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Freedom Found: My Life Story
Warren Miller is known as skiing’s greatest storyteller and as the godfather of action-sports film making. Now, here at last, is the rest of his extraordinary life story―and what happened behind the camera is even more remarkable than what you saw on the big screen. In this soul-searching autobiography, Warren revealed the secrets of his past and the peaks and valleys he navigated in bringing the sport he loves to audiences worldwide. Freedom Found is a must-read for Warren’s legion of fans, ski history enthusiasts, adrenaline junkies and anyone whose interest is piqued by an extraordinary 20th-century success story. This is a heartwarming and at times heart-wrenching account of an American innovator who did it his own way, understood the importance of making people laugh, and never looked back.
512 pages, Hardcover
Published September 1, 2016
88 people are currently reading
484 people want to read
About the author
Warren Miller
15 booksWarren Anthony Miller was an American ski and snowboarding filmmaker.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
January 22, 2017
Freedom Found, My Life Story, by Warren Miller, is a remarkable story of a unique individual. I first saw Warren Miller in Seattle in 1979. I went to the show with my friend, Blake Barfuss, at a theater in downtown Seattle. Blake was a beginning skier but had been to at least one of Miller’s films before. I had not skied since I lived in the small upstate New York village of Skaneateles where we strapped skis on, walked up the hill in back of our house and skied down, all of fifty vertical feet. I was immediately captivated by Miller’s smooth delivery and wry humor as well as with the film he narrated, Winter Fever. The mixture of beautiful shots of professional skiers along with funny shots of normal people trying to get the hang of the sport was fresh and very entertaining. It motivated me to buy some skis and try a real ski hill. I quickly became hooked, throwing my skis on top of the car as I traveled around the Northwest visiting customers. I was also hooked on Miller’s annual movies and managed to catch the film most years since. I ran into Miller again in Vail in 1994. He was on the mountain promoting his new book, On Film, In Print. I bought a copy and chatted with him. I told him I was trying to find a way to move to the mountains. He inscribed the book with, Mark Noble-Move to the Mountains! Warren Miller. It took me ten more years, but I did it. I took the kids to see his latest movie at the Villar this year, Here, There and Everywhere, his 67th movie. He does not personally narrate the films anymore and they lose a lot because of this, but for those of us who grew up skiing with him, his voice is always present.
Miller’s life was one of early hardship as he lived in a house with a deadbeat alcoholic father and as the youngest of three siblings. From an early age he was an optimist, an entrepreneur always looking for a way to make a buck. He was also quite naive and was often taken advantage of by partners, wives and business associates. He was a creative genius, but not such a great businessman. Through a life of singular focus and persistence, he created and developed the ski movie industry. These movies have been copied and even brought to new levels but no one has ever matched that personal style he brought through narrations in his unique and immediately recognizable voice and his dry wit and unmatched and good natured humor. I still watch his old movies with glee, and am immediately motivated to go out and make some turns myself.
Miller went to USC until he was called to service in the Navy in 1944. He was stationed on a sub chaser that sunk during a violent typhoon. He was lucky to survive. He used the time after his discharge to dedicate to skiing.
Miller is famous in the skiing world for living in a trailer in the parking lot of Sun Valley, working menial jobs and trading work time so he could afford a ski lift and ski all season. This was in the late 40’s when the US ski industry was in its infancy. By the time I saw my first Miller film in 1979, Warren Miller had been producing films for thirty years, since before I was born. He traveled the world, skiing at just about every resort on every continent, filming his adventures as he went. He became friends with many of the people who influenced the sport from its early years on: Gary Cooper, Ernest Hemingway, Émile Allais, Hal Geneen, Stein Erikson, Bill Janns, Jack Kemp, Otto Lang, Mike Wiegele, Don Brolin, Jean-Claude Killy, Dave McCoy, Hobie Alter, Bob Smith, Willy Bogner, Klaus Obermeyer Jimmy Huega, John Kennedy, Jr, Buddy Warner, Bob Beattie and many more. He also became expert at filming other sports such as surfing, sailing and wind surfing. He usually splices these clips throughout his ski movies to give them more breadth and color. The book recounts the myriad dramas with his wives and business ventures, many of them stressful and messy. These were always kept behind the scenes so you would never have an inkling as you watched his films. Late in life he finally sold out of all of his movie related businesses and enjoyed life as a ski ambassador, settling for a while in the Vail Valley and ending up at the Yellowstone Club in Montana. He splits his time between a house there and one on Orca Island in Washington state.
Warren Miller was famous for his funny one-liners that often hide a pertinent life lesson behind a belly laugh. Some of my favorites:
You will work all your life to be a success overnight
When my ship came in, I was at the airport
You ski as well as your kids do for one day of your life
When I started skiing, my pants were baggy and my cheeks were tight. Now my cheeks are baggy and my pants are tight
She had an hour glass figure but her time had run out
You can walk through the waters of his mind and not get your feet wet
Die living
I used to think that I would live forever, now I realize that I already have
If you don’t do it this year, you will be one year older when you do
If you are not a skier (or sailor or windsurfer or snow boarder or surfer) and have never been tempted, this book may not be for you but if you are any kind of a skier you probably already know about Warren Miller and I am sure you will love this book.
Warren Miller is 93 years old and will not live forever. But, as long as I am alive, I will remember this remarkable man and will hear his voice, clear as a bell as I close my eyes and hear his familiar farewell: I hope to see you again next year, same time, same place.
Thank you Warren.
Miller’s life was one of early hardship as he lived in a house with a deadbeat alcoholic father and as the youngest of three siblings. From an early age he was an optimist, an entrepreneur always looking for a way to make a buck. He was also quite naive and was often taken advantage of by partners, wives and business associates. He was a creative genius, but not such a great businessman. Through a life of singular focus and persistence, he created and developed the ski movie industry. These movies have been copied and even brought to new levels but no one has ever matched that personal style he brought through narrations in his unique and immediately recognizable voice and his dry wit and unmatched and good natured humor. I still watch his old movies with glee, and am immediately motivated to go out and make some turns myself.
Miller went to USC until he was called to service in the Navy in 1944. He was stationed on a sub chaser that sunk during a violent typhoon. He was lucky to survive. He used the time after his discharge to dedicate to skiing.
Miller is famous in the skiing world for living in a trailer in the parking lot of Sun Valley, working menial jobs and trading work time so he could afford a ski lift and ski all season. This was in the late 40’s when the US ski industry was in its infancy. By the time I saw my first Miller film in 1979, Warren Miller had been producing films for thirty years, since before I was born. He traveled the world, skiing at just about every resort on every continent, filming his adventures as he went. He became friends with many of the people who influenced the sport from its early years on: Gary Cooper, Ernest Hemingway, Émile Allais, Hal Geneen, Stein Erikson, Bill Janns, Jack Kemp, Otto Lang, Mike Wiegele, Don Brolin, Jean-Claude Killy, Dave McCoy, Hobie Alter, Bob Smith, Willy Bogner, Klaus Obermeyer Jimmy Huega, John Kennedy, Jr, Buddy Warner, Bob Beattie and many more. He also became expert at filming other sports such as surfing, sailing and wind surfing. He usually splices these clips throughout his ski movies to give them more breadth and color. The book recounts the myriad dramas with his wives and business ventures, many of them stressful and messy. These were always kept behind the scenes so you would never have an inkling as you watched his films. Late in life he finally sold out of all of his movie related businesses and enjoyed life as a ski ambassador, settling for a while in the Vail Valley and ending up at the Yellowstone Club in Montana. He splits his time between a house there and one on Orca Island in Washington state.
Warren Miller was famous for his funny one-liners that often hide a pertinent life lesson behind a belly laugh. Some of my favorites:
You will work all your life to be a success overnight
When my ship came in, I was at the airport
You ski as well as your kids do for one day of your life
When I started skiing, my pants were baggy and my cheeks were tight. Now my cheeks are baggy and my pants are tight
She had an hour glass figure but her time had run out
You can walk through the waters of his mind and not get your feet wet
Die living
I used to think that I would live forever, now I realize that I already have
If you don’t do it this year, you will be one year older when you do
If you are not a skier (or sailor or windsurfer or snow boarder or surfer) and have never been tempted, this book may not be for you but if you are any kind of a skier you probably already know about Warren Miller and I am sure you will love this book.
Warren Miller is 93 years old and will not live forever. But, as long as I am alive, I will remember this remarkable man and will hear his voice, clear as a bell as I close my eyes and hear his familiar farewell: I hope to see you again next year, same time, same place.
Thank you Warren.
March 23, 2020
A full chapter on some of the best movie quotes ever
November 22, 2016
Enjoyable Read
I used to see Warren's films in the 1980's. They motivated me to go helicopter skiing in 1986 and 1987. So I was fun to read about Warren's life today.
I used to see Warren's films in the 1980's. They motivated me to go helicopter skiing in 1986 and 1987. So I was fun to read about Warren's life today.
March 17, 2018
I grew up going to Warren Miller films every fall to get excited for the upcoming ski season. To see behind the movies about his life makes me appreciate what he did for skiing even more.
March 13, 2019
I wish I had read this book 30 years ago, when I was in college. For everyone who doesn't know what they want to do with their life Miller makes it very clear - do what you love. Miller did just that for pretty much his entire life. Through success and disappointment Miller kept going, driven by a love of skiing, surfing, sailing, and adventure.
The book covers Miller's life and is told in short chapters. If you're a fan of his films, you can hear his voice in your head narrating what you're reading. Miller recounts his adventures in life, skiing, and business. It is a remarkable story of someone who wants to do what he loves and is willing to make sacrifices to achieve his dreams.
The book covers Miller's life and is told in short chapters. If you're a fan of his films, you can hear his voice in your head narrating what you're reading. Miller recounts his adventures in life, skiing, and business. It is a remarkable story of someone who wants to do what he loves and is willing to make sacrifices to achieve his dreams.
October 31, 2019
Solid autobiography. Major lesson learned is that Warren credits his commitment to goofy humor as a salve against the rougher aspects of his life. He definitely had a depression era mindset, always trying to make dollar and cents of everything. I appreciated that.
All in all dude lived a pretty free life, prioritizing adventure and individuality. He paid for it in some ways with his family, but mostly pulls it off. He's very courteous with those who have caused him grief for the most part which was refreshing.
Would recommend to anyone who has heard of Warren Miller or enjoys outdoor sports.
All in all dude lived a pretty free life, prioritizing adventure and individuality. He paid for it in some ways with his family, but mostly pulls it off. He's very courteous with those who have caused him grief for the most part which was refreshing.
Would recommend to anyone who has heard of Warren Miller or enjoys outdoor sports.
August 22, 2020
Warren Miller was in the right place at the right time at the inception of the ski industry (and surfing too). That, and he was willing to take risks, innovate, fail and try again, on the brink of disaster several times over. I loved reading about the history of skiing and his part in it as a very early van lifer camping out in Sun Valley's parking for the season way before it was popular! A great read overall. The last portion of the book felt more like a who's who in the world (lots of name dropping) - still intriguing nonetheless. Much respect to Warren Miller for his major contributions to ski films.
June 25, 2017
As a fan of Warren Miller's ski movies since the 70s, I loved his autobiography. It's amazing what he accomplished after a very neglected childhood. His humour in his movies comes out in the book too. He is now 90, but his story of incredible hard work and travelling, yet doing what he loved, is inspiring. I now want to read his other books and watch some of the ski movies that I missed. I've been checking short clips on YouTube, but just want the ones that he actually narrated - a distinctive voice and unique style!
October 17, 2018
Warren Miller's story of his life in Freedom Found is a lovely book. Those of us who grew up attending his movies about skiing every fall, being inspired to get out on the slopes again, will recognize Warren himself and so many other people with whom he skied and lived over his lifetime. He did a good job of bringing me back into those old days and continuing on into our skiing lives for all the years to the almost-present day. Thanks, Warren!
September 11, 2020
A fascinating life for a humble guy, who's career is the development of skiing into a global sport and pastime. It seems like a few different books and collections of memories put together in one. The earlier chapters are chronological. The later chapters drift into themes and thoughts of an older man. But all very enjoyable, approachable and fun. Just follow your dreams and work hard... it works out reasonably well!
June 20, 2017
Wonderful historical account
I started watching Warren Miller films as a kid growing up in Denver and Vail. Always loved the humor and seeing distant resorts that I would most likely never get to ski. The book tells the story about the man behind the films. A must read for any Warren Miller movie lover.
I started watching Warren Miller films as a kid growing up in Denver and Vail. Always loved the humor and seeing distant resorts that I would most likely never get to ski. The book tells the story about the man behind the films. A must read for any Warren Miller movie lover.
June 5, 2018
Anyone for skiing?
Good book, very interesting to read. In high school in the late 1960`s seeing and hearing a Warren Miller movie at the Chicago Ski show was a delight. Years later, working at Aspen Mountain and skiing down Silver Bell run past the "Anyone For Skiing" sign is always a treat. RIP, Warren
Good book, very interesting to read. In high school in the late 1960`s seeing and hearing a Warren Miller movie at the Chicago Ski show was a delight. Years later, working at Aspen Mountain and skiing down Silver Bell run past the "Anyone For Skiing" sign is always a treat. RIP, Warren
November 21, 2020
I really enjoyed this book since I grew up skiing in Colorado and went to see Warren Miller narrate his ski movie at the local high school every year when I was a kid. His annual movie was the exciting kick-off to the upcoming ski season. It was fun to read about all the famous people and ski areas he was associated with during his career.
November 25, 2017
I really enjoyed reading this autobiography and learning about Warren's early ski bum days in Sun Valley and Alta. Warren was so connected to everyone and everything in the ski industry and way ahead of his time.
August 27, 2020
A blast for anyone who grew up watching Warren Miller ski films
He was a storyteller, with a thousand great stories. This was my favorite read during a long summer of coronavirus restrictions.
He was a storyteller, with a thousand great stories. This was my favorite read during a long summer of coronavirus restrictions.
February 24, 2021
If you are a skier, a true skier, you will appreciate Warren’s life to the core. A true nomad and pioneer in the sport, Warren lived through incredible events and struggles. A true believer in the statement, “On any given day, the best place to ski is where you are skiing that day.”
April 11, 2021
Seemed like a good idea
If you ever wanted to know every thought Warren Miller ever had, here they are. This seems like it should’ve been fun to read, but by the end it was like that last run on an icy ski day when all you want to do is be home.
If you ever wanted to know every thought Warren Miller ever had, here they are. This seems like it should’ve been fun to read, but by the end it was like that last run on an icy ski day when all you want to do is be home.
September 7, 2021
If you love to ski this book is filled with endless ski trivia. The writing was pretty dry but worth the read. Warren Miller lived into his 90's so he was part of the ski industry from the beginning. He also knew all of the legends who created it.
December 25, 2022
Most special book I’ve read all year. Modern skiing is a sport with a short history and Warren was there for all of it. This book is a time capsule for skiing (and analog action sports filming). In many ways it felt like “Barbarian Days” for skiers. I cannot recommend enough if you are a skier.
April 13, 2024
Great story overall - sprinkled with ski lore and American history. Fun to imagine the fledging American ski world. Miller does tend to ramble and sometimes writes off personal shortcomings as being out of his hands, but it overall an enjoyable (if a bit long) read.
May 16, 2017
Easy to read autobiography of one of the rascals of the early ski industry. Pretty amazing story, and good history about how the ski industry developed as well.
February 1, 2018
Excellent and enjoyable. I wish he could have narrated an audible version. RIP Warren Miller.
August 14, 2018
I'm sure this was ghost written but it had the "feeling" of his movies. I've always loved his humor.
November 14, 2018
Good read, a little wordy, but really fun and easy to read for a biography
January 27, 2022
What a life! Warren Miller’s movies told great stories and this book continues that tradition. Time to go ski!
December 11, 2023
Very cool unique life lessons in this book, and a relaxing read. My favorite part about it is that his infamous narrating voice comes to life while you read his stories!
August 14, 2024
Some gems here and there but a lot of fluff. Still love ya Warren, thanks for all you’ve done.
January 6, 2026
I could hear his voice throughout the whole book. What a fascinating life of adventure, luck, hard work, and passion!
November 17, 2023
A mile wide and an inch deep... Warren Miller lived an amazing life: but in this story, divorce, terrible childhood, and, tellingly of a fundamentally good person, his kids turning out to be generally-agreed-to-be wonderful people all get about the same treatment as vertical feet and number of chairlifts. Someday, a fantastic writer will take on his story and do it justice: the man deserves it.
December 30, 2016
I expected so much better from a man who made so many fun movies. This book, an autobiography of an outdoor filmmaker, was disjointed and poorly written. On top of poor writing and story telling was Mr. Miller's hatred towards his family which flows out of most of the book. It also seemed as if this book had been written over decades of time an only hurriedly put together in the end. Overall I was disappointed in the book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews