Jim Henson

The Biography

By: Brian Jay Jones

Narrated by: Kirby Heyborne

Length: 21 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • For the first time ever—a comprehensive biography of one of the twentieth century’s most innovative creative artists: the incomparable, irreplaceable Jim Henson

He was a gentle dreamer whose genial bearded visage was recognized around the world, but most people got to know him only through the iconic characters born of his fertile imagination: Kermit the Frog, Bert and Ernie, Miss Piggy, Big Bird. The Muppets made Jim Henson a household name, but they were just part of his remarkable story.

This extraordinary biography—written with the generous cooperation of the Henson family—covers the full arc of Henson’s all-too-brief life: from his childhood in Leland, Mississippi, through the years of burgeoning fame in America, to the decade of international celebrity that preceded his untimely death at age fifty-three. Drawing on hundreds of hours of new interviews with Henson's family, friends, and closest collaborators, as well as unprecedented access to private family and company archives, Brian Jay Jones explores the creation of the Muppets, Henson’s contributions to Sesame Street and Saturday Night Live, and his nearly ten-year campaign to bring The Muppet Show to television. Jones provides the imaginative context for Henson’s non-Muppet projects, including the richly imagined worlds of The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth—as well as fascinating misfires like Henson’s dream of opening an inflatable psychedelic nightclub.

An uncommonly intimate portrait, Jim Henson captures all the facets of this American original: the master craftsman who revolutionized the presentation of puppets on television, the savvy businessman whose dealmaking prowess won him a reputation as “the new Walt Disney,” and the creative team leader whose collaborative ethos earned him the undying loyalty of everyone who worked for him. Here also is insight into Henson’s intensely private personal life: his Christian Science upbringing, his love of fast cars and expensive art, and his weakness for women. Though an optimist by nature, Henson was haunted by the notion that he would not have time to do all the things he wanted to do in life—a fear that his heartbreaking final hours would prove all too well founded.

An up-close look at the charmed life of a legend, Jim Henson gives the full measure to a man whose joyful genius transcended age, language, geography, and culture—and continues to beguile audiences worldwide.

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY BOOKPAGE

“Jim Henson vibrantly delves into the magnificent man and his Muppet methods: It’s an absolute must-read!”—Neil Patrick Harris

“An exhaustive work that is never exhausting, a credit both to Jones’s brisk style and to Henson’s exceptional life.”—The New York Times

“[A] sweeping portrait that is a mix of humor, mirth and poignancy.”—Washington Independent Review of Books

“A meticulously researched tome chock-full of gems about the Muppets and the most thorough portrait of their creator ever crafted.”—Associated Press

©2013 Brain Jay Jones (P)2013 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"The biography’s delightful surprises include a disastrous run on the first season of Saturday Night Live ('the mucking Fuppets,' John Belushi grumbled), an early milky-blue iteration of Kermit sewn from Henson’s mother’s felt coat and the story of how Frank Oz became Yoda." (Kyle Minor, Salon)

"I worked with Jim for more than 30 years. He was one of my closest friends. And yet I found out things about him in Jim Henson that were new to me. Brian Jay Jones has captured the layers of Jim’s genius and humanity, as well as the flaws that made Jim, like all of us, so delightfully imperfect. Jim needed this book to be written. I thank Brian for giving Jim life again. This book has captured the spirit of Jim Henson." (Frank Oz)

"I’m a rabid Jim Henson fan - his brilliant ideas spawned shows that entertained and educated millions, myself included. Jim Henson vibrantly delves into the magnificent man and his Muppet methods. It’s an absolute must read!" (Neil Patrick Harris)

Wonderful....just wonderful!

Perfectly written and narrated.
Such a heart warming tribute to one of the worlds most influential humans.

one of the best books I listened to all year!

At first I was skeptical that I could find 21 hours entertaining on Jim Hensen, but this book kept my attention all the way through. The narration was superb and it gave an honest, objective look at his life. lots of biographies have a fanboy tone to them, but I thought this was objective all the way through. I enjoyed how little seeds were laid down earlier in the book (like storytelling being something to work on), and how it blew up when it mattered (Dark Crystal). Like almost every American younger than 55, Hensen 's influence touched my life, and it was cool to see the curtain pulled back a bit. I would highly recommend this book.

What an amazing man!

I'm shocked at the reviews here calling the book "cold" or "reads like a text book". I found it incredibly engaging, and learned so much about Jim Henson, both as a creative genius, and as a wonderful, if complex, human being! I made the mistake of listening to the details of his final illness and death, and then his Memorial Service, while I was driving. Hard to drive when you want to cry!

Highly, highly, highly recommended!

Great

Perfect book and tribute no better resource to learn about him and his work and life thank you

This was so captivating, and I couldn’t stop listening to it!

Listening to this made me wanna go watch all of his movies and even buy them. He was so monumental to my childhood. I highly recommend people listen to his story, reading by the reader, and a very enjoyable listen.

Sesame Street, Muppets, Yoda, Dark Crystal, Labyrinth

I forgot how prolific and revolutionary Jim Henson was. This comprehensive bio kept me riveted as I relived my own youth through milestones like Sesame Street and The Muppets.

The author covers every major and some minor creative periods in the puppet performer and filmmaker's life. I was esp intrigued by his marginalized (at the time) films: The Dark Crystal and The Labyrinth, which I am going to have to watch again, and his short-lived TV series, The Storyteller.

I had no idea Henson was behind the film The Witches or that author Roald Dahl, who wrote the source book, could be such a grump.

Henson comes off as a likable, forward-thinking genius with a George Lucas-like obsession with technology and a talent for creative collaboration. Henson's kids were as integral to his life and work as they were to the writing of this biography. They are extensively quoted.

loved it

great insight as to the kind of man Jim was and how dedicated he was to his art. he was working all the time he didn't consider it work it was play time
for him. there was do much more than the Muppets to his legacy

Inspirational, but low impact.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would. Jim Henson's philosophies on how he treated people and ideas are worth repeating.

What did you like best about this story?

Jim's life was very well documented, and Brian Jay Jones clearly did his research. Everything from company memos, letters to friends and even pages from Jim Henson's personal diary are referenced to paint a clear picture of his life. You really get a feel for what it was like to know Jim Henson.

Have you listened to any of Kirby Heyborne’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No, but he was quite good. He does an amazing impression of Jim Henson as well as Frank Oz.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

I don't think it would make a very good film! He didn't really have a lot of strife, to be honest!

Any additional comments?

This one is kind of a slow burn, but it's worth it. It isn't so much a story of one man overcoming obstacles to make it to the top - it's a story of a boy from an upper-middle class home that was always the best at everything and died on top of the world. It's not the type of story I'm really used to, but the ideas Jim had are really worth immersing yourself in. There's a lot to learn here about how to treat people and make the most out of your life.

I know everything about Jim Henson now

What made the experience of listening to Jim Henson the most enjoyable?

I love pop culture and knowing the stories behind what I have enjoyed for so long.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

It's time to raise the curtains...

Any additional comments?

I really enjoyed listening to the story of Jim Henson. I grew up with Sesame Street and the Muppets but never really thought about the man behind these beautiful characters. My flaw with this book was that it was so long! At times it was too thorough...

Amazing

Honestly this audiobook truly changed my outlook on life. Really went in depth on the life and creative accomplishments of Jim Henson! I learnt so much and cried openly at the end of it. If you’re on the fence on getting this audiobook let my review convince you!!!