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.

The Walt Disney Company honors its 100th anniversary in 2023. As part of the festivities, this must-have biography tells the story of Walt Disney's life— told as no other book can! Walt Disney is an American hero. From Mickey Mouse to Disneyland, he changed the face of American culture. His is a success story like no other: a man who developed animated film into an art form and made a massive contribution to the folklore of the world. After years of research, respected Hollywood biographer Bob Thomas produced a definitive biography of the man behind the legend of Disney: the unschooled cartoonist from Kansas City who when bankrupt on his first movie venture and developed into the genius who produced unmatched works of animation, and ultimately was the creative spirit of an international entertainment empire that has enchanted generations. Complete with a collection of rare photographs, Walt Disney: An American Original is a fascinating and inspirational work that captures the spirit of Walt Disney. This Commemorative Edition includes new: introductions from Jeff Kurtti and Marcy Carriker Smothers a 32-page photo insert with rare behind-the-scenes photos endnotes to add further context and connect Walt's story to today Searching for more ways to connect with the Disney Parks and films? Explore these books from Disney Editions: Delicious Disney: Walt Disney World: Recipes & Stories from The Most Magical Place on Earth A Portrait of Walt Disney World: 50 Years of The Most Magical Place on Earth Birnbaum's 2023 Walt Disney World: The Official Vacation Guide Birnbaum's 2023 Walt Disney World for Kids: The Official Guide Art of Coloring: Walt Disney World Maps of the Disney Parks: Charting 60 Years from California to Shanghai Poster Art of the Disney Parks Holiday Magic at the Disney Parks: Celebrations Around the World from Fall to Winter The Haunted Mansion: Imagineering a Disney Classic The Disney Monorail: Imagineering a Highway in the Sky

The definitive portrait of one of the most important cultural figures in American history: Walt Disney. Walt Disney was a true visionary whose desire for escape, iron determination and obsessive perfectionism transformed animation from a novelty to an art form, first with Mickey Mouse and then with his feature films–most notably Snow White, Fantasia, and Bambi. In his superb biography, Neal Gabler shows us how, over the course of two decades, Disney revolutionized the entertainment industry. In a way that was unprecedented and later widely imitated, he built a synergistic empire that combined film, television, theme parks, music, book publishing, and merchandise. Walt Disney is a revelation of both the work and the man–of both the remarkable accomplishment and the hidden life. Winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Biography USA Today Biography of the Year

The Walt Disney Company honors its 100th anniversary in 2023. As part of the festivities, this must-have biography tells the story of Walt Disney's life— told as no other book can! Walt Disney is an American hero. From Mickey Mouse to Disneyland, he changed the face of American culture. His is a success story like no other: a man who developed animated film into an art form and made a massive contribution to the folklore of the world. After years of research, respected Hollywood biographer Bob Thomas produced a definitive biography of the man behind the legend of Disney: the unschooled cartoonist from Kansas City who when bankrupt on his first movie venture and developed into the genius who produced unmatched works of animation, and ultimately was the creative spirit of an international entertainment empire that has enchanted generations. Complete with a collection of rare photographs, Walt Disney: An American Original is a fascinating and inspirational work that captures the spirit of Walt Disney. This Commemorative Edition includes new: introductions from Jeff Kurtti and Marcy Carriker Smothers a 32-page photo insert with rare behind-the-scenes photos endnotes to add further context and connect Walt's story to today Searching for more ways to connect with the Disney Parks and films? Explore these books from Disney Editions: Delicious Disney: Walt Disney World: Recipes & Stories from The Most Magical Place on Earth A Portrait of Walt Disney World: 50 Years of The Most Magical Place on Earth Birnbaum's 2023 Walt Disney World: The Official Vacation Guide Birnbaum's 2023 Walt Disney World for Kids: The Official Guide Art of Coloring: Walt Disney World Maps of the Disney Parks: Charting 60 Years from California to Shanghai Poster Art of the Disney Parks Holiday Magic at the Disney Parks: Celebrations Around the World from Fall to Winter The Haunted Mansion: Imagineering a Disney Classic The Disney Monorail: Imagineering a Highway in the Sky

Roy O Disney and the Creation of an Entertainment Empire Roy and Walt Disney will go down in entertainment history as one of its all-time most successful teams. Everyone knows about Walt but what of Roy, the older brother whose stormy relationship with Walt helped build their business empire? This is a fully authorised look at the other Disney genius, featuring previously unpublished interviews, notes, letters, and photographs. It illuminates the Disney story as never before.

This insightful biography takes a balanced and thoughtful look at the creative and enigmatic man who has had a greater influence on American culture than almost any other individual: Walt Disney. Walt Disney has been dissected, criticized, and lauded in numerous biographies, most of which try to penetrate the psychology of the man and his motives. Walt Disney: A Biography takes a cultural approach, looking at Disney as both a product of his culture and a cultural innovator who influenced entertainment, education, leisure, and even history. Drawing on many original sources, Walt Disney provides an overview of this genius's remarkable life and family. At the same time, the book places Disney in the context of his times as a way of exploring the roots of and inspiration for his creativity. Because Walt Disney's creations and ideas still affect our movies, play activities, vacation choices, and even our dreams and imagination, his influence is as important today as it was when he was alive, and this thoroughly engaging book shows why.

How to Be Like is a “character biography” series: biographies that also draw out important lessons from the life of their subjects. In this new book—by far the most exhaustive in the series—Pat Williams tackles one of the most influential people in recent history. While many recent biographies of Walt Disney have reveled in the negative, this book takes an honest but positive look at the man behind the myth. For the first time, the book pulls together all the various strands of Disney’s life into one straightforward, easy-to-read tale of imagination, perseverance, and optimism. Far from a preachy or oppressive tome, this book scrapes away the minutiae to capture the true magic of a brilliant maverick. Key Features This is for the millions of Disney fans—those who admire his artistry or his business savvy or the products of his namesake company. The tone and style of the book will capture the imagination of younger readers, especially teens, in the same way as How to Be Like Mike. Support within the Disney world includes the daughter and grandson of Walt Disney; nephew and former vice chairman Roy Disney; and numerous Disney insiders who are already spreading the word.

The untold story of ten critical, formative years in the great producer's life