world around him.
I enjoyed this book in another way, too. In the same way that Isaacson's biography of Steve Jobs went behind the scenes of all the technological forces that have shaped my life, Thomas's biography of Walt Disney is a backstage pass to the genesis of the arts and entertainment that have impacted me in many ways. I doubt any American has not been influenced by Disney in some way, almost certainly positively, and this book reveals the man (and men) who started it all.
I enjoyed this book in another way, too. In the same way that Isaacson's biography of Steve Jobs went behind the scenes of all the technological forces that have shaped my life, Thomas's biography of Walt Disney is a backstage pass to the genesis of the arts and entertainment that have impacted me in many ways. I doubt any American has not been influenced by Disney in some way, almost certainly positively, and this book reveals the man (and men) who started it all.
January 18, 2016
Fascinating life, fascinating man. Unbelievably inspiring outlook on not just his successes, but also his failures. Author Bob Thomas has quite a task in telling Disney's professional and personal story fully. At times, I wished the narrative was more chronologically organized, but overall it was a great look at the man behind the dreams--and the dreams behind the man-- and just what I'd hoped for.
June 30, 2020
A delightful read. Walt Disney had a fascinating life and I throughly enjoyed reading about it. I didn’t realise how many failures and hardships he had at the beginning. Reading this does make me want to read more about his brother Roy Disney. Well written and the author stays on point and doesn’t go on irrelevant tangents like many other biographies. Walt died too young.
September 3, 2023
Fascinating deep dive into Walt Disney's entire live, from his childhood and humble beginnings to his company's struggles to earn enough to continue creating beloved short animated films, to his eventual success and death.
Any fan of Disney movies and their magic will enjoy this autobiography as much as I have!
Any fan of Disney movies and their magic will enjoy this autobiography as much as I have!
January 30, 2008
For a biography, this was a very well written story of Walt Disney's life. I thought it was a good look at the man behind the mouse, starting with this animated movies and moving into theme parks. As a big Disney World fan, I was fascinated by this read.
August 16, 2019
Very enjoyable. I know it is not the primary, go to biography of Walt Disney, but I truly enjoyed reading this book. It appears very balanced and objective. I highly recommend it!
December 5, 2020
I read this book for the first time in high school. Even back then I was a huge Disney fan. But now 7 years later I have decided to read it again because I am even more fascinated with Walt Disney’s life story. I have watched the Imagineers story on Disney + and I have visited the Disney Museum in San Francisco, but I still feel like I will never know enough information. Walt was truly and original and most of what we see in cartoons today is because of the risks he took. Thanks you Walt Disney!
May 11, 2019
A beautiful book that captures the full, true story of the man whose dreams and vision have brought unmeasurable joy and inspiration to countless children of all ages. My only knock on the book is its sometimes awkward phrasing or (in my opinion) its occasional unnecessary inclusion of information that only slows down the flow of the story. Still, this book is a must-read for anyone looking to learn more about the man behind Mickey Mouse and so, so much more.
November 20, 2021
This was so interesting! I enjoyed learning more about Walt Disney’s childhood and career over time - I had no idea the company struggled for so long and really only had financial stability in the last decade or so of his life. But he was brilliant and his insanely high standards created entertainment as we know it. Now I really want to go back to Disney World!
This is dated and definitely biased towards Disney, so I’d want to read more about the bigger picture of the work and time, as well as more recent Disney impact, but still recommend to Disney fans!
This is dated and definitely biased towards Disney, so I’d want to read more about the bigger picture of the work and time, as well as more recent Disney impact, but still recommend to Disney fans!
May 16, 2024
Loved this book. It started slow, but as Walt became an adult, the story really picked up pace. The chronology was good and many interesting stories about Walt and the early days of the Walt Disney Company were shared. I would have appreciated a little more info on his life and relationships with his wife and kids, but that's not really the focus of the book, so I get why info was limited.
A must-read for Disney fans.
A must-read for Disney fans.
November 19, 2017
While definitely more of a "fantasy" view of Walt's life, this book was still an interesting look into an extraordinary man's life. I found it inspiring and hopeful that creativity and magic still resonate with people, even in a world as grim and sad as ours now. There may never be another person like Walt Disney- but we can all do our best to be as optimistic about humankind as him.
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