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Floating Mountains: The Art of Imagining the Impossible
From the mind of Disney Legend and experience architect Joe Rohde comes a powerful memoir that explores the art of creativity—where it comes from, how it's expressed, and how to foster it in the real world.
Disney legend and former Imagineer Joe Rohde delves into the mysteries of creativity in this memoir that follows him from childhood to life after Disney, dissecting the turning points in life that inspired his own creativity and unravelling what makes for a creative mind.
From building Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park to his work creating a first-of-its kind Jane Goodall museum in Arusha, Tanzania to designing stages at Coachella Rohde expounds on his own experiences to unveil the meaning of creativity and how artistry is not just a personal form of expression but a powerful tool for community building.
From what it takes to have a flexible and creative mind to howworking with others can grow your own ideas into something larger than you ever imagined, Rohde shares experiences, lessons, and tips that provide guidance to connecting your personal creative pursuits with the larger world.
A generous memoir that illuminates the artistry of one of the greatest creative minds in the 21st century, this is a resource for all those in creative pursuits—and lifelong learners looking to discover how to make a meaningful impact on the world.
Disney legend and former Imagineer Joe Rohde delves into the mysteries of creativity in this memoir that follows him from childhood to life after Disney, dissecting the turning points in life that inspired his own creativity and unravelling what makes for a creative mind.
From building Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park to his work creating a first-of-its kind Jane Goodall museum in Arusha, Tanzania to designing stages at Coachella Rohde expounds on his own experiences to unveil the meaning of creativity and how artistry is not just a personal form of expression but a powerful tool for community building.
From what it takes to have a flexible and creative mind to howworking with others can grow your own ideas into something larger than you ever imagined, Rohde shares experiences, lessons, and tips that provide guidance to connecting your personal creative pursuits with the larger world.
A generous memoir that illuminates the artistry of one of the greatest creative minds in the 21st century, this is a resource for all those in creative pursuits—and lifelong learners looking to discover how to make a meaningful impact on the world.
417 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 8, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
October 30, 2026
In full disclosure, I am also a former Disney Imagineer who had the opportunity to work briefly with Joe Rohde on the launch of Expedition Everest at Disney's Animal Kingdom. So I came to Floating Mountains already possessing an enormous amount of respect for Joe's visionary talent as a leader, designer, and artist.
Floating Mountains is, all at once, a memoir, a series of fascinating case studies, and a deeply personal exploration of Joe's approach to creative leadership and the art of assembling multidisciplinary ensembles.
What I found immediately useful was Joe's articulation of how a creative ensemble can become something far greater than the sum of its parts. I was able to translate many of these ideas directly into my experience design classes at the California Institute of the Arts. He even includes practical exercises, several of which I adapted for immediate use with my students.
If you've ever wanted the opportunity to hopscotch around the brain of a one-of-a-kind Disney legend, this book provides exactly that. With every page, I could hear Joe's voice and appreciate his singular perspective on everything from managing upward—navigating some of the largest egos in the world—to leading, inspiring, and lifting up emerging talent just beginning to bloom.
Ultimately, Floating Mountains is much more than a look behind the curtain of Disney Imagineering. It's an insightful, generous, and highly practical exploration of how extraordinary creative work happens, and how the best leaders make room for others to rise up.
Floating Mountains: The Art of Imagining the ImpossibleJoe Rohde.
Floating Mountains is, all at once, a memoir, a series of fascinating case studies, and a deeply personal exploration of Joe's approach to creative leadership and the art of assembling multidisciplinary ensembles.
What I found immediately useful was Joe's articulation of how a creative ensemble can become something far greater than the sum of its parts. I was able to translate many of these ideas directly into my experience design classes at the California Institute of the Arts. He even includes practical exercises, several of which I adapted for immediate use with my students.
If you've ever wanted the opportunity to hopscotch around the brain of a one-of-a-kind Disney legend, this book provides exactly that. With every page, I could hear Joe's voice and appreciate his singular perspective on everything from managing upward—navigating some of the largest egos in the world—to leading, inspiring, and lifting up emerging talent just beginning to bloom.
Ultimately, Floating Mountains is much more than a look behind the curtain of Disney Imagineering. It's an insightful, generous, and highly practical exploration of how extraordinary creative work happens, and how the best leaders make room for others to rise up.
Floating Mountains: The Art of Imagining the ImpossibleJoe Rohde.
September 18, 2026
Can Joe Rohde be my mentor? I don't know that I'm smart enough for that, but I feel smarter, more creative, and incredibly inspired just by reading his book.
It's no wonder how Joe was able to captain such successful projects with his mind for creative process and his trust in his team. He wasn't shy about sharing his own shortcomings, instead taking it back to how his teams following the same theme filled the gaps.
Biggest lessons learned: don't stifle your creativity; let it flow. Leadership with trust and without fear leads to powerful teams. Failure leads to new opportunities.
Now I'm off to work on my own writing and world building with a new creative lens!
It's no wonder how Joe was able to captain such successful projects with his mind for creative process and his trust in his team. He wasn't shy about sharing his own shortcomings, instead taking it back to how his teams following the same theme filled the gaps.
Biggest lessons learned: don't stifle your creativity; let it flow. Leadership with trust and without fear leads to powerful teams. Failure leads to new opportunities.
Now I'm off to work on my own writing and world building with a new creative lens!
August 8, 2026
Joe Rohde’s Floating Mountains is part memoir, part instructional, and filled with charm and heart.
The Imagineer’s story begins with a slightly bohemian childhood in Hawaii and charts his remarkable successes at Disney and his many excursions to exotic locales around the world. Learning about Rohde’s formative years provides greater insight into the methodology he brings to his creative work. He is a firm believer in creative collaboration and adaptability when it comes to solving creative challenges.
Rohde stresses that one of the most important parts of any creative challenge is determining the work’s thematic identity. If you understand what a thing is supposed to be, it becomes much easier to make it that way. Once that essential identity is clear, the creative decisions that follow become less arbitrary and more purposeful.
Three ideas lingered with me after finishing Floating Mountains: the power of dreams, the power of teams, and the conviction that the creative act itself—the challenge , the conception, the collaboration—is every bit as important as the finished result.
The Imagineer’s story begins with a slightly bohemian childhood in Hawaii and charts his remarkable successes at Disney and his many excursions to exotic locales around the world. Learning about Rohde’s formative years provides greater insight into the methodology he brings to his creative work. He is a firm believer in creative collaboration and adaptability when it comes to solving creative challenges.
Rohde stresses that one of the most important parts of any creative challenge is determining the work’s thematic identity. If you understand what a thing is supposed to be, it becomes much easier to make it that way. Once that essential identity is clear, the creative decisions that follow become less arbitrary and more purposeful.
Three ideas lingered with me after finishing Floating Mountains: the power of dreams, the power of teams, and the conviction that the creative act itself—the challenge , the conception, the collaboration—is every bit as important as the finished result.
October 28, 2026
Joe Rohde is surely one of the most interesting guys on the planet. Since learning about his work after visiting Animal Kingdom and Pandora for the first time in 2017 I’ve maintained that he is a gift, and the generosity and warmth that comes through in his writing in Floating Mountains has only served to reinforce that opinion.
This is not a straightforward memoir but a book about creativity, thinking, and how you can function at your best as part of a team, as Joe has done for much of his working life. As the leader of a creative team in my day job - on a VERY different scale from Joe, obvs - I was reassured to find that we share an ethos of directing from the inside out rather than from the top down. Joe repeatedly emphasises how important it is to establish a strong core that all members of a team understand and are motivated to contribute to, rather than having one person's vision forced upon them, which I wholeheartedly agree with. Finding this articulated so beautifully by someone I admire so much is heartening. I think anyone working in creative industries could learn an awful lot from this book.
Joe's stories of growing up in Hawaii, his travels across the Arctic, Africa, and Asia - most notably through the Himalayas - and his work with Disney, Virgin Galactic, and Jane Goodall made me sorely nostalgic for a life I didn’t live. He shares freely about his creative processes throughout his career, the highs and the lows, and gives real weight to other people’s contributions to his success. There’s a clear sense of someone who remains fascinated by the world and the people in it, and who wants you to share in that fascination and enjoy it as much as he does. A gift.
This is not a straightforward memoir but a book about creativity, thinking, and how you can function at your best as part of a team, as Joe has done for much of his working life. As the leader of a creative team in my day job - on a VERY different scale from Joe, obvs - I was reassured to find that we share an ethos of directing from the inside out rather than from the top down. Joe repeatedly emphasises how important it is to establish a strong core that all members of a team understand and are motivated to contribute to, rather than having one person's vision forced upon them, which I wholeheartedly agree with. Finding this articulated so beautifully by someone I admire so much is heartening. I think anyone working in creative industries could learn an awful lot from this book.
Joe's stories of growing up in Hawaii, his travels across the Arctic, Africa, and Asia - most notably through the Himalayas - and his work with Disney, Virgin Galactic, and Jane Goodall made me sorely nostalgic for a life I didn’t live. He shares freely about his creative processes throughout his career, the highs and the lows, and gives real weight to other people’s contributions to his success. There’s a clear sense of someone who remains fascinated by the world and the people in it, and who wants you to share in that fascination and enjoy it as much as he does. A gift.
September 23, 2026
Such An Apt Title
“Floating Mountains” may immediately bring to mind Disney’s Animal Kingdom’s Pandora - The World of Avatar, but it is so much more. It is a perfect metaphor for the book itself: a calm, gently drifting approach to giant subjects that contain more detail the closer you look.
Part autobiography, part personal manifesto on creativity, and part how-to-guide for group collaboration, Joe Rohde has written something intimate and yet universal, practical and yet almost spiritual.
I know there is a lot to unpack in that sentence, but so it is with “Floating Mountains”. Like Rohde and his teams’ creations and contributions to Disney theme parks and resorts, this book merits multiple visits. And, just like with those creations and contributions, I know each new visit will yield fresh details and insights somehow missed before, but full of meaning that make the experience even richer.
“Floating Mountains” may immediately bring to mind Disney’s Animal Kingdom’s Pandora - The World of Avatar, but it is so much more. It is a perfect metaphor for the book itself: a calm, gently drifting approach to giant subjects that contain more detail the closer you look.
Part autobiography, part personal manifesto on creativity, and part how-to-guide for group collaboration, Joe Rohde has written something intimate and yet universal, practical and yet almost spiritual.
I know there is a lot to unpack in that sentence, but so it is with “Floating Mountains”. Like Rohde and his teams’ creations and contributions to Disney theme parks and resorts, this book merits multiple visits. And, just like with those creations and contributions, I know each new visit will yield fresh details and insights somehow missed before, but full of meaning that make the experience even richer.
October 7, 2026
How do I describe this book? I went in expecting a memoir. However, the author combines personal anecdotes with deep philosophical musings about the power of creativity and theme. Rohde gives snippets from many of his expeditions to far off places, his work as a muralist in remote towns, his collaboration with Jane Goodall and Virgin Galactic, and of course his foundational work establishing Disney's Animal Kingdom. Throughout all of these details, Rohde leaves readers with inspiring advice on how to be creative and collaborative. This book isn't at all what I expected, but I'm not disappointed. As a teacher, I feel like giving this book anything less than a five would be like a teacher giving a student less than a 100% for solving a math problem using an unexpected method but still getting the correct answer. Rohde comes to a beautiful conclusion in a very unexpected way. His doodles and pictures throughout also add to the beauty of his message. Highly recommend!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Joe Rohde has to be one of the most interesting people on the planet, at least within my personal weird intersection of interests.
This is an inspiring book, it makes me want to be more creative and think about problems in different ways. I especially appreciate Rohde's broad definition of themed design as a practice, explored in a way that makes it feel applicable to almost any kind of work.
While I don't think he ever uses these words, a surprising amount of this book is actually about project management and, if you squint a little bit, my own personal biases show me very good takes on UX design practices.
Mostly, Floating Mountains makes me wish I could immediately get to Animal Kingdom and Aulani.
This is an inspiring book, it makes me want to be more creative and think about problems in different ways. I especially appreciate Rohde's broad definition of themed design as a practice, explored in a way that makes it feel applicable to almost any kind of work.
While I don't think he ever uses these words, a surprising amount of this book is actually about project management and, if you squint a little bit, my own personal biases show me very good takes on UX design practices.
Mostly, Floating Mountains makes me wish I could immediately get to Animal Kingdom and Aulani.
October 20, 2026
Fascinating book on creative collaboration. Joe is an excellent storyteller, and has amazing stories to tell . . . but his focus in the midst of all those stories is genuinely how working together with others opens the doors to creativity that can't happen in isolation. And he has lots of practical advice on how to make that work. And did I mention LOTS of stories?
Joe is very cerebral and theoretical . . . and honestly, I didn't follow all of it all the time, mostly because of the things going on in my life when I read this. But the good news is that it definitely warrants a reread or five. And even without understanding every last detail and concept, it was still a very interesting, engaging and entertaining read.
Joe is very cerebral and theoretical . . . and honestly, I didn't follow all of it all the time, mostly because of the things going on in my life when I read this. But the good news is that it definitely warrants a reread or five. And even without understanding every last detail and concept, it was still a very interesting, engaging and entertaining read.
November 1, 2026
“Search images rise to the top based on popularity, and popularity is not a reliable representation of truth. The bias created by popularity is insidious and can be misleading.”
“Replace a goal with a theme, and the team remains activated. If a team is striving towards a goal, the conclusion gets closer every say, making it clear to ever whether the team is going to reach or not reach the goal. Energy levels can drop if the future is too predictable. Themes are open-ended. Think of it this way: We often see people, even the most dedicated fans, leave baseball games before they’re officially over because it’s obvious who’s going to win. But most people can barely tear themselves away from a slot machine. We want surprises.”
“Replace a goal with a theme, and the team remains activated. If a team is striving towards a goal, the conclusion gets closer every say, making it clear to ever whether the team is going to reach or not reach the goal. Energy levels can drop if the future is too predictable. Themes are open-ended. Think of it this way: We often see people, even the most dedicated fans, leave baseball games before they’re officially over because it’s obvious who’s going to win. But most people can barely tear themselves away from a slot machine. We want surprises.”
October 29, 2026
For me, Joe's behind the scenes stories of the Adventurers Club was worth the price of admission alone. I also enjoyed several of his other adventures, including surviving an elephant attack! Of course, all of his stories about his time at Disney were equally enjoyable.
My only criticism is, I would have preferred the stories to be told in traditional order rather than jumping back and forth through the different decades of his life.
What really stands out to me is Joe's ability to look at a single situation from so many different perspectives, directions, and emotions. His way of seeing the world left me thinking, I need to be more like Joe.
My only criticism is, I would have preferred the stories to be told in traditional order rather than jumping back and forth through the different decades of his life.
What really stands out to me is Joe's ability to look at a single situation from so many different perspectives, directions, and emotions. His way of seeing the world left me thinking, I need to be more like Joe.
November 13, 2026
Dear Joe!
I had the good fortune of having you ride shotgun with me during a long drive from Portugal to France this week.
Not literally, of course, but your voice, enthusiasm, and ideas filled my car (and my head) as the kilometers clicked by. Your creative thoughts kept me wider awake, more alert, and more fully present and engaged than four cups of caffeine––and without the jitters.
I found myself thinking of the old question: if you could have dinner with any 3 or 4 people, who would they be?
You would definitely be one of them, and I hope it would be a long dinner party!
Thank you!
Kristin
I had the good fortune of having you ride shotgun with me during a long drive from Portugal to France this week.
Not literally, of course, but your voice, enthusiasm, and ideas filled my car (and my head) as the kilometers clicked by. Your creative thoughts kept me wider awake, more alert, and more fully present and engaged than four cups of caffeine––and without the jitters.
I found myself thinking of the old question: if you could have dinner with any 3 or 4 people, who would they be?
You would definitely be one of them, and I hope it would be a long dinner party!
Thank you!
Kristin
October 22, 2026
This was a fabulous book to win a paperback ARC of in a Goodreads Giveaway! I love learning about creative processes and people’s take on big projects, so this was a perfect fit for me. It was nice to hear about Joe’s journey and also be reminded of the wonder and joy that exists in the world, especially how it can be found and nurtured in collaboration with others. I ended this book feeling inspired and energized, which I think we could all use a bit more of these days! 4.5 stars easily rounded up to 5. Take me back to Disney World right now.
November 12, 2026
This is the only non-fiction book I've read this year. I went with the audiobook option and am so glad I did! Hearing Joe Rhode read his own memoire was such a fun experience because you can hear how excited and happy with the life he's experienced. I also really really appreciated him saying up front that this wouldn't be deep dive into how Animal Kingdom came to be with a bunch of statistics. But he still gave anecdotes and talked about his leadership style and takeaways in a way that I feel like I can actually implement some of what he talked about, and not out of touch or unattainable.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I loved this book about creativity by Joe Rohde, the Disney Imagineer behind the Animal Kingdom theme park. He talks frankly about what does, and doesn’t work, within a creative team and his stories about traveling the world and bringing cultures to life within immersive storytelling was really compelling! A must-read for any Disney parks fan, and anyone who works on creative projects. He embodies what I love about the Parks, reminding us that they are truly works of art.
September 13, 2026
I adore Joe Rohde. To know my love for Disney is to also know just how much I love him.
This book was so fascinating, and I Iearned so much.
I admire Joe Rohde because he continuously gives credits to his colleagues and acknowledges the fact that so many people helped with these projects that he’s known for. He just happens to be the figurehead and the name you associate with all of these things.
Love this book, love Joe Rohde.
This book was so fascinating, and I Iearned so much.
I admire Joe Rohde because he continuously gives credits to his colleagues and acknowledges the fact that so many people helped with these projects that he’s known for. He just happens to be the figurehead and the name you associate with all of these things.
Love this book, love Joe Rohde.
September 24, 2026
Inspirational, informational, and entertaining. Everything I love Imagineering to be!!!
I love Joe Rohde and absolutely loved reading his reflections and his ideas about creative ensembles and theme. Animal Kingdom is one of my favorite places in the world, and I loved this glimpse into what it was like to make it from nothing.
This book made me want to find more creative friends and dream up our own floating mountains 🥲
I love Joe Rohde and absolutely loved reading his reflections and his ideas about creative ensembles and theme. Animal Kingdom is one of my favorite places in the world, and I loved this glimpse into what it was like to make it from nothing.
This book made me want to find more creative friends and dream up our own floating mountains 🥲
September 26, 2026
I've long believed that Disney Imagineering is one of the best models and examples of creativity, and collaborative creativity in particular. This idea was the basis for The Imagineering Toolbox series of books I wrote between 2016 and 2020.
This book dives deep into the keys of collaborative creativity, and should be in the library of anyone who is interested in creativity. I'd have given this book 6 stars if I could!
This book dives deep into the keys of collaborative creativity, and should be in the library of anyone who is interested in creativity. I'd have given this book 6 stars if I could!
September 27, 2026
I rarely feel inclined to review books but this is one that will stay with me for a long time. Joe Rohde is one of the most fascinating people and you can't help but be drawn in by his stories. This book is mostly about creativity and how to collaborate with others to create. But everyone can learn something from this book, as essentially we all have to collaborate with others in our lives. This book is inspiring! An essential for Disney parks/ theme park fans.
November 6, 2026
This was more of a business and neuroscience book than I expected about how to lead a creative team. But it was insightful and pretty readable and I enjoyed the relevant examples.
A tad bit repetitive at the end and I (surprisingly) would have been interested in personal details about a creative marriage and childrearing. However, that would have made the book too unwieldy.
I think his project management and team building tips are relevant across a lot of professions.
A tad bit repetitive at the end and I (surprisingly) would have been interested in personal details about a creative marriage and childrearing. However, that would have made the book too unwieldy.
I think his project management and team building tips are relevant across a lot of professions.
Read
October 8, 2026Had a great time reading this even if, at times, it felt a bit like being held hostage. I admire his process and think he’s a very cool guy but sometimes he gets lost in the sauce lol. Still, by the end, a part of you might get radicalized to his insane, circular way of thinking.
If you can get past the circuitous, opaque sentences, you’ll find lots to admire.
If you can get past the circuitous, opaque sentences, you’ll find lots to admire.
Currently Reading
February 26, 2026We met Joe Rohde in Animal Kingdom when we were on vacation last year, and he was so nice. His son even took our picture with him. Excited to be the first Goodreads review for this book pre-release and even more excited to read the book!
September 24, 2026
This book gives you a peak into the brain of a creative genius. It also gives a look at behind the scenes of the development of Animal Kingdom. I enjoyed learning about how to look at things differently, see art in everything, and not being too stuck in one’s own creative ideas.
September 30, 2026
Gives great insight into how Joe leaned into his personal experiences to bring teams together to create worlds like the ones he has visited. Great story telling. Can read like a how to book about leadership at times but overall really good.
October 3, 2026
A great personal retrospective of Joe Rohde's career with some inspiring advice on creativity and even just life in general. Particularly loved some of the Animal Kingdom stories that I had never heard before.
October 11, 2026
joe rohde is insanely intelligent and it is such a privilege to read about his experiences and learn from him. i feel like i learned so, so, SO much from this book and i highly recommend it to anyone interested in exploration and creativity.
September 26, 2026
Recommend for creatives, team/group leaders, Disney enthusiasts, travelers.
September 27, 2026
There is not enough praise I can give this book. Joe Rohde is brilliant and has many brilliant things to talk about in this memoir. Highly recommend if you’re a fan of art and creativity.
October 7, 2026
A wonderful and inspiring book. Thank you Joe. I will come back to this for years to come.
October 18, 2026
A journey through a few of Joe Rohde's creative triumphs - that he, pointedly and often, states are true collaborative and iterative efforts. Such fun! Theme and team and then freedom.
October 25, 2026
Absolute legend
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews