Charlie Brown's Christmas Miracle

The Inspiring, Untold Story of the Making of a Holiday Classic

By: Michael Keane

Narrated by: Allan Robertson

Length: 8 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's summary

Discover the inspiring, unknown, against-all-odds story of how the classic animated holiday special A Charlie Brown Christmas almost never made it on to television.

Professor and cultural historian Michael Keane reveals much in this nostalgia-inducing book packed with original research and interviews. Keane compellingly shows that the ultimate broadcast of the Christmas special—given its incredibly tight five-month production schedule and the decidedly unfavorable reception it received by the skeptical network executives who first screened it—was nothing short of a miracle. Keane explains why the show, despite its technical shortcomings, has become an uplifting and enduring triumph embraced by millions of families every Christmas season, even more than fifty years after its premiere.

This gripping and joyful behind-the-scenes story of how the creators of A Charlie Brown Christmas struggled to bring the program to life will also help readers (and loyal fans) understand how America’s favorite Christmas special changed our popular culture forever. Keane masterfully weaves the momentous events of 1965 (the turbulent year of the program’s production) into his story, providing critical context for a profound new understanding of the program’s famous climactic scene, Linus’s spot-lit soliloquy answering the question repeatedly posed by Charlie Brown—"Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?”

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2023 Michael Keane (P)2023 Center Street

Critic reviews

"Fans of the Peanuts comics included many occupants of the White House including my father, President Ronald Reagan, who had a decades-long friendship with “Sparky” Schulz that began during his days as Governor of California. This book weaves together a marvelous tapestry of personal stories, including my family’s, alongside those of the creators of A Charlie Brown Christmas. A captivating tale of the making of an American classic!"—Mike Reagan, President, Reagan Legacy Foundation

"The idea that CBS executives thought the Charlie Brown Christmas Special would never engage family audiences around the globe is laughable today. It was and continues to be a must see attraction at Christmas for millions of families including mine! I grew up with it and then 30 years later I was in charge of CBS Primetime Specials and had the honor and privilege to schedule the special to #1 ratings every airing! It's the real National Treasure and Keane’s book is a fascinating tale on how it almost never came to be."—Charles Segars, Creator and Executive Producer of National Treasure and CEO, Ovation TV

"Set against the background of America in 1965, Michael Keane’s masterful account of the making of A Charlie Brown Christmas provides a vast insight into the circumstance and cast of characters that produced this enduring cultural miracle."—Michael Garland, New York Times best-selling author and illustrator

Of Miracles & Mad Men

Reminiscent of the historical and cultural storytelling of Malcolm Gladwell, Kai Bird, and Martin J. Sherwin, this book infuses a miracle into the fast-paced and competitive world of Mad Men. By giving the reader a glimpse into the personal lives of the key players and the unique set of circumstances that made A Charlie Brown’s Christmas, Keane tells the story of mid-century, modern miracle. It’s deepened my appreciation and enjoyment of A Charlie Brown Christmas. I would highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys Peanuts or who is looking for a historical Christmas story.

A bit more than expected

If you want a lighthearted peanuts themed biography this isn’t for you. However it captivates you with the history from Disney to Mad Men history to insight into the complex character that is Charles Schulz.

Well read and incredibly researched. Highly recommend for any history buff

Just a string of biographies

This is not a narrative of the special. Just a string of biographies bearing mostly-unrelated backstory.