Walt Disney
by Neal Gabler · first published 2006
88% recommend13% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Detailed biography of Walt Disney that shows how his whims, passion and vision shaped the studio and its animation; recommended for readers curious about entertainment history and business innovation.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
The definitive portrait of one of the most important cultural figures in American history. Walt Disney was a true visionary whose desire for escape, iron determination and obsessive perfectionism transformed animation from a novelty to an art form, first with Mickey Mouse and then with his feature films--most notably Snow White, Fantasia, and Bambi. In his superb biography, Neal Gabler shows us how, over the course of two decades, Disney revolutionized the entertainment industry. In a way that was unprecedented and later widely imitated, he built a synergistic empire that combined film, telev
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…perspective on management "How Buildings Learn" by Stewart Brand One of the best books about designing long-term architectures. Excellent coffee table book "Envisioning Information" by Edward Tufte "Walt Disney" by Neal Gabler Excellent biography of maybe the greatest imagineer ever "The Art of Software Testing" by Glenford J. Myers ~100 page classic. The central premise is that the successful test is one…
on “Ask YC: What would you put on a hacker's bookshelf?” ↗"How Buildings Learn: What happens after they're built" by Stewart Brand (ok, it's about systems and software arch) "Walt Disney: Triumph of the American Imagination" by Neal Gabler (This is awesome because the 1st third is about his multiple failures) Any David Macaulay book (breathtaking deconstruction construction) Any book…
on “Ask HN: Interesting (Non software) books?” ↗…life. "Giant Steps: The Remarkable Story of the Goliath Expedition From Punta Arenas to Russia" by Karl Bushby Unbelievable what it feels like to just take off... http://www.amazon.com/dp/0751536954 "Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination" The first third of the book is remarkable in that Walt Disney constantly struggles with failure. http://www.amazon.com/dp/0679757473 "Swimming to Antarctica:…
on “Ask HN: What literature do you read?” ↗…Edison by Edmund Morris (Just read it backwards, you'll see.) - Titan: The Life of John D. Rockefeller, Sr. by Ron Chernow - The People's Tycoon: Henry Ford and the American Century by Steven Watts - Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination by Neal Gabler I also got some interesting suggestions asking a similar question on Twitter a bit ago. https://twitter.com/eatonphil/status/1668625835350454273
on “Ask HN: Good Books on the History of Technology?” ↗…Germany at War by William Manchester -Edison by Edmund Morris -Titan: The Life of John D. Rockefeller, Sr. by Ron Chernow -The People's Tycoon: Henry Ford and the American Century by Steven Watts -Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination by Neal Gabler -The Victorian Internet by Tom Standage -The Information: A History, A Theory, A Flood by James Gleick -Dealers of Lightning: Xerox PARC and…
on “Ask HN: Good Books on the History of Technology?” ↗“Walt Disney” by Neal Gabler. The man was reinventing himself through his life. Disney is sort nowadays stereotypical corporate americana but by god, it actually was started by the whims, passion, skill & vision of…
on “Ask HN: Books about people who did hard things” ↗…Buddy Levy - Hernán Cortés and the Aztecs. 18. Cadillac Desert by Marc Reisner - Water infrastructure in the American West. 19. The Wright Brothers by David McCullough - The invention of flight. 20. Walt Disney by Neal Gabler - Vision and innovation in entertainment. 21. Tuxedo Park by Jennet Conant - Invention of radar. 22. Insisting on the Impossible - Edwin Land and instant photography. 23. The Logic of…
on “Ask HN: Books about people who did hard things” ↗If you enjoyed this, then you might also enjoy 'Grinding It Out' by Ray Kroc, and also 'Walt Disney: Triumph of the American Imagination' by Neal Gabler.
on “The Real Colonel Sanders (2015)” ↗I've read both, and am re-reading the Thomas biography now. I recommend you follow the Gabler version with the Thomas version: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/526061.Walt_Disney I did after reading this article: http://www.michaelbarrier.com/Essays/Diane_On_Gabler/Diane_O...
on “T. Boone Pickens Farewell Letter” ↗Highly recommend Neal Gabler's biography, "Walt Disney: The Triumph of The American Imagination". Fascinating and underpinned by seven years of exhaustive research. The first fifth is about his failures. His failed animation and film companies. The entire…
on “Failed founders don't learn much (show some studies)” ↗If you want to know more about how these animations came to life I highly recommend the biography of Walt Disney by Neal Gabler.
on “Welcome to the Public Domain in 2025” ↗…Sebastian Junger 13. Sapiens A Brief History of Humanity by Yuval Noah Harari 14. This is Water by David Foster Wallace 15. How Not to Be Wrong. The Power of Mathematical Thinking by Jordan Ellenberg 16. Walt Disney By Neal Gabler 17. The Rational Optimist: How Prosperity Evolves by Matt Ridley 18. Contagious: Why Things Catch On by Jonah Berger 19. The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason 20. A Guide to…
on “Ask HN: Books you read in 2016?” ↗