Though I'd read dozens and dozens of books about Disney parks and about Walt Disney and I owned a previous edition of this, I hadn't read this until this new Commemorative edition came out. I'm very glad I did. I understand why this is considered the definitive biography of Walt Disney. It's engaging and meticulously researched, and should be in the library of every Walt Disney fan.

This edition also has an Endnotes section with excerpts from other books about Walt Disney and the Disney company that offer interesting follow up and expansion on some of the events and notes in the book. ( )

I was four years old when Walt Disney rereleased Fantasia in 1956. Mom took me to a fancy downtown Buffalo theater to see it. It is one my earliest and most vivid memories. And I do believe it influenced my love of classical music.

In 1991 Disney released Fantasia on VCR and I bought it for our son, who was—yes—four years old!

I watched The Mickey Mouse Club and Walt Disney Presents. I was smitten by Sleeping Beauty and had the Madame Alexander Sleeping Beauty doll that also came out in 1959. I enjoyed all the fun family movies with my younger brother. And all the new feature length cartoons that came out during our son’s childhood.

Sometimes I forget the impact Walt Disney had on my life, but reading this biography was such a nostalgic trip through my childhood, I was ready to cry when Walt dies at the end.

The Disney executives had found two previous writers’ biographies of Walt unsatisfactory when they approached Bob Thomas. Thomas had worked with Walt in 1956 when he was asked to write a book about animation. “I want to give credit to the guys who have made these picture for me,” Walt told him. In 1965, Thomas wrote a biography of Walt for children.

Thomas offers a complete treatment of Walt, from his life story to the products of his creative genius. We see the best of Walt, and his not so great moments. But overall, Walt emerges as a man driven by his vision of what could be, who put the excellence of his product foremost, who literally was Mickey Mouse.

I delighted in reading every page. ( )

From his humble beginnings to his groundbreaking achievements in animation, film, and theme park creation, “Walt Disney: An American Original,” explores Disney's innovative spirit, determination, and the challenges he faced in building an entertainment empire. It’s a chronological journey from Missouri to Disneyland and a highlight of all his creative genius and business acumen emphasizing his guiding desire to have people experience happiness. This is the life of a visionary displayed in a very accessible and well written chronicle. ( )

Good book. I didn't know Walt was such a hard ass to work for, but it sure makes sense after reading what he had to go through to get his company off the ground. ( )

I found this to be a very interesting biography on Walt Disney. I knew a lot about the theme parks and Disney animation, but was surprised at how little I knew about the man's life, particularly his early years.

The preface to this book contains very out-of-context discussions from Diane, Walt's oldest daughter, including quotes along the lines of how Disney's reputation was being questioned and negative things were being said about him. Without context, those quotes made the book start off with a defensive posture, which I found odd for an official biography published by the official Disney publishing company (Hyperion).

Understand that this book is a very uncritical biography. I don't think that takes away at all from the book's impact or importance. In this day and age, it's very easy to do additional research to figure out all that was left unsaid in the book. ( )