I just got Neil Gablers book and Bob Thomas`s book for my birthday. Which one should I read first?
-
Welcome to the WDWMAGIC.COM Forums!
Please take a look around, and feel free to sign up and join the community.
Which one should I read first?
- Thread starter Grumpy-Fan
- Start date
donniedisney
Member
Thomas avoids the strike and everything else that would make Walt look anything less than perfect.
Gabler thinks he's the greatest writer ever and likes to make accusations that Walt was a terrible husband and last time i checked he didn't interview lillian for his book.
I'd find a copy of How to be like Walt then read the other 2....
Gabler thinks he's the greatest writer ever and likes to make accusations that Walt was a terrible husband and last time i checked he didn't interview lillian for his book.
I'd find a copy of How to be like Walt then read the other 2....
jessicaj
Member
I agee, I really like How To Be Like Walt. I am in the middle of it right now and it is a good read.
I just got through with " How To Be Like Walt " and it is probably the best book I have ever read. I totally enjoyed every page. Now it`s Gabler or Thomas`s book. Which one?
Enderikari
Well-Known Member
Read Bob Thomas' Walt Disney: An American Original first. Then, pick up the sister book Building a Company: Roy O. Disney and the Creation of an Entertainment Empire
And read them both by the candlelight made of Neil Gabler's book
And read them both by the candlelight made of Neil Gabler's book
fizzle75
New Member
I am about 1/3 of the way through Walt Disney:Triumph Of The American Imagination by Neal Gabler and I am thoroughly enjoying it. I wrestled for quite some time over which Walt biography to read because I wanted a good unbiased view of the "real" Walt. The general consensus is that Gabler's book is the best and most accurate account of Walt's life although I do feel that, like another poster said, Mr. Gabler seems to go out of his way to paint Walt in a negative light on occasion and he seems to do a fair amount of assumption in regards to Walt's motives. Overall though, at least based on what little bit I've read so far, Gabler's book gives a well rounded view of the man behind the myth.
I'm really enjoying this book but it has shattered my "idea" of who Walt was and I can't help but wonder if I'm truly reading the most unbiased biography of one of my lifelong heroes.
One of the things that Gabler makes a major point of emphasizing is that Walt was not the family man that we all assume he was, he is quick to point out that Walt was a loving and devoted father but makes it seem like Walt and Lillian could hardly stand each other.
I realize that Walt, just like the rest of us, was far from perfect but some of Gabler's "facts" just seem downright mean spirited with the sole intent of deflating the world's view of Walt. Despite my qualms, I'm still really enjoying Gabler's book and I highly recommend it.
So, which Walt biography do YOU think is the best, and why?
I'm really enjoying this book but it has shattered my "idea" of who Walt was and I can't help but wonder if I'm truly reading the most unbiased biography of one of my lifelong heroes.
One of the things that Gabler makes a major point of emphasizing is that Walt was not the family man that we all assume he was, he is quick to point out that Walt was a loving and devoted father but makes it seem like Walt and Lillian could hardly stand each other.
I realize that Walt, just like the rest of us, was far from perfect but some of Gabler's "facts" just seem downright mean spirited with the sole intent of deflating the world's view of Walt. Despite my qualms, I'm still really enjoying Gabler's book and I highly recommend it.
So, which Walt biography do YOU think is the best, and why?
wvdisneyfamily
Well-Known Member
I'm reading the Gabler book. It is very enjoyable in terms of what you learn about Walt's life. Sometimes it paints Walt in a negative light. It seems like he goes overboard in trying to be unbiased.
Red devil
Member
I would read Gablers book first. I have read them both and I liked Gabler's better, although I do agree with many of the posters that said that he goes a bit far in portraying Walt in a bad light in some cases, and he also does treat many of his opinions as fact. However it is still a very in depth well rounded book that porvides some insight into Walt's life.
Gabler's book tends to paint Walt with a more negative brush while Thomas's book tends to be a bit more on the positive side. I am sure the truth is somewhere in the middle. Read both to get a good cross section of events and viewpoints about Walt but remember that there will probably never be a complete and difinitive biography on Walt Disney.
Gabler's book tends to paint Walt with a more negative brush while Thomas's book tends to be a bit more on the positive side. I am sure the truth is somewhere in the middle. Read both to get a good cross section of events and viewpoints about Walt but remember that there will probably never be a complete and difinitive biography on Walt Disney.
KeeKee
Well-Known Member
I've read both books, as well, but don't think that Gabler goes out of his way to make Walt look negative. He just doesn't write with the glowing adoration that a lot of "pro" Disney authors do, which by comparison, might be construed as trying to make Walt out as somewhat negative.
What you do get in the Gabler book is a look at Walt the human being. He's just like us - imperfect with less than stellar relationships sometimes and making a mistake here or there.
The Thomas book is much more of a fan-letter about Disney than an unbiased biographym, but good nonetheless.
They are both wonderful books, and it will be time well spent reading both of them.
What you do get in the Gabler book is a look at Walt the human being. He's just like us - imperfect with less than stellar relationships sometimes and making a mistake here or there.
The Thomas book is much more of a fan-letter about Disney than an unbiased biographym, but good nonetheless.
They are both wonderful books, and it will be time well spent reading both of them.
donniedisney
Member
Diane Disney-Miller is really mad that they sell the Gabler book in the parks.
Read Hollywoods Dark Prince if you want the most ridiculious Walt book on the planet....
Read Hollywoods Dark Prince if you want the most ridiculious Walt book on the planet....
fizzle75
New Member
I'm not disputing your word but just out of curiosity, where did you hear/read this? Do you have a link by chance?
For the record, I'm enjoying the Gabler book more and more. I'm about halfway through the chapter entitled The Cult. After I finish Gabler's book I fully intend to purchase and read Walt Disney, An American Original.
donniedisney
Member
This is from Wikipedia:
Animation historian Michael Barrier reports Miller in August of 2007 sent a fax to a number of executives at the Walt Disney Company, denouncing Neal Gabler's biography of Walt Disney published in 2006 Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination as "a monstrous piece of libelous junk. My parents were not the people he creates in this book, and I cannot understand why all of you who aided and abetted Gabler in writing this book, and who praise it and promote it, can do so without suffering serious qualms."[
The Bob Thomas book is good but i still suggest "how to be like Walt" before it.