James Dean: A Life from Beginning to End

by Hourly History

James Dean * * *Download for FREE on Kindle Unlimited + Free BONUS Inside!* * * Read On Your Computer, MAC, Smartphone, Kindle Reader, iPad, or Tablet. James Dean is known as the first rebel. He was a ‘50s-styled, leather-clad biker rebuking authority. With his black turtleneck and a penchant for bongo drums and poetry, he could also easily be a kind of forerunner to the beatniks. And with his unkempt, wild hair and far-reaching philosophies, he is often cited as a kind of early hippie as well. But whatever category you put him in, James Dean was the embodiment of cool. He had a cool look, cool clothes, cool attitude, and a cool backstory that most know nothing about. James Dean began life in Indiana as the descendant of a long line of farmers. After the tragic passing of his mother at a young age and the virtual abandonment of his father, he was left to be raised by his sister and her husband on a farm in Fairmount, Indiana. Inside you will read about... ✓ Losing His Family ✓ A Troubled Childhood ✓ Dean’s First Big Breaks ✓ Friends and Lovers ✓ Dean’s Acting and Car Racing Career ✓ The Final Ride And much more! So just how did this Indiana farm boy become a Hollywood legend and kickstart a counterculture rebellion that would last throughout the ‘50s, ‘60s, and beyond? Who was James Dean? Come along as we find out more about the man, the legend, and the eternal rebel without a James Dean.

Genres: Biography, History, Ebooks, Nonfiction

100 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 23, 2018

About the author

At Hourly History, we focus on publishing history books that are concise, straightforward and take no longer than one hour to read.

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Reviews

[Montzalee Wittmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, I found this informative

James Dean by Hourly History has a lot of information on him I didn't know. I won't spoil it by telling you but if something was done early enough, maybe he would have been a calmer and happier person. If his dad had kept him in California maybe...sad he lived feeling he had to give himself to others to climb the ladder. A must read book.

[Readasaurus Rex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sad

Yet another celebrity that lived a sad short life. Seems like he turned into a total jerk after he got successful

[Loretta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple and quick read. I didn't know anything about James Dean other than how he died so this was an interesting read. Makes me want to watch a couple of his movies now.

[Jerry Walch · Rating 5 out of 5]

James Dean: Biographies of Actors, another book in the Hourly Series, brings the life of James Dean alive for the reader. There are never any authors named for these books, but after reading and reviewing several of them, I feel that someone has ghosted them for “Hourly” or “Hourly” employs a whole stable of writers. Whichever the case may be, all these books are worth reading and re-reading.

 I have read many James Dean biographies, but none of them were as readable as this one. Most times you feel after reading this condensed book version of his life, that you actually knew him in real life and not just from the roles he played on the silver screen. Although I was just a young boy. I was twelve when he met his tragic death; I loved his characters in East of Eden and in Rebel Without A Cause, the two movies that made him a rising star in Hollywood.

 Dean’s tragic death at 22 was a great loss for the theater, but he truly was a rebel without a cause, and, like most rebels, he met a tragic death. If you want to learn what his life was like, read James Dean: Biographies of Actors.

[Terri's Dangerous When Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting read for me. Although I knew of James Dean and I'd seen several movies he starred in ("East of Eden" and "Giant") I knew very little about his life. I never saw, "Rebel Without a Cause," although I'd heard about it. I was surprised to learn of Dean's childhood, the tragic loss of his mother, his father shuttling him off to relatives, and then he grew up on a farm. I never would have guessed all that. He was the target of sexual predators more than once in his life, and that is definitely something I'd never heard before about James Dean. It was interesting to learn about his "starving artist" years and his friendship with Martin Landau. As Dean's fame began to grow it was almost as though he was a ticking time bomb, driving so carelessly and in the end dying so young. After reading this short biography I feel I have a better picture of James Dean's short, tragic life.

[Jerry Jares · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unbelievably, the ultra-cool James Dean started out as an Indiana farm boy.  When his father decided he wanted to go to dental school, the three-member family moved to Santa Monica, California.  James and his mother were very close and he was devastated by her death of uterine cancer (when she was 29 and he was 9).  When James' father became overwhelmed with parenthood and college, James was sent back to his aunt and uncle in Fairmount, Indiana to live until he finished high school.

We often hear of the 'casting couch' for young women hoping to become movie stars.  However, it was a shock to hear that Dean faced the same thing.   This Hourly History book was very interesting, although I wish it were longer.  It would have been nice if there had been photos of the women in Dean's life (Piers Angeli, Maila Nurmi, Dizzy Sheridan, etc.).

[Thordur · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story about the young american actor who lived fast and sometimes furious, and died way to soon in 1955. You might be interested to read more about this guy after reading this 43 page long kindle book.

Unfortunately Dean lived for only 24 years but left a huge legacy after his death. Some people saying that the modern teenager started with him. Anyhow there are bunch of some other books about James Dean you might want to read. This book only tells you a bit about lots of things Dean did during his short life. This rebel character is such an interesting icon, one becomes interested to read some more about him.

[Jennifer Robb · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've heard of James Dean but I don't think I've ever seen any of his movies etc. I knew he died young (and I think I evn knew that he had died in a car crash) which probably adds to his mystique--who knows what might have happened if he'd lived and made more movies?

I knew going in that this would not be an in depth history--I've read other Hourly History books and I know they touch on the major points but don't always delve into much detail. For me, what was given here was just enough. I enjoyed learning about James Dean but I didn't want a 300 page biography.

[Mark Laufenberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

James Dean died a couple of years before I was born, so all that I knew about him was clips that I saw in the media over the years. I don't believe that I've ever seen any of his movies. I only knew that he was a good and promising actor, most likely with a bright future ahead of him, but he died young in a car accident.

Like all Hourly History books, this one is a short, concise version of his life, covering the main facts without delving deeply into them. I learned a lot of details about his life; the difficulties of his childhood, how he struggled to make it as an actor and eventually rose to the top, and I didn't know that he had been molested by two men during his life.

The book is well-written and I enjoyed reading it, as well as the knowledge that I gained from it.

[Patricia S Winchel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Acting Became Him Because He Acted Out Who He Was

James Dean lived a troubled life, having lost his mom with whom he was close at age 9. His father sent him halfway across the country to be raised by an aunt and uncle and only invited him to return to California after high school graduation. James was a natural for the roles he played in a time when rebellion among young people was very ripe. He lived without fear which was his demise. I don’t remember his movies but am now curious to see them. He definitely was a heart throb!

[D. Thrush · Rating 4 out of 5]

At 46 pages, you learn all about James Dean, his early life, his path to Hollywood, his work, and his tragic end. He made a mark in his short life, but his need for speed led to his death. Fascinating to read what made this man tick. Though not in depth, this little book gives enough information to give you a sense of who he was, the original rebel. Though I love this series of books that can be read in about an hour, there are usually typos, which is why I give 4 stars instead of 5. Otherwise, I highly recommend this series of “Hourly History” books.

[Neera Kapahi · Rating 4 out of 5]

James Dean continues to fascinate us even though it has been more than sixty five years since his early tragic death. He had looks and talent but made very few movies. After his death there was almost a cult like following.

We gain some insight into his upbringing and personality. He was complicated and could be demanding. I wanted to know a little more about him and this book was concise and gave me the information I needed.

[sherry lackland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Liked it, sad though.

I was only 10 when James Dean died, but I was already “in love” with him. This book gave me the background that I never knew about him. He seemed like a sad person to me, even though I didn’t know the story of his life. He certainly had reason to be sad. Sorry it ended the way it did!

[Bonnie Gleckler Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

If the truth be told—-

James Dean (after his fatal death) became a superstar. He started his meteoric career in high school and then to New York where he tried his talents on Broadway. But he actually found himself once he arrived in Hollywood. Due to his early death we will never know how big a star he really would have become , but in his short life her became a legend

[Randolph Rossi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not a Rebel Without a Cause but a Person Who Never grew Up

People who use him as a role model are justifying their own obnoxious and dangerous behaviors that endanger others. It is fortunate that he only killed himself. If he had lived, I’m sure the public would have tired of his antics.

[Eileen Carter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting

This book really told me some facts about James Dean that I did not know. I have always been a fan and reading this just explained how he can!e to be the star and reckless !an he was.

[Carl Deskins,III · Rating 5 out of 5]

An outstanding book that covers an fantastic person!!!!!!!!

I consider that this book covered an outstanding person ,so it lead me to the conclusion that the book and it's contributions were of an excellent mix that this book should be shared with all!!!!!!!!!!

[Ashwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good to read about the first rebel James dean👍

Rebel without a cause. James dean was indeed a gamechanger in his days. He deified the conventional methods of the society and led his life according on his own terms. An outlier definitely.

[History7teacher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sad life!

James Dean lived a sad life. Talent he had, but it was overshadowed by the abuse he suffered and his own immaturity and willfulness. He serves as an example to warn us of the dangers of willfulness and stubbornness combined with great wealth. Well written book, though.

[Lloyd G. Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informative book on the life of an icon

I Learned slot about the facts of James
thoughts and actions which led to two classic films and his premature death
, ND those moments in his life that brought mostly sorrow and sadness .

[Mark Lindholm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everyone likes to tebel

This short book gives us a short glimpse of the rebel without a cause along with some facts about Jame Dean's life. Thisbiography can serve as a more indepth study of James Dean' s life.

[Sandra Burns · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good, quick read

I always wanted to know more about him. This book told me some things. His life was sad, and ended too soon.

[Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rebel from the beginning

I was just young enough to not remember James Dean, but always heard about him. This little gem of a book makes a great introduction to an interesting man.

[mary e savini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good

Enjoyed this quick and easy read. Learned a few things about James Dean I didn't know. We'll probably never stop wondering "what if".

[michael f bocchinfuso · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very short story about a star who died too soon

A actor who defined "Cool "but died tragically too soon. I think the 'fonz' was sort of shaped by the James Dean persona.

[Butterfly2507 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've always had a crush on this man. He was charming, talented and a true "rebel". Reading about him and his tragic childhood made me sad but also made me want to watch all of his (sadly few) movies!

[Nickie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick overview of the actor's short life.

[Miranda Kauffman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

Quick easy read focusing on the highlights, and lowlights, on Dean's short career. Sad life and a tragic end. Recommended reading.

[Bro Kenneth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Fascinating expose' of a tormented soul.

Although this book was a brief history, it provided a thorough description of the life and death of James Dean.

[Robin Dix · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tragedy that seemed inevitable. He certainly didn't have much respect for himself.