Walt Disney

The Triumph of the American Imagination

By: Neal Gabler

Narrated by: Leonardo Leoncavallo

Length: 10 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's Summary

Seven years in the making and meticulously researched - Gabler is the first writer to be given complete access to the Disney archives - this is the full story of a man whose work left an ineradicable brand on our culture but whose life has largely been enshrouded in myth.

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.

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)

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.

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.

The Last Line

The line of this book made me tear up, it’s what Walt always wanted and he achieved it.

Incomplete

I got this Audible version to accompany the print version. This Audible version is incomplete. The print has significantly more text than what is read. Yikes!

Just okay.

For me it fell short on giving me more of an insight of his mind and why he made the choices he made.

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.

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.

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.

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.