Good Books?

[HHI Surfer]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/06...795951/ref=sr_1_3/103-1610408-7831044?ie=UTF8The Gospel According to Disney: Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust is very interesting from a spiritual perspective

 

[Enderikari]

The best book for the creation of the Disney Company, and Walt Disney World, with more of a focus on the business side of things is a book called

Building a Company: Roy O. Disney and the Creation of an Entertainment Empire by Bob Thomas

 

[cloudboy]

Mr Toad or anyone who has it - could you comment on this book, I enjoyed the John Hench Book so I am most curious about this one but the steep $70 price has held me back form purchasing it. TIA

Totally different book. Don't get me wrong - I love Hench's work, and his book did have a lot of insight, but Designing Disney's Theme Parks is in a completely different class. Much more in depth, and it really looks at it from a more architectural and design standpoint. It's not as easy to read as the book about Hench, and I dare say a little more critical (but not very).

Keep in mind it is actually a collection of a few different writings from various authors. One that I found most interesting was the short piece at the end talking with Frank Gehry.

 

[AEfx]

I'm glad to see this thread. I was thinking of starting one on this subject myself.

Several years ago, I discovered in my college's library a book on the making of Disneyland. It was incredibly fascinating. I just wish I could remember the title.

Was it "The Disneyland Story" by Randy Bright? Nice coffee-table sized book, with tons and tons of pictures and along with pretty dense text?

If that was it, it's an amazing book. I've had it since I was a kid, and I'm so glad I still have it - it's among the rarest of Disney books and regularly sells for over $200. I've spent many, many hours reading through that book and pouring over the pictures - it's probably the one material thing I'd grab if I were leaving the house in a fire.

The best book for the creation of the Disney Company, and Walt Disney World, with more of a focus on the business side of things is a book called

Building a Company: Roy O. Disney and the Creation of an Entertainment Empire by Bob Thomas

I've read Thomas' Walt bio a long time ago, but didn't know he did one on Roy as well. Will have to pick this one up. Thomas is a rather thorough biographer - his Hollywood biographies of Irving Thalberg, Jack Warner, and Joan Crawford are all classics.

AEfx

 

[ZambeziZelda]

I can't believe nobody has said The Disney World Trivia Book Volumes I and II by Lou Mongello. They're great, and purely fun.

 

[BCNHF]

Hate to bump this but I was in my local book store today and they had a copy of the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2007 out (a full 5 days early, heh). So if anyone wants to know something let me know and i'll look it up

 

[PintoColvig]

Expanding this topic even further, does anyone have any recommendations on podcasts that deal specifically with wdw history and/or trivia?

 

[jeffb]

Was it "The Disneyland Story" by Randy Bright? Nice coffee-table sized book, with tons and tons of pictures and along with pretty dense text?

If that was it, it's an amazing book. I've had it since I was a kid, and I'm so glad I still have it - it's among the rarest of Disney books and regularly sells for over $200. I've spent many, many hours reading through that book and pouring over the pictures - it's probably the one material thing I'd grab if I were leaving the house in a fire.

AEfx

I agree - the Randy Bright book is excellent, my local library has it, I probably take it out 4 + times a year.

 

[jeffb]

Totally different book. Don't get me wrong - I love Hench's work, and his book did have a lot of insight, but Designing Disney's Theme Parks is in a completely different class. Much more in depth, and it really looks at it from a more architectural and design standpoint. It's not as easy to read as the book about Hench, and I dare say a little more critical (but not very).

Keep in mind it is actually a collection of a few different writings from various authors. One that I found most interesting was the short piece at the end talking with Frank Gehry.

Cloudboy - thanks for the insight. I will have to try to find a reasonably priced copy of this. Disney design and architecture particulary from the 70s and early 80s are pretty close to the top of what fanscinates me the most about WDW