
Walt Disney
The Triumph of the American Imagination
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Narrated by:
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Leonardo Leoncavallo
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By:
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Neal Gabler
About this listen
Gabler shows us the young Walt Disney breaking free of a heartland childhood of discipline and deprivation and making his way to Hollywood. We see the visionary, whose desire for escape honed an innate sense of what people wanted to see on the screen and, when combined with iron determination and obsessive perfectionism, led him to the reinvention of animation. It was Disney, first with Mickey Mouse and then with his feature films - most notably Snow White, Pinocchio, Fantasia, Dumbo, and Bambi - who transformed animation from a novelty based on movement to an art form that presented an illusion of life.
The author also reveals a wounded, lonely, and often disappointed man, who, despite worldwide success, was plagued with financial problems, suffered a nervous breakdown, and at times retreated into pitiable seclusion in his workshop, making model trains. Gabler explores accusations that Disney was a red-baiter, an anti-Semite, and an embittered alcoholic. Yet whatever his personal failings, Disney appealed to millions by demonstrating the power of wish fulfillment and the triumph of the American imagination.
©2006 Neal Gabler (P)2006 Random House, Inc. Random House Audio, a division of Random House, Inc.Listeners also enjoyed...
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Critic reviews
"Thorough...[and] engrossing." (Publishers Weekly)
"A balanced treatment of the man and his achievements, realistically assessing Disney's considerable impact and offering insight into the hidden, restless soul who constantly challenged himself." (Booklist)
"We've all been waiting for the perfect book on Walt Disney; it has finally arrived and Neal Gabler's done it. Wonderful!" (Ray Bradbury)
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Great stories, good biography, too preachy.
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Overall
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Performance
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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.
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Incredible Story
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What listeners say about Walt Disney
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- Ben
- 11-19-12
Very good
Really interesting. Well written. Well read. Disney lead an inspiring life, and this book gives a good sense of him as a person. Recommended.
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- Robert
- 06-11-16
I loved it from beginning to end.
the narrator was wonderful I really felt the emotional. at the end when Walt died, I got teary eyed as if I knew him. Thanks Mr Gables for a wonderful book and Mr Leoncavallo the narration was superb.
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- Darren Sapp
- 06-05-21
Fascinating
Most readers grew up watching Disney on Sunday nights or many younger readers are surprised that Disneyland and Disneyworld were later accomplishments of this man's fascinating life. This is solid storytelling by Gabler.
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- Janet Beth
- 05-27-22
Highly recommended
Very interesting and thorough. Great insight on an American genius. Clarified some misrepresentations of the man.
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- p
- 06-19-22
Excellent, excellent,!
I could listen to this book over and over. For the hundreds of times I've been to Disneyland..... And all the facts I thought I already knew about Walt Disney ...... I learned so much. Talk about being awe of another human being. I found myself tearing up or randomly smiling throughout this whole book. The next time I walk through Disneyland I will definitely have a different perspective of everything that came before that wonderful place. I highly recommend reading this period
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- Tim
- 06-29-07
How Disney became an Icon
This is a very thorough and interesting story starting from Walt's youngest days. It describes in detail exactly how Walt created and built a brand that became the gold standard in family entertainment for generations of Americans.
I only wish the books scope had extended beyond Walt's life to chronicle the ups and downs of the company in the years since his death.
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11 people found this helpful
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- Lindsey D Boozer
- 02-24-19
Great Biography and very informative
Maybe not the best written bio ever, but the subject matter and completeness and good reading make it a must-read-must -listen book in my opinion. I had many misconceptions about Walt, this made me understand the motion picture business much better and I have lived a long time so I have seen all the changes in movies, cartoons, but didn't know the reasons why until I listened to this well read book. If you have any love of Disney parks or movies, this will be an entertaining and informative listen.
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- Sheldon
- 03-10-23
Brilliantly Insightful!!
We often think that people or companies that currently rule the world in a certain field or genre was there from the beginning and it’s only by reading their bio you find that they had a dream and pressed forward with what they wanted with years and years of people trying to stop them and or doubting they’ll make it. Disney deserve all it has because of its founder Mr. Walt Disney!! A most read for any business and or creative.
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- Vito Nole
- 05-17-22
The Last Line
The line of this book made me tear up, it’s what Walt always wanted and he achieved it.
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- Robin
- 04-30-16
Walt Disney - Creative, perfectionist, tenacious
I enjoyed this book so much. An all encompassing tale of a life that improved our world. Flawed and imperfect, yet full of hope and vision, this man never gave up thank goodness. He had more creative ideas than money and more determination than discouragement. Fascinating read.
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