Book Description

An inspiring biography of one of the mostinfluential and beloved figures of the 21st century, based on more than a thousand interviews.

"I've read every book that has ever been written about Walt Disney, going back to some that were published in the 1930s. [How to Be Like Walt] is by far the most enjoyable to read of them all!"
Tim O'Day, Disney Scholar
"How to Be Like Walt is a fitting tribute to Walt's memory and an important contribution to the Disney legacy . . . Now more than ever, we need people with the qualities Walt had: optimism, imagination, creativity, leadership, integrity, courage, boldness, perseverance, commitment to excellence, reverence for the past, hope for tomorrow, and faith in God."
Art Linkletter

How to Be Like is a "character biography” series: biographies that also draw out important lessons from the life of their subjects. In this new book-by far the most exhaustive in the series-Pat Williams tackles one of the most influential people in recent history.

While many recent biographies of Walt Disney have reveled in the negative, this book takes an honest but positive look at the man behind the myth. For the first time, the book pulls together all the various strands of Disney's life into one straightforward, easy-to-read tale of imagination, perseverance, and optimism. Far from a preachy or oppressive tome, this book scrapes away the minutiae to capture the true magic of a brilliant maverick.

Amazon.com

In a stunning feat of meticulous reportage, Pulitzer Prize winnerRichard BenCramer ultimately puts to rest the "Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio?"question with iconoclastic bravura. In Cramer's evaluation, the hero Americaheld onto so desperately for so long was really a creation of a nation'scommunal imagination. The Joe DiMaggio that America tried so hard to believe inwas never really here at all.

There was, of course, a Joe DiMaggio, and he had a splendid career in Yankeepinstripes--once hitting safely in an unimaginable 56 consecutive games--and atroubled marriage with Marilyn Monroe, each augmenting the other in our nationalmythology. But myths tend to be skin-deep, and Cramer's biography thrives in aninternal geography well below the surface. The map he charts is of a cold,small, often nasty, uncaring, resentful, self-centered man, a man of publicgrace and private misery who broke friendships, shunned family, and chased moneywith the same focused energies he once harnessed to run down fly balls. It's nota pretty picture.

Scrupulously researched and elegantly written, The Hero's Life is filledwith stories and reminiscences, both on and off the field, from others--notsurprisingly, DiMaggio offered no cooperation--that both illumine the man and,more fascinatingly, explain our very need for him. Amid all the success andadulation, there was little joy in DiMaggio's life, and few moments--beyond thereal heartache he felt over Monroe--of connection with others beyond Joe'spersonal need for others to serve him. "No one really knew what it meant to havespent a half-century being precisely and distinctly DiMaggio," Cramer writes,"what we required Joe DiMaggio to be. No one knew, as he did, what it cost tolive the hero's life. And no one knew, as he did, precisely what it was worth."It seems our nation turned its lonely eyes to a proud, but empty shell; Cramer'ssuperb book helps us understand why we did, and how DiMaggio was able to takeall the good will extended him and give so little back. --Jeff Silverman ... Read more

Reviews (104)

Fact v. Fiction
While The Hero's Life is an excellent book about one of the three best baseball players who have ever lived, you have to wonder how much is true. Mr Cramer does list many sources and is wonderful at telling the story of Joe DiMaggio's life. DiMaggio kept the people whom he did not want in his life out and probably for good reason. The question does linger however that since he is basing most of the book on second hand information how much is true. An excellent book that was hard to put down I have recomended it many people. Having never seen Joe DiMaggio play and him seemingly in secrecy for most of his life I found him to be an "interesting" person. He was, is and should always be an American Icon; bringing a country that was embattled in war together for a brief point in history. If you dont know anything about Joe DiMaggio but would like to, this book is a must.

This View of Joe Will Jolt You
This is a totally absorbing book. Not all writers can get away with an informal, vernacular style, but Cramer pulls it off--reading the book is like listening to an occasionally breathless but always fascinating raconteur hold forth. It's as if the author were talking to the reader personally, narrating the story.

The choice of words in the title is telling: not "a" hero's life, which would imply that DiMaggio was a genuine hero, but "the" hero's life, implying that the subject's actual life was greatly at variance with his heroic image, as it certainly was. Some DiMaggio fans are offended that Cramer didn't write a worshipful puff-piece; instead he revealed what a cold, mean-spirited, greedy guy DiMaggio really was. But the author also helps the reader understand how DiMaggio got that way, and it's this quality that makes the book so extraordinary.

Two criticisms of aspects of the book that make it less than a five-star production: The author's repeated use of the term "Dago" when referring to DiMaggio could perhaps be explained by the fact that many people of the time really did refer to DiMaggio with that ethnic slur, but it's still offensive and unnecessary. People in the past may indeed have referred to DiMaggio that way, but that doesn't mean Cramer should compound the error by throwing the term around so frequently himself! If he were writing about Hank Greenberg, I'll bet he wouldn't refer to him throughout his text as "The Hebe" or "The Kike." Nor, if he were writing about Jackie Robinson, would he dream of referring to his subject as "The Nig," or by whatever other racist slurs were hurled at Robinson.

The other criticism is that I was constantly wondering how the author could possibly have known some of the things he includes. Maybe this is just awe at Cramer's reportorial skills, but since he includes no source notes, we have to take him at his word. He may well have had many talky informants, especially after DiMaggio's death, but I don't think anybody could have followed Joe into the bedroom with Marilyn Monroe, the way Cramer pretends to do!

Good addition to DiMaggio Literature
Being a San Franciscan, I really appreciated the author's research and description of life in this City during the first 3-4 decades of the 20th century, including the baseball scene and the legend of Lefty O'Doul (whose bar is still open just off Union Square). There is also much to be learned for the younger readers about baseball in the 30s and 40s. Not all was a grand as today's romanticists like to portray it. How things should be is somewhere between the over-paid mediocre talent of today and the grossly underpaid---and unfree---players of those days. I can't imagine what someone of Dimaggio's caliber would be getting paid today.

The book also shined when describing not only Joe's relationship with Marilyn Monroe (brutal by today's standards) and what Hollywood and stardom was like.

Dimaggio's dysfunctional personality and apparent avarice are well-presented, as is the power he had to make men give up all dignity and self-respect simply to be his friend. While we can't simply assume everything said here about DiMaggio's attorney and "close personal friend", Morris Engelberg, is 100% accurate, it isn't hard to believe either. We had a very real taste of this man's character here in San Francisco with how he handled the whole affair of our city wanting to name the playground in North Beach for DiMaggio.

The only gap in the book for me was the leap it made from Marilyn Monroe's death all the way to the 1989 SF earthquake. I thought Cramer went pretty far in depicting the Kennedy/Sinatra involvement with Monroe and why Joe so despised them after her death. But he stopped there quite abruptly. There probably was more that could have been written to show Joe's scorn for them (like the snub of Bobby Kennedy at Yankee Stadium during an Old Timers Game introductions...Joe refused to shake his hand). Baseball-wise, I think more could have also been written about Joe's feelings for---or against---Mickey Mantle and how he felt about THAT center fielder's so completely winning the hearts of Yankee fans. If the author's intended audience was people like me and older, who are familiar with Joe's life and career, then I'm off-base. If he was hoping to have the 20-30 crowd know more about this myth, I think he could have written a little more.

Joe DiMaggio was not a good man necessarily, many people knew that before even reading this book. In today's world he would have been mauled by the press and fans and would likely not be perceived as such a heroic figure as he now is. Look at Barry Bonds, perhaps a better player overall (hard to say for those of us who never saw Joe actually play...hard to argue against 9 world championships in 13 years...versus Barry's ZERO), yet his personality is probably not too different from Joe's in his search for privacy and aloofness from his teammates. However, he is vilified by most and has precious few friends. In another day, he would have been up in the pantheon with the Babe and Joltin' Joe.

Why the personal assault?
This book was a gift from my daughter; as such, I read it even though I knew that it was a hatchet job, for whatever reason, against a great player. At the end of the book I came away with the same conclusion I had when I started, and that is that Joe DiMaggio was one of the greatest hitters of all time (had an immaculate swing) and one of the greatest all around players of all time. As a baseball lover that is all I need to know. In short, he was idolized for his playing ability and for his quite demeanor on the field, while keeping his peccadilloes from public view - why is that so bad? What grudge the author has against Joe DiMaggio I don't know, but I see no need to attack a person based on the shortcomings of that person's personality.

Bitter, angry, jealous - and that's just the author
This is a bitter, self-indulgent attempt by the author to attack DiMaggio. Period. He was a bad guy... so what? He liked money? Last time I checked, the author wasn't giving his book away. The main problem isn't with the book or DiMaggio, but with the people who make guys like DiMaggio the heroes they can never be. The bar is set way too high for these individuals. No one can reach it. Our solution: write about it. Consider this: I seriously doubt anyone will write a book about the author, because while he may have received accolades for his work as a reporter, all he has really done in his life is write about what other people have done in their lives. Seems like an empty accomplishment to me, and might be the reason for the high level of bitterness and, perhaps, jealousy that came through in this book. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Disney Fans Must Have
This is a must have for the Disney fan. This book gives in depth detail into the man who created the "happiest place on earth", from the people who knew hime best. His family, friends, and employees. I have read many books on Disney, and this ranks in the top 2(along with Imaganineering). It tells the stories of his triumphs as well as his tragedies. I highly recommend this book.

NIce story about a true genius
This book is not a complete and detailed biography, but is a nice tribute to Walt Disney. It has a lot of photos, and the most interesting parts of the book are "personal side" sections.

Proof That Walt Disney Was The Original Dream Worker!
Walt Disney is well on his way to becoming the most written about creative talent in American film.
This is the 100th anniversary of his birth and thankfully any examination of his life can still include careful interviews with people who knew him and worked with him. The book is less an in-depth biography and more like spending a long afternoon hearing how it was from those who knew him best and who can praise him at the same time they acknowledge his frailties. It's an earnest and heartfelt look at the heart and soul of the man, and the authors do their level best to take a frank and thoughtful approach while still being entertaining. Like everything else Disney, it's best to give in to the fact that you're about to be put under a spell. The sooner you give in, the more fun you'll have.
Though some may find it less satisfying than a more critical analysis, this reader is tired of deconstructing American icons and welcomes this lovely look at a historical figure whose impact went well beyond his filmmaking. Disney is arguably the greatest influence on American popular culture and family entertainment in the past 100 years. Most admirable is the way the authors address some of the detractors who've criticized Walt Disney over the years for such things as anti-Semitism or racism. Albeit sentimental, the authors maintain fairly good objectivity. Walt Disney remains enigmatic even to those closest to him. Thankfully, the recollections by family and friends are edited into the layout without making the entire book seem like a posthumous testimonial dinner.
Granted this Disney Editions publication doesn't come without its ulterior motives. With the kind of control Disney has always had over any thing profiling the company one doubts that a harsh light will ever shine on their founder in one of their own pubications. But dreams and dreamers always look better in a soft light, and who but a bitter DreamWorker would ever want to bother trying to detract from such happy success? (And if ever proof was needed that certain ex-studio head turned competitor NEVER was and NEVER WILL be the next Walt Disney, this delivers it!) Though you wish the current Disney brass would pay more attention to the underlying principals of what makes Disney 'Disney' that are spelled out in this book. Hey, we can dream, too, can't we?
Still, this deliciously illustrated oversized scrapbook-styled remembrance of Walt more than makes up for its obvious propaganda focused origins. Imagine(eer) that!
Even though the book serves primarily as a companion to the documentary film of the same title, it's a wonderful read. A gentle reflection with rich illustrations -- some seldom and never before seen photographs -- and a rich and handsome design. Endlessly entertaining. A lovely tribute worth adding to your library. ... Read more

Book Description

A compelling autobiographical testament to the spiritual pilgrimage of a woman who, in her own words, dedicated herself "to bring[ing] about the kind of society where it is easier to be good.'' ... Read more

Reviews (10)

The Only Solution is Love
Dorothy Day is an absolutely amazing woman, and should be a true inspiration for all Catholics concerned with social justice and care of the poor. The Long Loneliness is Day's autobiography. It details her life, from her childhood until her old age. The book describes how Day's growing concern for the poor leads to a growing inspiration in Catholicism, and how the mysteries of the church deepen her love for other people in her life. Her growing faith is, as to be expected, tinged with doubt, and through this doubt the reader can truly experience Day's humanity. Different experiences, such as her pregnancy, are developed so that readers can begin to see how different moments throughout her life make a profound impact on Day's life and work. In addition to the life of Day herself, this book provides an excellent reference in terms of the beginning points of the Catholic Worker movement. The Catholic Worker has developed houses of hospitality in various cities throughout the United States (135 today), which focus on works of mercy for anyone who needs assistance. The Long Loneliness provides an overview of the history of this movement, from its beginnings as a radical Catholic newspaper, to the founding of the early Houses of Hospitality, to attempts at farming which ultimately failed. Day's autobiography paints a life of Christian love, and is an outstanding work for anyone with a concern for developing a life filled with the richness of service to others.

A Worthy Read
More than a story of the life of a great and determined woman, this book is really the story of the Catholic Worker movement. The purpose of Ms. Day's life, and the Catholic Worker movement, was to make the kind of society in which it is easier for people to be good.

To that end, Ms. Day wrote of her life. I've often heard this book compared to Merton's Seven Storey Mountain. However, it does not show the level of introspection that one finds with Thomas Merton. This autobiography does touch on the personal level when Ms. Day speaks of her faith, her love of God and what that means to her. These portions of the book are worth reading and re-reading.

Unfortunately, this is only about one quarter of the book. The remainder regards the Catholic Worker movement and Ms. Day's journey through communism, pacifism etc. In short, the book is more about utopia than it is about Ms. Day.

Nonetheless, it is far more than a drab read about the socio-economic condition of man in the 20th century. I'm very glad that I've read this book, and I will read it again no doubt.

If you have an interest in putting your faith into action, this book will inspire you. It should inspire, and for the most part it does. For that reason I recommend it.

A Classic Conversion Story
Catholic faith fascinates people. How did her spiritual life develop, and how did it influence the remainder of her life? Many wonderful authors, including but not limited to people such as William Miller, Robert Coles, and most recently Paul Elie, have written extensively about Dorothy Day and help us understand this amazing and complex woman, but nothing is more rewarding than reading the writings of Day herself.

THE LONG LONELINESS is a classic spiritual tome and is often referred to as Day's spiritual autobiography. In many ways it is similar to Thomas Merton's SEVEN STOREY MOUNTAIN, and it is easily a close second in popularity with many Catholics. Though Day's writing style is much drier than Merton's writing and her story is not quite as spellbinding as the artist and aspiring writer turned monk, the reader can sense God working powerfully in Day's life. If the book were published today, it would probably be categorized as a memoir, rather than an autobiography since day does not as much tell her story as reflect on how God called her to a life of faith.

The book is a "must read" for anyone who loves and admires Dorothy Day. It is also a book that will interest people interested in religious social activism. Yet the book may speak most powerfully to those who are on a spiritual quest themselves, either knowingly or unknowingly.

she should've stuck to being a social activist
I was required to read this book for school this summer and it was by far the worst book I have read in my life. Its only a 280 page book, but her style of writing makes it seem as if it was about a thousand. She fills the book with useless information (i.e. she writes an in depth account of a cover of a book her brother brought home one day and then wonders what it was about. That was completely pointless and failed to advance the plot at all.) Instead of sticking to the core story, which might have been interesting she rambles off about random occurences constantly.

A model
Dorothy Dayƒ­s life story is one that I hope will inspire and motivate many Christians -- many more than it already has. A full-on Bohemian in her twenties, she wrote for Socialist papers, joined strikes and picket lines, and spent her share of time in jail for protests. She was an activistƒ­s activist.
And then she met Jesus. Actually the Call of the Spirit had been upon her, or inside her, since early childhood, but it wasnƒ­t until the birth of her child that she finally acknowledged fully and became a member of the Catholic church.
I can easily identify with her problems and issues with the church -- it always seems to be on the side of the Established, the Rich and Powerful, caring not and giving not to the poor and needy, the oppressed and voiceless. Dorothy found, as too few of us have, that God heart cries out for the poor, Jesus identified himself with the oppressed and voiceless, and, as James said, true religion that God honors is looking after the widowed and the orphans in their distress.
And so, with the help, mentorship and inspiration of her friend Peter Maurin, Dorothy continued her activist ways, in the name of Christ. She started the Catholic Worker newspaper, which championed the causes of the poor and working-class. She and her friends started hospitality houses, taking in and feeding any who needed it.
Like Mother Teresaƒ­s, Dorothy Dayƒ­s story is really very simple -- she saw what there was to do, she took her Masterƒ­s words to heart, and she started doing it. Without advanced programs, grants, visioning sessions, without much of a plan at all really, she just started doing it. And she has changed the world in important ways, giving glory to God all along the way. She is a hero of the faith to me, and I hope that God will use me as He chose to use her.

Dorothy Day trained herself as a journalist, a writer, and made her living as such all of her life. This training is evident in her writing -- the book is compact, imagistic, and quick to read. The first half is fairly chronological, as she relates her life up until the point of her conversion and move to New York. After that -- basically after she meets Peter -- it becomes more topical, and the timeline more of a blur. Which was probably true of her life, so much happening and unfolding that itƒ­s hard to tell what started when and where the endings are, if there are any.

I enjoyed this book, and I learned from it -- most notably that the work of activism, of giving voice to the voiceless, is long and hard, with many defeats. But many defeats add up to slow victory, as we make progress over decades at a time. Things are better than they were in Dorothyƒ­s heyday, and we owe much of it to her and her contemporaries. We also owe a great debt to her for the life she has modeled for us -- a modern day picture of Christ among the poor, the hope of many. ... Read more

Book Description

Written by the Dalai Lama as a young man in exile, this dignified testament re-creates the miraculous search that identified him as the reincarnated leader of his country. It paints a rare, intimate portrait of Tibetan Buddhism-a way of life that would end with a terrifying foreign invasion surpassing sanity and reason. And it reveals the evolution of a man from gentle monk to a world leader, one struggling to this day to free his country...one able to touch our hearts with the goodness that makes him one of the most beloved men of our time. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

A little disappointed, but still a good and important read
I am a college student who has studied China extensively in school. I can speak Chinese and have traveled to China several times and to Tibet once. While I have never agreed with many of the Chinese governments policies in the areas of religion, personal freedom, Tibet, and Taiwan, I think this book could have done more for its cause.

I decided to read this book after I spent 2.5 weeks in Tibet last year while studying in China. Tibet was one of the most fascinating places I have been to and I really wanted to know more about what happened there after China invaded. This book tells the Dalai Lama's story very well. Up until the last 15 pages or so, I really loved the book. However, before closing, the Dalai Lama makes several accusations about Chinese human rights abuses in Tibet (beatings, child abductions and the like) but provides no evidence of their existence.

While I personally feel Tibet was and still is a sovereign country and what China has done is wrong in many ways, the charges made in the last few pages don't belong in this book. While the Dalai Lama's story of his life and last days in Tibet are very powerful, I really think it would have been even better had the those last parting shots been omitted. Charges of human rights abuses such as these are very important and would be better served in a book of their own.

I think most Americans will enjoy this book but not share the same reaction I had to the last few pages. I have studied China for several years now and have heard accusations from both China and the world on countless occasions on a wide range of issues. Maybe this is why I get turned off when I don't see concrete evidence included when someone makes a charge such as the Dalai Lama does at the end of his book. I still think the Dalai Lama is a wonderful man and has an important story to tell, but feel this one could have come across a little better.

the failure of genocide
The cry to "free Tibet" takes on new meaning and a more personal conviction after reading this book. This original autobiograhpy, published in 1962, is an intimate narrative of the Dalai Lama's life from his humble beginnings as the son of a Tibetan farmer to his evolution as the greatest spiritual leader known to the modern world.
It is also the story of a young man struggling with responsibilities that are unimaginable for someone so young and of a remarkable people who were willing to give up their lives in order to protect their unique way of life.
But, more importantly, this book tells the story of an attempt by a mighty military power to eliminate a small peace-loving culture thus eliminating it's religion, a religion based simply on having compassion for all living things. In this regard, the efforts of the mighty power failed. The government of China may have been successful in taking the beautiful land from the Tibetans (thanks in part to the rest of the world turning a blind eye to what was happening) but the culture and religion is still thriving thanks to the efforts of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and his government in exile.
In conclusion, this book reminds us that we all need to be aware of how frangible freedom is and that all peace-loving people must join hands throughout the world, regardless of cultural and religious beliefs, to protect that precious thing called freedom.

A memoir that stirs up compassion and feeling
I started this book with the thought that I would gain a better sense of the history surrounding the current events in Tibet, where I recently visited. What I didn't anticipate was that the book would generate such strong feelings of compassion and emotion within me. Read it slowly and allow yourself to fully digest the Dalai Lama's simple but compelling portrayal of the suffering his people have encountered, as well as the incredible courage they displayed- as a testament of their deep devotion to him and their unwavering belief in their most valuable posession: Buddhist religion. I had to stop every so often and calm the inner turmoil I felt, as I read. While I have deep respect for the Dalai Lama and his own struggle to save his people & religion and to keep the Tibetan story alive, it is truly the Tibetan people who have proved their heroism and strength. When I read about them surrounding the Potala, armed only with sticks and determination, in order to protect their holy leader, it just overwhelmed me to remember that human struggles of the most basic kind are still occuring and need to be remembered and championed by those of us so far away. When I was in Tibet, I thought that it would be a tragedy to lose such a rich and vibrant culture but now after reading this, it's even more unimaginable. There are few cultures that cultivate such inner strength and whose people demonstrate such devotion for what is meaningful to them- I hope Tibetans will find a way to survive the continued oppression of China and that China will soon recognize the value of what they seem intent on destroying.

Dalai Lama inside
A very honest and personal but also historical and buddhist account of the Dalai Lamas life written in his very own words. Besides the tragedy of the the subjugation of the tibetan people, which was the cause for the Dalai Lamas exil and indirectly for the writing of this book, it shows the development of a and of this Dalai Lama, the monk Tenzin Gyatso, as he likes to call himself. Without pretention he reports about his priviledged education as "a prisoner" of the Potala, the castle of Lhasa. During the last decades, this book was an introduction into matters tibetan for many western people and it can still be recomended warmly.

An amazing story, who's ending has not yet been written.
Whether you are a fan of H.H. Dalai Lama or not, this book is fascinating. It is written with the energy of a young man in a passionate struggle to save his people. It will grip, inspire and anger you. Read the book, and you'll be moved to give your support to the Dalai Lama and the people of Tibet in their fight for freedom. ... Read more

Book Description

Selected from the vast archives of the Walt Disney Company, this historic collection includes handwritten letters and notes of Walt's, rare character sketches from the 1930's and 1940's, replicas of Disneyland's opening-day tickets, photos, movie theater programs, comic strips, greeting cards, commissary menus, and other treasures, reproduced in facsimile form.Many of these special features are designed to be removable so readers can touch and hold masterfully reproduced bits of history.In addition, the book comes with a 60-minute CD that features previously unheard audio of Walt Disney , radio commercials from the 1950s, and never-before-released sound tracks from the parks' most popular attraction. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

A treasure trove of nostalgia for Disney fans.
What a brilliant book!
For collectors,this book goes so well with any Disney collection such as that Fantasia DVDs,the Walt Disney documentary DVD,Frank and Ollie DVD and others.
If you like documentaries and well put together books,then this is an entertainig and informative book of Disney history,with all sorts of extras from nearly the last hundred years.
This is a book to keep and enjoy for a lifetime.

History of Disney Brought to Life
DISNEY TREASURES is tuly a treasure - filled with beautifully reproduced copies of memorabilia that remove from the book. The experience of holding this book in your hands is really something. The wonderful text and design are a perfect match too in this "museum in a book". Any Disney fan will love this book!

WOW! The coolest Disney book EVER!!!
I wasn't sure what to expect with this book, but man, I was just in awe with every page I turned. I love that it focuses on the Walt era, and with the removable memorabilia replications (hand-written notes from Walt, himself!), it's totally unique.

I HIGHLY recommend this book to any and EVERY Disney fan out there!!!

EXCELLENT book!
What a GREAT Idea! One of the few things to come out with the name DISNEY on it this year that are worth buying!!!

Fine book, original format.
Every Disney enthusiast should have this book. It provides subtle additions to the Disney canon, and does so in such a colorful and captivating way. ... Read more

Reviews (23)

Walt Disney Bible
This is truly a Bible if you are interested in Walt Disney's life. It doesn't hide any details from his life, and you can see from this official book that he wasn't a saint as a human being, and you can also see what a genious he was. It is amazing to see all the psychological virtues that this man had to keep his employees giving the best they can, and even more, without praising them.
This book explains his detailed personal and professional life.
I read many other biographies and I believe this is the most credible one. An honest story about this genius, who was also nothing but a human being, having all the flaws that come with being a human.
A must have for everyone (not only Disney fans)!!!

It Made Me Believe!
This was the most inspiring biography I have ever read. I bought it while on vacation at Disneyworld in Orlando this past November with my girlfriend and family, and I couldn't stop reading it. I found the most interesting period of his life to be the years between 20-35, when no one would give him a chance. I am a fiction writer who has written seven novels in the past decade (my 20s), and each of them has been rejected so many times I don't even want to think about it. I can not tell you how difficult it is to put everything I am as a human being into something I believe in and to face as much disinterest from agents, publishers, editors, magazines, and universities as I have.

Many of Disney's friends gave up on him. Even his family began to think he was crazy.

To read that Walt Disney went through a very similar period in his life to what I'm currently going through was like giving me a light at the end of a very long, dark tunnel. It made me hope. And when a book can do that, you know it is something special, man. Walt Disney truly was an American original; more than that, though he was a person who inspired dreams, goodness, and optimism even in the face of terrible adversity.

Stacey

Walt Disney an American
Disney might have done more to win World War 2 than any other general, president, or any otherworld leader combined. His company was teaming with life while on the verge of bankruptcy. Through his cleverly perceived ideas, he was able to capture the essence of American patriotism and spirit all while rallying Americans to pay their taxes and send their sons to war in the pursuit of freedom.
Walt Disney: An American Original provides an in-depth look at the life of an American icon. It portrays him in both a negative and positive light telling of his successes but also of his failures. This unbiased book leaves no stone unturned and all ground covered. Though LONG and TEDIOUS at times, this book is perfect for anyone looking to make an in-depth look at an "American original."
A man plagued with troubles from the beginning, Disney truly was a hero. From losing his first major successful cartoon to a competing company, a serious polo accident giving him severe arthritis, and a bout with smoking that would eventually cost him his life. This book goes to show that the greatest figures didn't have everything going for them, but learned to overcome the obstacles to obtain their dream.
He was a cold and angry individual. Often you didn't know if he was approachable that day or not. Described by his colleagues as one who values quality over the possibility of making money, it goes to show that people will come and help you succeed if you have a wonderful service to offer them.
Walt Disney: An American Original should be read by anyone inspiring to become an entrepreneur or business leader. Things may not always be easy but as this book plainly details, you may have your ups and downs, but if you believe in your product and work hard you can succeed.

A true original
This was a thoroughly riveting and revealing insight to the great man and his dream.

Awesome Book
I just finished reading this book and thought it was absolutely fantastic. It takes you through the life of Walt and his associates as he/they make 'Disney' a household name. The author speaks of the struggles and triumphs along the way. It was interesting to read how many failures he had before becoming successful. This book traces the origins of Mickey Mouse, many of the GREAT Disney films, and, of course, Disneyland. There's a lot of personal stuff. It starts with his father's birth and works it's way to that sad day when Walt passed away. I found the Disneyland part to be some of the most interesting. Honestly, I found this book to be so entertaining that I read it in a few days. After reading, you will understand why Walt Disney is/was such a great man. This book doesn't sugar-coat the truth. It's a great and interesting read. I highly recommend this one to all. ... Read more

Book Description

Building on the success of such titles as Toy Story: The Essential Guide and Dinosaur: The Essential Guide, the DK creative team has been given unlimited access to Disney's considerable archives to chart the development of the Disney Company, from its early days in the 1920s to the present. Disney: The Ultimate Guide includes a wealth of images -- from specially photographed memorabilia to familiar scenes from favorite Disney moments -- to create a visual experience of the number one name in family entertainment. Disney's most-loved films are the focus of this charming collectible, but all facets of Disney's universe are represented in this wonderful volume. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

An excellent visual survey
Disney: The Ultimate Visual Guide will make the perfect family Christmas present for families already interested in Disney's wonders. Disney has touched lives for decades: Disney: The Ultimate Visual Guide provides an excellent visual survey of the extent of the animated creator's works and the logical progression of Disney talents and creations. A fine oversized picture book the entire family will enjoy. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

I hope more people read this exciting book.
This book was enjoyable. Marie Hammontree described how a person can be a big success while being a little poor. It shows the ups and downs of Disney's life. She describes what it took to get to the top of his career. This book tells who he was inspired by and how they helped him. She told me his problems in his life and how they were solved. It gave me the puzzle pieces to his life so I could better understand it. All in all I think it was a really informative book. ... Read more

Book Description

When twenty-five-year-old Bob Dylan wrecked his motorcycle near Woodstock in 1966 and dropped out of the public eye, he was already recognized as a genius, a youth idol with an acid wit and a barbwire throat; and Greenwich Village, where he first made his mark, was unquestionably the center of youth culture.

In Positively 4th Street, David Hajdu recounts the emergence of folk music from cult practice to popular and enduring art form as the story of a colorful foursome: not only Dylan but also his part-time lover Joan Baez -- the first voice of the new generation; her sister Mimi -- beautiful, haunted, and an artist in her own right; and Mimi's husband, Richard Fariña, a comic novelist (Been Down So Long It Looks Like Up to Me) who invented the worldly-wise bohemian persona that Dylan adopted -- some say stole -- and made his own.

A national bestseller in hardcover, acclaimed as "one of the best books about music in America" (Jonathan Yardley, The Washington Post), Positively 4th Street is that rare book with a new story to tell about the 1960s -- about how the decade and all that it is now associated with were created in a fit of collective inspiration, with an energy and creativity that David Hajdu has captured on the page as if for the first time.
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Reviews (47)

The Spirit Got: a Masterly Job
This is the best book about Bob Dylan I've read. It does not oversimplify, glorify, or disdain the work or the man. Its appraisals of Dylan (and Richard Farina, although Hadju isn't detailed or pointed enough on his novel *Been Down So Long It Looks Like Up to Me*) and entourage seem just, convincingly contextualized, and informed by an understanding of music and the recording business. The contrasts between Farina and Dylan, Joan Baez and her sister, Eric von Schmidt and Mark Spoelstra illuminate each of these figures. Anecdotes are recounted with verve and detachment, and, if the music doesn't give Hadju as much to say as it did in his biography of Bill Strayhorn, the feeling of the times comes through just as vividly--the creativity and the squalor, with the commercial accomplishments of Dylan et. al. the focus through which greater triumphs shine.

Hadju writes gracefully, has come up with new material (and I know a lot of his primary sources), and sensibly has limited the time frame from from 1961-1966. For me, as I said in my notice of Howard Sounes' Dylan biography, this is the key epoch for Dylan, so he's writing to my own prejudices, but the restricted five year scope means that although Hadju's claims may appear limited, he delivers more than he claims to, exploring the interplay of market expectation and aesthetic drive, the connection between audience and internal inspiration, and the great extent to which apparently arbitrary and unconscious decisions emerge as central for an artist and his audience. It's the one book one must read if one is interested in this era and this music, and probably it would appeal even to persons not interested in it.

It's what we wanted to know at time.
I loved this book, relished every word. This is a period book and it appeals to me. At 59 I watched Elvis on Ed Sullivan and fell into Rock 'n Roll like millions others. But it became tiresome and Folk was a wonderful diversion, as was jazz. More, folk was a gentle way to awaken my innocent, self-absorbed, mind. Joan was the leader of the pack. When I heard Dylan I could not stand him until my cousin said "listen to the words." I was hooked and bought his previous album the next day. I was a full-time student working very hard with little spare time, no TV, and almost no disposable income. All of it went to Dylan albums. Half the fun was the anticipation of the next one; they were all so different. For me Dylan shocked me out of naivity in a way Joan Baez could never do. But I never left folk music, nor jazz, and never felt Dylan betrayed us when he went to a rock style. Mimi and Richard Farina were enigmatic, almost unknown, but I remember being very curious about them.
What was missing was any useful information on my heros. I was totally taken in by them all, deeply impressed and envious of their writing and guitar playing ability. I wanted to know more about them. Almost 40 years later Hadju came through.
The book is not gossip. It describes the lives of four people who made a huge impact on my life and on that of millions of others. Largely due to their music our generation awoke from the '50s, found an alternative to tepid, commercial rock, understood that "cruel wars" were the fact (as opposed to us simply being WWII heros), that there really were "masters of war" on their way to waging another one, that racisim was far more ugly than I understood, and I was receiving the benefits of industrial imperialism exploiting poverty in other countries (like bananas and who knows what else).
I wanted to know about my heros. Hadju told me. Thank you David Hadju!

like a rolling stone
I don't remember who recommended this book to me but I'm glad I gave it a chance. While I'm a casual Bob Dylan fan, I was unfamiliar with the Baez sisters and Richard Farina and I found it captivating. A very quick read for me. David Hajdu paints the early 60's folk scene, in rich detail, through the lives of these extraordinary musicians and poets. You really get a feel of the subculture and the importance of the music and the words these artist used to represent their views of the world.

I enjoyed it so much that I'm sorry its finished. I might read it again someday - it was such a joy. Now - time to acquire all of this influential music!

A great starting point to learn about the '60's Folk revival
Positively 4th Street was a thoroughly entertaining glimpse at the early '60's Folk scene, focusing on the four characters in the subtitle. This book is not restricted to Baez, Dylan, and the Farinas though. it includes many other individuals who were either in that circle or knew of it.
Hajdu has done his research well. My only complaint is that the dialogue shifts and it takes a moment or two to refocus on what is going on. I particularly enjoyed learning about the other folk people, and that has encouraged me to delve into the works of other musicians; some good, some not so good. I am enjoying a collection of the Farinas work, and have started to read Farinas book, "Been Down so Long, Looks Like up to Me". I learned things about Dylan and Baez that I never knew before, despite being a fan of both and following their careers from the early days on. Hajdu has written a book that makes you want to learn more. Anything that encourages more reading is certainly a good thing!

I highly recommend this book.

farina and dylan with the baez's
a very specific subject of the relationship of joan and mimi baez with the two early loves of their lives during the 60's. an interesting book that details the rise of dylan in accordance with the already established career of joan baez and the disappointment she felt when he left her to move on by himself without her anymore. ... Read more

Amazon.com

One would not anticipate a conventional memoir from Bob Dylan--indeed, one would not have foreseen an autobiography at all from the pen of the notoriously private legend. What Chronicles: Volume 1 delivers is an odd but ultimately illuminating memoir that is as impulsive, eccentric, and inspired as Dylan's greatest music.

Eschewing chronology and skipping over most of the "highlights" that his many biographers have assigned him, Dylan drifts and rambles through his tale, amplifying a series of major and minor epiphanies. If you're interested in a behind-the-scenes look at his encounters with the Beatles, look elsewhere. Dylan describes the sensation of hearing the group's "Do You Want to Know a Secret" on the radio, but devotes far more ink to a Louisiana shopkeeper named Sun Pie, who tells him, "I think all the good in the world might already been done" and sells him a World's Greatest Grandpa bumper sticker. Dylan certainly sticks to his own agenda--a newspaper article about journeymen heavyweights Jerry Quarry and Jimmy Ellis and soul singer Joe Tex's appearance on The Tonight Show inspire heartfelt musings, and yet the 1963 assassination of John Kennedy prompts nary a word from the era's greatest protest singer.

For all the small revelations (it turns out he's been a big fan of Barry Goldwater, Mickey Rourke, and Ice-T), there are eye-opening disclosures, including his confession that a large portion of his recorded output was designed to alienate his audience and free him from the burden of being a "the voice of a generation."

Off the beaten path as it is, Chronicles is nevertheless an astonishing achievement. As revelatory in its own way as Blonde on Blonde or Highway 61 Revisited, it provides ephemeral insights into the mind one of the most significant artistic voices of the 20th century while creating a completely new set of mysteries. --Steven Stolder ... Read more

Reviews (170)

just a singer in a rock and roll band
A wonderful book! It reads like poetry. Dylan insists he is not a prophet, not a spokesman, not a visionary, but just some guy writing and singing songs. We, who grew up in the 60s and 70s, know that just isn't true. He may possibly be insane but he sees things more clearly than the rest of us. Much like many great painters have had poor eyesight, enabling them to see things more true than they are. A perfect example of Dylan's strange gift is a part where after pages of describing the musical advantages of using an "odd numerical system" (versus even numerical system) and diatonic scale as well as pentatonic scale in musical notation, he tells us he is not really good at math or reading music. He is and has always been a great story teller.

From the Founder of the All-Music Guide

I came up through the same folk scene as Dylan, and at the same time. We are both the same age. Back in 1961, Bob Dylan, an incredible guitar instrumentalist named Perry Lederman, and myself hitchhiked together for a spell. This was around the time that Dylan was squaring of with Danny Kalb at Gerde's Folk City in New York. Later, I helped to organize Dylan's first concert in Ann Arbor, Michigan, my home town. So that is my background.

I have not seen Dylan since that time, but like many of us, I have often wondered after the spiritual welfare of our bard. Is he still intact? And, as an experienced editor, I was more than a little interested to see what he had written, afraid of what I might find. I had no idea.

The short answer is yes, he is alive and doing well. Some of this book is a running account of the times and Dylan's personal history, complete with descriptive prose, at times bordering on the poetical. Nothing earthshaking here, and were this the only thing the book offered, I would have left disappointed. But there is more, and most important, there is what I had hoped to find, signs that Dylan's incredible laser-like mind is still active.

You can't see much of this in the historical recount. Where it shines out is in the Chapter "Oh Mercy," where Dylan details how he re-took hold of himself during what looked like a massive downhill slide of self-confidence, and with a few injections of eternity, turned his performing career around. Better yet, is the INCREDIBLE account of his New Orleans recording session, going into blazing detail on how almost every song was recorded. This is sheer poetry to my ears, not because I could follow everything he was laying down, but because his clarity and love of music comes across like a lightning. This is the Dylan I knew and the one all these years I hoped was still in there. I wish ALL the book was like this.

After years of wondering whether Dylan had more or less passed on, but while still was living, I am gratified to see that he is alive, well, and still walking point. I am reminded of something I wrote about Dylan some years ago in an article called"Grant Green: The Groove Master," which this book has just helped to confirm:

"To get your attention and make clear that I am saying something here, consider the singing voice of Bob Dylan. A lot of people used to say the guy can't sing. But that's not it. He is singing. The problem is that he is singing so far in the future that we can't yet hear the music. I can assure you he is there. I have heard it. Given enough time... enough years... that gravel voice will sound as sweet to our ears as any velvet-toned singer. Dylan's voice is all about microtones and inflection. For now Dylan's voice is hidden in time so tight that there is no room (no time) to hear it. Some folks can hear it now. Someday everyone will have to hear it, because the mind will unfold itself until even Dylan's voice is exposed for just what it is -- a pure music. But by then our idea of music will also have changed. Rap is changing it even now."

A rare glimpse into the mind of a visionary
Much has been written about this book since it came out.One thing is for sure: a true biography it's not.It's equal parts fiction and myth blended seamlessly with actual events in Dylan's life and career. A lot of what he talks about in the book is embellished, made up, and written for effect.Having said that, it does provide many nuggets of insight viewed from his own perspective.Maybe the most fascinating thing is the way he describes his relationship with his own songs as he recorded them, and over the years.One wonders whether every songwriter has this type of relationship with their songs.He talks about the importance of privacy and family life.Privacy he still maintains to this day.Family life? Considering he's on the "never ending" tour, and spends several hundred days year after year on the road, there can't be much family life left.I've been a Dylan fan for most of my life, but reading this book made me go back and revisit gems like "Oh Mercy" and "Infidels" and appreciate them in a new light. One reviewer here said you get the impression he's just a "regular guy".There's nothing "regular" about this guy. He's nothing short of one of the greatest artists of all time, let alone alive today. We're all fortunate to be alive at the same time as him.Once he's gone, our grandkids will ask "so...did you ever get a chance to see Bob Dylan?"

"Twas in another lifetime ...
...one of toil and blood."How different the world was in 1962.Mr. Dylan did not invent rock'n'roll hipness from talking too much, but from saying so little, and this impressionistic memoir is proof he's still not revealing much. Bobby Vee, Frank Sinatra Jr. and Tiny Tim are not necessarily the first characters Mr. Dylan's audience associate with the legend, which leads many disappointed readers to assume that this is an attempt to obscure rather than to clarify. But so what? At this late date Mr. Dylan has his biographers to set the story straight -- let's assume his own words still mean just what they say and that the created legend was a confusing mix of false starts and stops, confidence and insecurities, and extemporized recording sessions.

Why not? No one creates their own legend out of whole cloth -- it depends on the willing suspension of belief in his audience, and it's helped along by a publicity department that values Mr. Dylan's own unwillingness to open his mouth about what the words mean. That's what the lyrics are for in the first place.

Still, that doesn't mean that "Chronicles" isn't a put-on, a put-down or intentionally arcane."Bob Dylan" is still his own bestcharacter. The book succeeds best in conveying the singer's own doubts about himself. Mr. Dylan's selective memory is certainly not a generation's collective one, and why should it be? The book reads like an overheard monologue, a man on the porch remembering bits and pieces of the past: this happened, oh yes, and then this. That's not to say that Mr. Dylan isn't a sly dissembler (he can be) or that the great stories are waiting in volume two (they're probably not). But it's akin to discovering one's hero still puts his pants on one leg at a time -- disappointing, but what does one expect? Ambrose Bierce defines the imagination as "a warehouse of facts, with poet and liar in joint ownership." I'll bet Mr. Bierce never had anyone yell out "Judas!" after him, though.

Yes, a very good read
Insightful into the workings of the mind of a professional songwriter and stage performer. One of the most interesting, amusing and entertaining books I have ever read. It has been years since I have begun reading a book and realized that I was looking forward to the author's next book long before finishing the first. Mr. Dylan has a grasp of American English beyond that of most mortals. His observations of pre Civil War history will awaken one's interests in all things common to the American condition and spirit (pp. 83 through 86 - hardcover). The only fault found might be that Mr. Dylan's ideas flow too easily and too quickly to simply absorb in a single sitting. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The Dalai Lama's autobiography should leave no one in doubt of his humility and genuine compassion. Written without the slightest hint of pretense, the exiled leader of Tibet recounts his life, from the time he was whisked away from his home in 1939 at the age of 4, to his treacherous escape from Tibet in 1959, to his winning of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989. The backdrop of the story is the 1950 Chinese invasion of Tibet. He calmly relates details of imprisonment, torture, rape, famine, ecological disaster, and genocide that under four decades of Chinese rule have left 1.25 million Tibetans dead and the Tibetan natural and religious landscapes decimated. Yet the Dalai Lama's story is strangely one of hope. This man who prays for four hours a day harbors no ill will toward the Chinese and sees the potential for good everywhere he casts his gaze. Someday, he hopes, all of Tibet will be a zone of peace and the world's largest nature preserve. Such optimism is not naive but rather a result of his daily studies in Buddhist philosophy and his doctrine of Universal Responsibility. Inspiring in every way, Freedom in Exile is both a historical document and a fable of deepest trust in humanity. --Brian Bruya ... Read more

Reviews (31)

Must read to understand the man...
At a time when so much attention is directed toward China and her brutalities, this book is a breath of fresh air.

From a playful, joke playing youngster to a determined, hopeful spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama is truly the most transcendental leader in the world today. At a time when most anyone would've given up, his perserverence and hope is a true inspiratioin for us all. The reader is not merely reading an account by account of the events in the Lama's life, but actually reliving and absorbing them. At times you are laughing at the Lama's sense of humor, other times you feel the Lama's pain when driven out of his homeland.

The Dalai Lama's hope for the future is one we all need to understand, and inspire ourselves to better not only our conditions, but of those millions around the world whose conditions are worse than our own.

Moving and well written
The story of the Dalai Lama and his people as told by His Holiness is charmingly written. (He uses words like 'whilst and amongst'.)

We follow the very young playful boy from his very modest home in the Tibetian province of Amdo to the capital of Lhasa where his education as a Buddhist monk begins. He relates much detail about the rich culture and beauty of Tibet; however he is honest about it's isolation and failure to keep up with a more modern world.

As he tells of the miliary and political struggle with China, one can almost feel the tension mount. The account of his escape into exile is exciting, yet sad. The destruction of Tibet, the atrocities upon its people, and the genocide still being committed there is more than sad. Yet, the Dalai Lama does not hate. He has compassion even for those who have caused the suffering of the Tibetian people.

Great book. I recommend it.

Hearbreaking
Knowing nothing at all about His Holiness The Dalai Lama or Tibet/China relations I was eager to learn more. As a convert from Catholicisim to Buddhism, I was pleased to read that the Dalai Lama considers himself to be just a regular human, who was chosen to fulfill a specific role. After reading this book, you get the sense that he would be a very pleasant person to talk with.
On the downside, I was absolutely shocked to read about what the Chinese Government has done to Tibet and its people. Tibet is a peace loving country and to be in the army, was the lowest form of life. A 17 point 'agreement' was drawn up by the Chinese for Tibet. Members of the Tibetan delegation were forced under duress to sign the agreement and phony Tibetan state seals were used. Large Tibetan estates were confiscated and redistributed by the Chinese. After monks and nuns were arrested, they were forced, in public, to break their vows of celibacy with one another and even to kill people.
The Tibetan Freedom Fighters were no match for the Chinese army. Besides using bombers to obliterate towns and villages, the Chinese army also crucified, disembowelled, beheaded and buried many Tibetans alive. In order to prevent Tibetans from giving praise to the Dalai Lama on their way to execution, the Chinese tore out their tongues with meat hooks.
It was really disheartening to read about what happened to these people. I think this is a book that everyone at some point needs to read. It really opened my eyes.

Great Book
This was the first book I had ever read by (or about) the Dalai Lama. I thought it was a great introduction to his life and his way of thinking. Overall I thought this was a great book. I think everyone should read it.

Free from the gilded cage -- but at what cost.
Not long ago, the question was posed to His Holiness the Dalai Lama as to why he penned his autobiography -- Freedom in Exile. To this query he responded with: 'I am human being who had quite a lot of sad situation, yet my mental health seems not bad. I think some people might find some idea [in my tale], some small contribution for inner peace, for happiness.' The story starts in a small village in the roof of the world at an altitude of 3 miles deep in Eastern Tibet... Lhamo Thondup was only 2 when the monks came to fetch him 1937. The search party waltz right into his peasant parents' farmhouse and things were never the same again. Lhamo Thondup was eventually taken away to Lhasa -- the fabled capital in the Land of the Snows. He was God - recognized through the a dozen omens - skeptics will always question - (a) the way the head of the recently deceased 13th Dalai Lama had turned in its coffin toward the east, (b) the direction of the boy's home, and (3) the vision of the child's very house seen in the lake of Lhamo Lhatso by a Reting Rinpoche. When the young Lhamo was escorted to the late 13th Dalai Lama's room at the summer palace in Norbulingka, the toddler allegedly motioned toward a little case and announced nonchalantly, 'My teeth are in there.' To the amazement of the accompanying monks a set of the late 13th false teeth were contained therein.

The Dalai Lama told Newsweek, 'Exile has made me tougher.' Moreover, according to his younger brother Tenzin Choegyal, exile has 'enabled him [the Dalai Lama] to realize his full potential.' This achievement did have a price -- in the Potala, His Holiness the Dalai Lama was both secluded and isolated. If one positive thing has resulted from his having to depart Tibet, was that he was brought closer to the plight of his own people and the rest of the world. Tenzin Gyatso, now the 14th Dalai Lama was given the chance to see things as they really are. In 'Freedom in Exile' the message becomes a universal one - one that transcends a locality and that is what makes this book so compelling and necessary. From being the most secluded leader of the modern world, the 14th Dalai Lama is now among the most traveled, most celebrated and best known. The humble figure in maroon robes has become the locus of attention for the world's angst about Chinese authoritarianism and ideological expansion. The situation of the Tibetans - as penned by the Dalai Lama in 'Freedom in Exile' is proof positive that despite Mao's utterances that 'Religion is Poison' - we are left thinking perhaps the reverse is true - 'Non-Religion is Poison'.

Ironically, this is not the role to which he was born. The Dalai Lama not have mixed with ordinary people in Tibet if it had not been for the Chinese invasion. I guess this statement may never be proven true nor false as it hinges on pure speculation. In 'Freedom in Exile' the Dalai Lama does allude to the need form change j-but not at the pace and form that the Chinese used. As he outlines in his autobiography, 'Freedom in Exile,' on the rare occasions he left his official residence -- the cold 1,000-room Potala palace in Lhasa -- he moved past his minions on a yellow silk palanquin, pulled by 20 army officers in green cloaks and red hats and surrounded by hundreds of men: monks and musicians, sword-wielding horsemen and 'porters carrying my songbirds in cages and my personal belongings all wrapped in yellow silk.' To ensure the people didn't get too near, the monastic police encircled the whole entourage. 'In their hands they carried long whips, which they would not hesitate to use,' he wrote. Sad for one so attuned now to the needs of his people.

The country over which he ruled was a land of people who believed the Buddha's tenet that one's action in this life determines one's fate in the next. Since the establishment of Buddhism as Tibet's chief religion in the eighth century, parents had inculcated into their children that all life, animal and human, is sacred. 'I have never seen less evidence of hatred, envy, malice and uncharitableness [than in Tibet],' penned Hugh Richardson, British India's trade consul to the remote nation in the 1940s. However, that peace in the 'Rooftop of the World' was violently destroyed when in 1950, 84,000 PLA troops launched a dawn offensive against six different positions along the border. According to his account, in 1959, the Dalai Lama, by then age 24, fled for his life through the snow across 17,000-foot Himalayan passes into India in an effort to preserve his nation, his people and his heritage. Since then, he has lived in the Indian mountain village of Dharamsala, the capital of the Tibetan government-in-exile. The book is full of references to a man with a sense of purpose -- rising at 4 a.m. daily to meditate, meet with cabinet members and refugees and pursue worldly interests that include Western neurobiology and physics.

Miguel Llora ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Great Disney Book Loaded With Photos and Info !!
This 213 page book is just full of an endless supply of full color photos of everything Disney for the past 100 years. You'll learn all about Walt's early life and how his ideas created worldwide Disney worlds. Each chapter covers a decade from 1901 to 2001 !! Many of these pictures are archival and never made available before. The book provides many memories for "children" of all ages. It's a keeper. Enjoy !

No details
This is a great book about Disney Company. It goes chronologically from 1901 to 1999 and beyond. Every event in the company's history is put in the book, but without much detail.
Since he maintains Disney Archives, Dave Smith could have done a litle better, like he did with Disney's Encyclopedia.

Excellent
This book was excellent! It had terrific pictures and it told from 1901 when Walt was born until 2001. It is a great keepsake. I purchased mine at Walt Disney World during the 100 Years of Magic celebration.

An excellent overview of Walt¿s life and of the Disney Co
I really enjoyed this book. It is packed with lots of great photographs and artwork from Walt Disney and the Disney Company. It also has a really nice overview of the life of Walt Disney and the work of the Disney Company in text.

I appreciated the organization of the book. The book is arranged chronologically, which helped me to understand the flow of events better. This book has a very upbeat, positive tone and paints a very bright and exciting future for the Disney Company.

This book does not contain nearly as much information about Walt Disney as some of the biographies that I have read, but I don't think that was the goal of this book. This book does a very nice job of chronicling the art and the work of this great American icon and then continues the chronology with the work of the Disney Company in the post Walt era.

This book starts with very early Disney and takes the reader all the way through to Fantasia 2000. This is an excellent coffee table book. I highly recommended it to anyone that loves Walt, his work and the continuing work of the Disney Company.

Excellent!!!
Here is the definite Disney chronicle of the century, put together by the world's leading authority on everything Disney - Dave Smith, and his fellow-writer Steven Clark. Follow the fabulous story of Walt Disney and his magic empire year by year, from its humble beginnings in the American Midwest up to its present ever-expanding days. "Disney: the First 100 Years" is a well-written, informative and fun book to read. You get the entire story of the Disney Company on 198 pages (filled with great photos), and will undoubtedly find it fascinating. This book is a must-have for anyone who likes Disney, and honestly - who doesn't? I really recommend this one - buy it! ... Read more