Disney High
The Untold Story of the Rise and Fall of Disney Channel's Tween Empire
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
$0.99/mo first 3 months
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Buy for $20.24
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Lalaine
-
By:
-
Ashley Spencer
About this listen
Long-listed, Amazon.com Best Books of the Year, 2024
This program is read by actor Lalaine, known for her roles in Disney’s Lizzie McGuire, The Disney Channel original movie You Wish, and her role as Kate in the 1999 remake of Annie. It features a foreword and an epilogue read by the author.
The first unauthorized look at the inner workings—and ultimate breakdown—of the Disney Channel machine
For many kids growing up in the 2000s, there was no cultural touchstone more powerful than Disney Channel, the most-watched cable channel in primetime at its peak. Today, it might best be known for introducing the world to talents like Hilary Duff, Raven-Symoné, Zac Efron, Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez, the Jonas Brothers, Demi Lovato, and Zendaya.
It wasn't always destined for greatness: when The Disney Channel launched in 1983, it was a forgotten stepchild within the Walt Disney Company, forever in the shadow of Disney’s more profitable movies and theme parks. But after letting the stars of their Mickey Mouse Club revival—among them Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera, and Ryan Gosling—slip through their fingers, Disney Channel reinvented itself as a powerhouse tween network. In the new millennium, it churned out billions of dollars in original content and triple-threat stars whose careers were almost entirely controlled by the corporation. Suddenly, everyone wanted a piece of the pie—and there were constant clashes between the studio, network, labels, and creatives as Disney Channel became a pressure cooker of perfection for its stars.
From private feuds and on-set disasters, to fanfare that swept the nation and the realities of child stardom, culture journalist Ashley Spencer offers the inside story of the heyday of TV’s House of Mouse, featuring hundreds of exclusive new interviews with former Disney executives, creatives, and celebrities to explore the highs, lows, and everything in between.
A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin’s Press.
©2024 Ashley Spencer (P)2024 Macmillan AudioListeners also enjoyed...
-
Over the Influence
- A Memoir
- By: Joanna "JoJo" Levesque
- Narrated by: Joanna "JoJo" Levesque
- Length: 9 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Signed to a major recording deal at just 12 years old, JoJo catapulted to the top of the pop-and-R&B-infused charts in the mid 2000's. The relatability of her youth and the appeal of her cool-girl mystique earned her millions of fans around the world. JoJo was an undeniable superstar and pop culture fixture, spanning roles in major studio films, omnipresence on Top 40 radio, frequenting magazine covers, and appearing on national TV. Then, out of the blue, everything came to a halt and JoJo seemingly stepped out of the spotlight, leaving many fans to wonder: What happened to JoJo?
-
-
Deeply Moving and Relatable in Ways You Might Not Expect
- By rosey on 09-25-24
-
The Bookshop
- A History of the American Bookstore
- By: Evan Friss
- Narrated by: Jay Myers
- Length: 10 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Bookstores have always been unlike any other kind of store, shaping readers and writers, and influencing our tastes, thoughts, and politics. They nurture local communities while creating new ones of their own. Bookshops are powerful spaces, but they are also endangered ones. In The Bookshop, we see those stakes: what has been, and what might be lost. Evan Friss’s history of the bookshop draws on oral histories, archival collections, municipal records, diaries, letters, and interviews with leading booksellers to offer a fascinating look at this institution beloved by so many.
-
-
I never knew
- By j_lo_0201 on 01-06-25
By: Evan Friss
-
The Third Gilmore Girl
- A Memoir
- By: Kelly Bishop, Amy Sherman-Palladino - foreword
- Narrated by: Kelly Bishop
- Length: 6 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Kelly Bishop’s long, storied career has been defined by landmark achievements, from winning a Tony Award for her turn in the original Broadway cast of A Chorus Line to her memorable performance as Jennifer Grey’s mother in Dirty Dancing. But it is probably her iconic role as matriarch Emily in the modern classic Gilmore Girls that cemented her legacy. Now, Bishop reflects on her remarkable life and looks towards the future with The Third Gilmore Girl. She shares some of her greatest stories and the life lessons she’s learned on her journey.
-
-
Now that’s a life
- By Stephen Gonzalez on 09-23-24
By: Kelly Bishop, and others
-
Dinner for Vampires
- By: Bethany Joy Lenz
- Narrated by: Bethany Joy Lenz
- Length: 8 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In the early 2000s, after years of hard work and determination to breakthrough as an actor, Bethany Joy Lenz was finally cast as one of the leads on the hit drama One Tree Hill. Her career was about to take off, but her personal life was slowly beginning to unravel. What none of the show’s millions of fans knew, hidden even from her costars, was her secret double life in a cult. An only child who always wanted a place to belong, Lenz found the safe haven she’d been searching for in a Bible study group with other Hollywood creatives. However, the group soon morphed into something more sinister.
-
-
Cult behavior
- By Elizabeth A. Pierce on 10-23-24
By: Bethany Joy Lenz
-
Cue the Sun!
- The Invention of Reality TV
- By: Emily Nussbaum
- Narrated by: Gabra Zackman
- Length: 15 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Who invented reality television, the world’s most dangerous pop-culture genre? And why can’t we look away? In this revelatory, deeply reported account of the rise of “dirty documentary”—from its contentious roots in radio to the ascent of Donald Trump—Emily Nussbaum unearths the origin story of the genre that ate the world, as told through the lively voices of the people who built it. At once gimlet-eyed and empathetic, Cue the Sun! explores the morally charged, funny, and sometimes tragic consequences of the hunt for something real inside something fake.
-
-
Weak, semi-unconnected stories
- By KDN on 07-20-24
By: Emily Nussbaum
-
Heartbreak Is the National Anthem
- How Taylor Swift Reinvented Pop Music
- By: Rob Sheffield
- Narrated by: Rob Sheffield
- Length: 5 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Heartbreak Is the National Anthem: How Taylor Swift Reinvented Pop Music is the first book that goes deep on the musical and cultural impact of Taylor Swift. Nobody can tell the story like Rob Sheffield, the bestselling and award-winning author of Dreaming the Beatles, On Bowie, and Love Is a Mix Tape. The legendary Rolling Stone journalist is the writer who has chronicled Taylor for every step of her long career, from her early days to the Eras Tour. Sheffield gets right to the heart of Swift and her music, her lyrics, her fan connection, her raw power.
-
-
Disappointed
- By Sarah on 11-12-24
By: Rob Sheffield
-
Over the Influence
- A Memoir
- By: Joanna "JoJo" Levesque
- Narrated by: Joanna "JoJo" Levesque
- Length: 9 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Signed to a major recording deal at just 12 years old, JoJo catapulted to the top of the pop-and-R&B-infused charts in the mid 2000's. The relatability of her youth and the appeal of her cool-girl mystique earned her millions of fans around the world. JoJo was an undeniable superstar and pop culture fixture, spanning roles in major studio films, omnipresence on Top 40 radio, frequenting magazine covers, and appearing on national TV. Then, out of the blue, everything came to a halt and JoJo seemingly stepped out of the spotlight, leaving many fans to wonder: What happened to JoJo?
-
-
Deeply Moving and Relatable in Ways You Might Not Expect
- By rosey on 09-25-24
-
The Bookshop
- A History of the American Bookstore
- By: Evan Friss
- Narrated by: Jay Myers
- Length: 10 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Bookstores have always been unlike any other kind of store, shaping readers and writers, and influencing our tastes, thoughts, and politics. They nurture local communities while creating new ones of their own. Bookshops are powerful spaces, but they are also endangered ones. In The Bookshop, we see those stakes: what has been, and what might be lost. Evan Friss’s history of the bookshop draws on oral histories, archival collections, municipal records, diaries, letters, and interviews with leading booksellers to offer a fascinating look at this institution beloved by so many.
-
-
I never knew
- By j_lo_0201 on 01-06-25
By: Evan Friss
-
The Third Gilmore Girl
- A Memoir
- By: Kelly Bishop, Amy Sherman-Palladino - foreword
- Narrated by: Kelly Bishop
- Length: 6 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Kelly Bishop’s long, storied career has been defined by landmark achievements, from winning a Tony Award for her turn in the original Broadway cast of A Chorus Line to her memorable performance as Jennifer Grey’s mother in Dirty Dancing. But it is probably her iconic role as matriarch Emily in the modern classic Gilmore Girls that cemented her legacy. Now, Bishop reflects on her remarkable life and looks towards the future with The Third Gilmore Girl. She shares some of her greatest stories and the life lessons she’s learned on her journey.
-
-
Now that’s a life
- By Stephen Gonzalez on 09-23-24
By: Kelly Bishop, and others
-
Dinner for Vampires
- By: Bethany Joy Lenz
- Narrated by: Bethany Joy Lenz
- Length: 8 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In the early 2000s, after years of hard work and determination to breakthrough as an actor, Bethany Joy Lenz was finally cast as one of the leads on the hit drama One Tree Hill. Her career was about to take off, but her personal life was slowly beginning to unravel. What none of the show’s millions of fans knew, hidden even from her costars, was her secret double life in a cult. An only child who always wanted a place to belong, Lenz found the safe haven she’d been searching for in a Bible study group with other Hollywood creatives. However, the group soon morphed into something more sinister.
-
-
Cult behavior
- By Elizabeth A. Pierce on 10-23-24
By: Bethany Joy Lenz
-
Cue the Sun!
- The Invention of Reality TV
- By: Emily Nussbaum
- Narrated by: Gabra Zackman
- Length: 15 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Who invented reality television, the world’s most dangerous pop-culture genre? And why can’t we look away? In this revelatory, deeply reported account of the rise of “dirty documentary”—from its contentious roots in radio to the ascent of Donald Trump—Emily Nussbaum unearths the origin story of the genre that ate the world, as told through the lively voices of the people who built it. At once gimlet-eyed and empathetic, Cue the Sun! explores the morally charged, funny, and sometimes tragic consequences of the hunt for something real inside something fake.
-
-
Weak, semi-unconnected stories
- By KDN on 07-20-24
By: Emily Nussbaum
-
Heartbreak Is the National Anthem
- How Taylor Swift Reinvented Pop Music
- By: Rob Sheffield
- Narrated by: Rob Sheffield
- Length: 5 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Heartbreak Is the National Anthem: How Taylor Swift Reinvented Pop Music is the first book that goes deep on the musical and cultural impact of Taylor Swift. Nobody can tell the story like Rob Sheffield, the bestselling and award-winning author of Dreaming the Beatles, On Bowie, and Love Is a Mix Tape. The legendary Rolling Stone journalist is the writer who has chronicled Taylor for every step of her long career, from her early days to the Eras Tour. Sheffield gets right to the heart of Swift and her music, her lyrics, her fan connection, her raw power.
-
-
Disappointed
- By Sarah on 11-12-24
By: Rob Sheffield
-
How to Save a Life
- The Inside Story of Grey’s Anatomy
- By: Lynette Rice
- Narrated by: Kate Mulligan
- Length: 7 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
More than 15 years after its premiere, Grey’s Anatomy remains one of the most beloved dramas on television and ABC’s most important property. It typically wins its time slot and has ranked in the top 20 most watched shows in primetime for most of its 17-season run. It currently averages more than nine million viewers each week. How to Save a Life takes a totally unauthorized deep dive into the show’s humble start, while offering exclusive intel on the behind-the-scenes culture, the most heartbreaking departures, and the more polarizing plotlines.
-
-
Perfect for fans
- By Pink Amy on 09-23-21
By: Lynette Rice
-
Welcome to Pawnee
- Stories of Friendship, Waffles, and Parks and Recreation
- By: Jim O'Heir
- Narrated by: Jim O'Heir, George Newbern, Eva Kaminsky, and others
- Length: 6 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For seven seasons, Leslie Knope and the Parks and Recreation gang charmed millions of viewers with their quirky antics and unwavering positivity. The sitcom continues to be a fan-favorite for streaming services today, nearly a decade after its finale. Now for the first time, Jim O’Heir, who played the lovable Jerry (or, well, Garry/Larry/Terry/Barry, depending on the episode), invites listeners back to Pawnee for an exclusive look behind the scenes.
-
-
Loved it! You did great Jim!
- By Christina on 11-22-24
By: Jim O'Heir
-
It's Not Hysteria
- Everything You Need to Know About Your Reproductive Health (but Were Never Told)
- By: Dr. Karen Tang
- Narrated by: Dr. Karen Tang
- Length: 9 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Did you know that up to 90% of women experience menstrual abnormalities or pelvic issues in their lifetime? Yet these conditions are overwhelmingly misunderstood, misdiagnosed, or dismissed. The root causes for these issues, such as PCOS, endometriosis, fibroids, ovarian cysts, PMDD, or pelvic floor dysfunction, don’t receive the stream of funding for research and new treatments that other conditions do, despite affecting up to half the population.
-
-
Instant classic on women’s health
- By Rebecca on 08-31-24
By: Dr. Karen Tang
-
The Sing Sing Files
- One Journalist, Six Innocent Men, and a Twenty-Year Fight for Justice
- By: Dan Slepian
- Narrated by: Dan Slepian
- Length: 6 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In 2002, Dan Slepian, a veteran producer for NBC’s Dateline, received a tip from a Bronx homicide detective that two men were serving twenty-five years to life in prison for a 1990 murder they did not commit. Haunted by what the detective had told him, Slepian began an investigation of the case that eventually resulted in freedom for the two men and launched Slepian on a two-decade personal and professional journey into a deeply flawed justice system fiercely resistant to rectifying—or even acknowledging—its mistakes and their consequences.
-
-
Love the perspective
- By Conni Brown on 01-13-25
By: Dan Slepian
-
One Little Spark!
- Mickey's Ten Commandments and the Road to Imagineering
- By: Marty Sklar
- Narrated by: Jeff Cummings
- Length: 5 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
We've all read about the experts: the artists, the scientists, the engineers - that special group of people known as Imagineers for The Walt Disney Company. But who are they? How did they join the team? What is it like to spend a day in their shoes?
-
-
More like a collection of emails.
- By J on 02-19-18
By: Marty Sklar
-
Caddyshack
- The Making of a Hollywood Cinderella Story
- By: Chris Nashawaty
- Narrated by: Peter Berkrot
- Length: 7 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Caddyshack is one of the most beloved comedies of all time, a classic snobs vs. slobs story of working-class kids and the white-collar buffoons that make them haul their golf bags in the hot summer sun. It has sex, drugs, and one very memorable candy bar, but the movie we all know and love didn't start out that way, and everyone who made it certainly didn't have the word classic in mind as the cameras were rolling.
-
-
Not Really About Caddyshack Until Hour 5
- By William M. on 07-01-18
By: Chris Nashawaty
-
The Hidden Magic of Walt Disney World, 3rd Edition
- Over 600 Secrets of the Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and Disney's Animal Kingdom
- By: Susan Veness
- Narrated by: Andrea Emmes
- Length: 8 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Whether it’s your first or 50th visit to Walt Disney World, you’ll be surprised at how much you can miss during your trip. Including all-new information on Toy Story Land, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, and Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, The Hidden Magic of Walt Disney World, 3rd Edition will inspire you to relive the magic year after year!
-
-
this is just a timelilne of disney
- By Tammy Krick on 10-21-21
By: Susan Veness
-
One in a Millennial
- On Friendship, Feelings, Fangirls, and Fitting In
- By: Kate Kennedy
- Narrated by: Kate Kennedy
- Length: 9 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Kate is a pop culture commentator and host of the popular millennial-focused podcast Be There in Five. Part-funny, part-serious, Kate navigates the complicated nature of celebrating and criticizing the culture that shaped her as a woman, while arguing that great depths can come from surface-level interests. With her trademark style and vulnerability, One in a Millennial is sharp, hilarious, and heartwarming all at once. She tackles AOL Instant Messenger, purity culture, American Girl Dolls, going out tops, Spice Girl feminism, her feelings about millennial motherhood, and more.
-
-
Don’t waste a credit
- By Andrea on 05-08-24
By: Kate Kennedy
-
Walking Disaster
- My Life Through Heaven and Hell
- By: Deryck Whibley
- Narrated by: Deryck Whibley
- Length: 8 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From his earliest days growing up in Canada, Deryck Whibley was a punk who loved music and couldn’t wait to achieve something bigger and better than the humble path that lay before him. Whibley was raised by a single mom and their small family constantly moved from place to place, so he was used to being the new kid, starting fights (or finishing them), and connecting with people who shared his sensibility for chaotic fun and loud music. Sum 41 was born of a group of friends who loved to jam, shared a DIY ethos, and were determined to be rock stars one day.
-
-
Amazing
- By Hailey on 01-07-25
By: Deryck Whibley
-
Walt Disney: An American Original (Commemorative Edition)
- By: Bob Thomas, Christopher Miller, Jeff Kurtti, and others
- Narrated by: Jason Culp, Xe Sands, Christopher Miller, and others
- Length: 16 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Walt Disney is an American hero. From Mickey Mouse to Disneyland, he changed the face of American culture. His is a success story like no other: a man who developed animated film into an art form and made a massive contribution to the folklore of the world. After years of research, respected Hollywood biographer Bob Thomas produced a definitive biography of the man behind the legend of Disney: the unschooled cartoonist from Kansas City who when bankrupt on his first movie venture and developed into the genius who produced unmatched works of animation.
-
-
Incredible Story
- By Amazon Customer on 03-07-24
By: Bob Thomas, and others
-
Scam Goddess
- Lessons from a Life of Cons, Grifts, and Schemes
- By: Laci Mosley
- Narrated by: Laci Mosley
- Length: 5 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In Scam Goddess, Laci recounts how her scammer instincts have guided her throughout her life—from a religious childhood in rural Texas, to a stint as a city bartender at what might have been a drug front, to swindling her way past the gatekeepers of Hollywood—recounting the greatest true-crime scam stories that inspired her along the way. Whether it’s by the beauty industry, capitalism, or the people we date, we’re all getting scammed. In this book, Laci identifies the secrets to flipping the script and coming out ahead.
-
-
Even better than the podcast
- By Magali R. on 12-04-24
By: Laci Mosley
-
Outofshapeworthlessloser
- A Memoir of Figure Skating, F*cking Up, and Figuring It Out
- By: Gracie Gold
- Narrated by: Gracie Gold
- Length: 9 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When Gracie Gold stepped onto center stage (or ice, rather) as America’s sweetheart at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, she instantly became the face of America’s most beloved winter sport. Beautiful, blonde, Midwestern, and media-trained, she was suddenly being written up everywhere from The New Yorker to Teen Vogue to People and baking cookies with Taylor Swift.
-
-
Interesting, yes. Highly unrelatable, also yes.
- By aj on 09-10-24
By: Gracie Gold
Critic reviews
“If you can scrupulously recite the lyrics to ‘Best of Both Worlds’, then this book is for you. Equal parts sentiment and scoop, Disney High is chock full of details about the child stars of Disney's once-prized asset, and the journey to questioning whether wearing those mouse ears was ever really worth it.”–Lynette Rice, bestselling author of How to Save a Life: The Inside Story of Grey's Anatomy
“An unprecedented level of dish and detail! Spencer pulls back the curtain on one of modern pop culture’s most important (and drama-filled) eras.”—Omid Scobie, bestselling author of Finding Freedom: Harry and Meghan and the Making of a Modern Royal Family
"An obsessive, loving deep dive into the 2000s-era Disney Channel that launched Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez, Hilary Duff, the Jonas Brothers, and many other icons. This is the book millennials have been waiting to read since childhood." —Andy Greene, New York Times bestselling author of The Office: The Untold Story of the Greatest Sitcom of the 2000s
Related to this topic
-
The High 5 Habit
- Take Control of Your Life with One Simple Habit
- By: Mel Robbins
- Narrated by: Mel Robbins
- Length: 6 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Don't let the title fool you. This isn't a book about high fiving everyone else in your life. You're already doing that. Cheering for your favorite teams. Celebrating your friends. Supporting the people you love as they go after what they want in life. Imagine if you gave that same love and encouragement to yourself. Or even better, you made it a daily habit. You'd be unstoppable. In this book, Mel teaches you how to start high fiving the most important person in your life, the one who is staring back at you in the mirror: YOURSELF.
-
-
Narrator issues.
- By Jesse on 10-05-21
By: Mel Robbins
-
The Art of War
- By: Sun Tzu
- Narrated by: Aidan Gillen
- Length: 1 hr and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The 13 chapters of The Art of War, each devoted to one aspect of warfare, were compiled by the high-ranking Chinese military general, strategist, and philosopher Sun-Tzu. In spite of its battlefield specificity, The Art of War has found new life in the modern age, with leaders in fields as wide and far-reaching as world politics, human psychology, and corporate strategy finding valuable insight in its timeworn words.
-
-
The actual book The Art of War, not a commentary
- By Nemo71 on 12-31-19
By: Sun Tzu
-
Never Finished
- Unshackle Your Mind and Win the War Within
- By: David Goggins
- Narrated by: David Goggins, Adam Skolnick, Jacqueline Gardner
- Length: 11 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Can’t Hurt Me, David Goggins’ smash hit memoir, demonstrated how much untapped ability we all have but was merely an introduction to the power of the mind. In Never Finished, Goggins takes you inside his Mental Lab, where he developed the philosophy, psychology, and strategies that enabled him to learn that what he thought was his limit was only his beginning and that the quest for greatness is unending.
-
-
He did it again!
- By Christian C. on 12-06-22
By: David Goggins
-
Take Control of Your Life
- How to Silence Fear and Win the Mental Game
- By: Mel Robbins
- Narrated by: Mel Robbins
- Length: 10 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Mel Robbins is back! The international bestselling phenomenon and creator of The Five Second Rule and Kick Ass with Mel Robbins returns to help you tackle the single biggest obstacle you face: fear. This life-changing Audible Original features a powerful mix of one-on-one life-coaching sessions and a personal narrative with vital take-aways that you can start using immediately.
-
-
Stop living in fear
- By Nike7 on 02-08-19
By: Mel Robbins
-
The 6 Habits of Growth
- By: Brendon Burchard
- Narrated by: Brendon Burchard
- Length: 5 hrs and 4 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The world’s leading high-performance coach and multiple New York Times best-selling author Brendon Burchard delivers the six habits of personal growth that will help you create the life of your dreams. Forged from Brendon Burchard’s personal experiences, data from his GrowthDay app, and his many years as a high-performance coach, The 6 Habits of Growth presents the tools you need to construct the life of your dreams.
-
-
Don’t bother
- By B. Sharpe on 10-30-22
By: Brendon Burchard
-
Going Infinite
- The Rise and Fall of a New Tycoon
- By: Michael Lewis
- Narrated by: Michael Lewis
- Length: 9 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When Michael Lewis first met him, Sam Bankman-Fried was the world’s youngest billionaire and crypto’s Gatsby. CEOs, celebrities, and leaders of small countries all vied for his time and cash after he catapulted, practically overnight, onto the Forbes billionaire list. Who was this rumpled guy in cargo shorts and limp white socks, whose eyes twitched across Zoom meetings as he played video games on the side?
-
-
really expected more rigor from Michael Lewis
- By Wowhello on 10-04-23
By: Michael Lewis
-
The High 5 Habit
- Take Control of Your Life with One Simple Habit
- By: Mel Robbins
- Narrated by: Mel Robbins
- Length: 6 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Don't let the title fool you. This isn't a book about high fiving everyone else in your life. You're already doing that. Cheering for your favorite teams. Celebrating your friends. Supporting the people you love as they go after what they want in life. Imagine if you gave that same love and encouragement to yourself. Or even better, you made it a daily habit. You'd be unstoppable. In this book, Mel teaches you how to start high fiving the most important person in your life, the one who is staring back at you in the mirror: YOURSELF.
-
-
Narrator issues.
- By Jesse on 10-05-21
By: Mel Robbins
-
The Art of War
- By: Sun Tzu
- Narrated by: Aidan Gillen
- Length: 1 hr and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The 13 chapters of The Art of War, each devoted to one aspect of warfare, were compiled by the high-ranking Chinese military general, strategist, and philosopher Sun-Tzu. In spite of its battlefield specificity, The Art of War has found new life in the modern age, with leaders in fields as wide and far-reaching as world politics, human psychology, and corporate strategy finding valuable insight in its timeworn words.
-
-
The actual book The Art of War, not a commentary
- By Nemo71 on 12-31-19
By: Sun Tzu
-
Never Finished
- Unshackle Your Mind and Win the War Within
- By: David Goggins
- Narrated by: David Goggins, Adam Skolnick, Jacqueline Gardner
- Length: 11 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Can’t Hurt Me, David Goggins’ smash hit memoir, demonstrated how much untapped ability we all have but was merely an introduction to the power of the mind. In Never Finished, Goggins takes you inside his Mental Lab, where he developed the philosophy, psychology, and strategies that enabled him to learn that what he thought was his limit was only his beginning and that the quest for greatness is unending.
-
-
He did it again!
- By Christian C. on 12-06-22
By: David Goggins
-
Take Control of Your Life
- How to Silence Fear and Win the Mental Game
- By: Mel Robbins
- Narrated by: Mel Robbins
- Length: 10 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Mel Robbins is back! The international bestselling phenomenon and creator of The Five Second Rule and Kick Ass with Mel Robbins returns to help you tackle the single biggest obstacle you face: fear. This life-changing Audible Original features a powerful mix of one-on-one life-coaching sessions and a personal narrative with vital take-aways that you can start using immediately.
-
-
Stop living in fear
- By Nike7 on 02-08-19
By: Mel Robbins
-
The 6 Habits of Growth
- By: Brendon Burchard
- Narrated by: Brendon Burchard
- Length: 5 hrs and 4 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The world’s leading high-performance coach and multiple New York Times best-selling author Brendon Burchard delivers the six habits of personal growth that will help you create the life of your dreams. Forged from Brendon Burchard’s personal experiences, data from his GrowthDay app, and his many years as a high-performance coach, The 6 Habits of Growth presents the tools you need to construct the life of your dreams.
-
-
Don’t bother
- By B. Sharpe on 10-30-22
By: Brendon Burchard
-
Going Infinite
- The Rise and Fall of a New Tycoon
- By: Michael Lewis
- Narrated by: Michael Lewis
- Length: 9 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When Michael Lewis first met him, Sam Bankman-Fried was the world’s youngest billionaire and crypto’s Gatsby. CEOs, celebrities, and leaders of small countries all vied for his time and cash after he catapulted, practically overnight, onto the Forbes billionaire list. Who was this rumpled guy in cargo shorts and limp white socks, whose eyes twitched across Zoom meetings as he played video games on the side?
-
-
really expected more rigor from Michael Lewis
- By Wowhello on 10-04-23
By: Michael Lewis
People who viewed this also viewed...
-
Freaks, Gleeks, and Dawson's Creek
- How Seven Teen Shows Transformed Television
- By: Thea Glassman, Jennifer Keishin Armstrong - foreword
- Narrated by: Christine Lakin
- Length: 9 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The untold stories of seven revolutionary teen shows (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, My So-Called Life, Dawson’s Creek, Freaks and Geeks, The O.C., Friday Night Lights, and Glee) that shaped the course of modern television and our pop cultural landscape forever.
-
-
Behind the scenes view
- By anthony petro on 11-24-23
By: Thea Glassman, and others
-
A Convenient Parallel Dimension
- How Ghostbusters Slimed Us Forever
- By: James Greene Jr.
- Narrated by: Tim Dixon
- Length: 11 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Now, for the first time, the entire history of the slime-soaked franchise is told in A Convenient Parallel Dimension: How Ghostbusters Slimed Us Forever. The cohesion of talent during the mid-'70s comedy revolution, the seat-of-their-pants creation of the first Ghostbusters, the explosive success that seemed to mandate a franchise, the five year struggle to make Ghostbusters II, the thirty-one-year struggle to make Ghostbusters III—it’s all here, with incredible attention to detail.
-
-
Great read and informative (minus 1 thing)
- By Zachary on 08-15-23
By: James Greene Jr.
-
One in a Millennial
- On Friendship, Feelings, Fangirls, and Fitting In
- By: Kate Kennedy
- Narrated by: Kate Kennedy
- Length: 9 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Kate is a pop culture commentator and host of the popular millennial-focused podcast Be There in Five. Part-funny, part-serious, Kate navigates the complicated nature of celebrating and criticizing the culture that shaped her as a woman, while arguing that great depths can come from surface-level interests. With her trademark style and vulnerability, One in a Millennial is sharp, hilarious, and heartwarming all at once. She tackles AOL Instant Messenger, purity culture, American Girl Dolls, going out tops, Spice Girl feminism, her feelings about millennial motherhood, and more.
-
-
Don’t waste a credit
- By Andrea on 05-08-24
By: Kate Kennedy
-
Moguls
- The Lives and Times of Hollywood Film Pioneers Nicholas and Joseph Schenck
- By: Michael Benson, Craig Singer
- Narrated by: Stephen Bowlby
- Length: 10 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From the earliest days of silent films and the swinging era of the Roaring Twenties, through the Golden Age of the studio system and the patriotic call of WWII, to the Red Scare paranoia of the McCarthy years, the history of the Schenck brothers is the story of Hollywood itself—and the enduring power of the American Dream. Moguls is a must-listen for film fans, history buffs, and anyone who loves the movies.
By: Michael Benson, and others
-
The Vanishing at Smokestack Hollow
- A Missing Family, a Desperate Plan, an Unsolved Mystery
- By: Jake Anderson
- Narrated by: Chris Abernathy
- Length: 10 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
On October 8th, 2009, Bobby Jamison, his wife Sherilynn, and their six-year-old daughter Madyson, set off for a drive from their home in Eufaula, Oklahoma, to the nearby Sans Bois Mountains. They didn't return that day, or the next. A week later, their truck was found abandoned on a mountain road. Inside was their dog, malnourished but alive, the family's cell phones, wallets, and $32,000 in cash.
By: Jake Anderson
-
American Scary
- A History of Horror, from Salem to Stephen King and Beyond
- By: Jeremy Dauber
- Narrated by: Jeremy Dauber
- Length: 16 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In American Scary, noted cultural historian and Columbia professor Jeremy Dauber takes the listener to the startling origins of the horror genre in the United States, drawing a surprising through-line between the lingering influence of the European Gothic, the enslaved insurrection tales propagated by slaveholders, and the apocryphal chronicles of colonial settlers kidnapped by Native Americans, among many others.
-
-
A catalog of creepy and a discourse of darkness
- By J. Moulton on 01-06-25
By: Jeremy Dauber
-
Freaks, Gleeks, and Dawson's Creek
- How Seven Teen Shows Transformed Television
- By: Thea Glassman, Jennifer Keishin Armstrong - foreword
- Narrated by: Christine Lakin
- Length: 9 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The untold stories of seven revolutionary teen shows (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, My So-Called Life, Dawson’s Creek, Freaks and Geeks, The O.C., Friday Night Lights, and Glee) that shaped the course of modern television and our pop cultural landscape forever.
-
-
Behind the scenes view
- By anthony petro on 11-24-23
By: Thea Glassman, and others
-
A Convenient Parallel Dimension
- How Ghostbusters Slimed Us Forever
- By: James Greene Jr.
- Narrated by: Tim Dixon
- Length: 11 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Now, for the first time, the entire history of the slime-soaked franchise is told in A Convenient Parallel Dimension: How Ghostbusters Slimed Us Forever. The cohesion of talent during the mid-'70s comedy revolution, the seat-of-their-pants creation of the first Ghostbusters, the explosive success that seemed to mandate a franchise, the five year struggle to make Ghostbusters II, the thirty-one-year struggle to make Ghostbusters III—it’s all here, with incredible attention to detail.
-
-
Great read and informative (minus 1 thing)
- By Zachary on 08-15-23
By: James Greene Jr.
-
One in a Millennial
- On Friendship, Feelings, Fangirls, and Fitting In
- By: Kate Kennedy
- Narrated by: Kate Kennedy
- Length: 9 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Kate is a pop culture commentator and host of the popular millennial-focused podcast Be There in Five. Part-funny, part-serious, Kate navigates the complicated nature of celebrating and criticizing the culture that shaped her as a woman, while arguing that great depths can come from surface-level interests. With her trademark style and vulnerability, One in a Millennial is sharp, hilarious, and heartwarming all at once. She tackles AOL Instant Messenger, purity culture, American Girl Dolls, going out tops, Spice Girl feminism, her feelings about millennial motherhood, and more.
-
-
Don’t waste a credit
- By Andrea on 05-08-24
By: Kate Kennedy
-
Moguls
- The Lives and Times of Hollywood Film Pioneers Nicholas and Joseph Schenck
- By: Michael Benson, Craig Singer
- Narrated by: Stephen Bowlby
- Length: 10 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From the earliest days of silent films and the swinging era of the Roaring Twenties, through the Golden Age of the studio system and the patriotic call of WWII, to the Red Scare paranoia of the McCarthy years, the history of the Schenck brothers is the story of Hollywood itself—and the enduring power of the American Dream. Moguls is a must-listen for film fans, history buffs, and anyone who loves the movies.
By: Michael Benson, and others
-
The Vanishing at Smokestack Hollow
- A Missing Family, a Desperate Plan, an Unsolved Mystery
- By: Jake Anderson
- Narrated by: Chris Abernathy
- Length: 10 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
On October 8th, 2009, Bobby Jamison, his wife Sherilynn, and their six-year-old daughter Madyson, set off for a drive from their home in Eufaula, Oklahoma, to the nearby Sans Bois Mountains. They didn't return that day, or the next. A week later, their truck was found abandoned on a mountain road. Inside was their dog, malnourished but alive, the family's cell phones, wallets, and $32,000 in cash.
By: Jake Anderson
-
American Scary
- A History of Horror, from Salem to Stephen King and Beyond
- By: Jeremy Dauber
- Narrated by: Jeremy Dauber
- Length: 16 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In American Scary, noted cultural historian and Columbia professor Jeremy Dauber takes the listener to the startling origins of the horror genre in the United States, drawing a surprising through-line between the lingering influence of the European Gothic, the enslaved insurrection tales propagated by slaveholders, and the apocryphal chronicles of colonial settlers kidnapped by Native Americans, among many others.
-
-
A catalog of creepy and a discourse of darkness
- By J. Moulton on 01-06-25
By: Jeremy Dauber
-
DisneyWar
- By: James B. Stewart
- Narrated by: Patrick Lawlor
- Length: 25 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
DisneyWar is an enthralling tale of one of America's most powerful media and entertainment companies, the people who control it, and those trying to overthrow them. It tells a story that - in its sudden twists, vivid, larger-than-life characters, and thrilling climax - might itself have been the subject of a Disney classic - except that it's all true.
-
-
Really interesting story... No ending.
- By rotinaj on 12-18-17
By: James B. Stewart
-
It's Not Hysteria
- Everything You Need to Know About Your Reproductive Health (but Were Never Told)
- By: Dr. Karen Tang
- Narrated by: Dr. Karen Tang
- Length: 9 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Did you know that up to 90% of women experience menstrual abnormalities or pelvic issues in their lifetime? Yet these conditions are overwhelmingly misunderstood, misdiagnosed, or dismissed. The root causes for these issues, such as PCOS, endometriosis, fibroids, ovarian cysts, PMDD, or pelvic floor dysfunction, don’t receive the stream of funding for research and new treatments that other conditions do, despite affecting up to half the population.
-
-
Instant classic on women’s health
- By Rebecca on 08-31-24
By: Dr. Karen Tang
-
Over the Influence
- A Memoir
- By: Joanna "JoJo" Levesque
- Narrated by: Joanna "JoJo" Levesque
- Length: 9 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Signed to a major recording deal at just 12 years old, JoJo catapulted to the top of the pop-and-R&B-infused charts in the mid 2000's. The relatability of her youth and the appeal of her cool-girl mystique earned her millions of fans around the world. JoJo was an undeniable superstar and pop culture fixture, spanning roles in major studio films, omnipresence on Top 40 radio, frequenting magazine covers, and appearing on national TV. Then, out of the blue, everything came to a halt and JoJo seemingly stepped out of the spotlight, leaving many fans to wonder: What happened to JoJo?
-
-
Deeply Moving and Relatable in Ways You Might Not Expect
- By rosey on 09-25-24
-
The Elements of Marie Curie
- How the Glow of Radium Lit a Path for Women in Science
- By: Dava Sobel
- Narrated by: Pat Rodrigues
- Length: 9 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
“Even now, nearly a century after her death, Marie Curie remains the only female scientist most people can name,” writes Dava Sobel at the opening of her shining portrait of the sole Nobel laureate decorated in two separate fields of science—Physics in 1903 with her husband Pierre and Chemistry by herself in 1911. And yet, Sobel makes clear, as brilliant and creative as she was in the laboratory, Marie Curie was equally passionate outside it.
-
-
Wow
- By Anonymous User on 01-10-25
By: Dava Sobel
-
I’m Sorry for My Loss
- An Urgent Examination of Reproductive Care in America
- By: Rebecca Little, Colleen Long
- Narrated by: Christina Delaine
- Length: 11 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Rebecca Little and Colleen Long, childhood friends who grew up to be journalists, both experienced late-term loss, and together they take an incisive, deeply reported look at the issue, working to shatter taboos that have made so many pregnant people feel ashamed and alone.
By: Rebecca Little, and others
-
Semi-Well-Adjusted Despite Literally Everything
- A Memoir
- By: Alyson Stoner
- Length: 9 hrs
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Actor-dancer Alyson Stoner's revelatory and incisive memoir—from family violence and betrayal, to eating disorders and religious trauma—may begin in Hollywood, but its chilling relatability will resonate with anyone navigating identity, privacy, purpose, and mental health in a digital age.
By: Alyson Stoner
-
The Disney Revolt
- The Great Labor War of Animation's Golden Age
- By: Jake S. Friedman
- Narrated by: Adam Verner
- Length: 8 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Soon after the birth of Mickey Mouse, one animator raised the Disney Studio far beyond Walt's expectations. That animator also led a union war that almost destroyed it. Art Babbitt animated for the Disney studio throughout the 1930s and through 1941, years in which he and Walt were jointly driven to elevate animation as an art form, up through Snow White, Pinocchio, and Fantasia.
-
-
Disney had greater potential
- By Charles on 07-19-22
By: Jake S. Friedman
-
Hits, Flops, and Other Illusions
- My Fortysomething Years in Hollywood
- By: Ed Zwick
- Narrated by: Ed Zwick
- Length: 10 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Though there are many factors behind such success, including luck and the contributions of his creative partner Marshall Herskovitz, he’s known to have a special talent for bringing out the best in the people he’s worked with, notably the actors. In those intense collaborations, he seeks to discover the small pieces of connective tissue, vulnerability, and fellowship that can help an actor realize their character in full.
-
-
Authentic, Sobering & Full of Grace
- By David_Leah Wiley on 02-17-24
By: Ed Zwick
-
All in Her Head
- The Truth and Lies Early Medicine Taught Us About Women’s Bodies and Why It Matters Today
- By: Elizabeth Comen
- Narrated by: Anna Caputo
- Length: 13 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For as long as medicine has been a practice, women's bodies have been treated like objects to be practiced on: examined and ignored, idealized and sexualized, shamed, subjugated, mutilated, and dismissed. The history of women’s healthcare is a story in which women themselves have too often been voiceless—a narrative instead written from the perspective of men who styled themselves as authorities on the female of the species, yet uninformed by women’s own voices, thoughts, fears, pain and experiences.
-
-
Historical and hopeful
- By Meghan Hurley on 10-26-24
By: Elizabeth Comen
-
Opening Weekend
- An Insider's Look at Marketing Hollywood's Hits and Flops
- By: Jim Fredrick
- Narrated by: Jim Fredrick
- Length: 12 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In a world where movie marketers are the stars of the story, Opening Weekend: An Insider's Look at Marketing Hollywood's Hits and Flops recounts Jim Fredrick's journey through the realm of movie marketing. Fredrick offers readers exclusive access to behind-the-scenes anecdotes and firsthand accounts of working with studio executives and navigating relationships with famous movie stars and directors.
-
-
Excellent, detailed and SO engaging.
- By J Bomb on 12-01-24
By: Jim Fredrick
-
How to Rob the Bank of England
- Keith Cheeseman Reveals the True Story of Britain's Biggest Ever Robbery
- By: Clifford Thurlow
- Narrated by: Marston York
- Length: 8 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this breathtaking adventure, featuring colorful characters from showbusiness alongside royalty, the IRA and even Pablo Escobar, Clifford Thurlow reveals Keith Cheeseman's incredible true story for the first time.
By: Clifford Thurlow
-
Fentanyl Nation
- Toxic Politics and America's Failed War on Drugs
- By: Ryan Hampton
- Narrated by: Josh Bloomberg
- Length: 10 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The American overdose crisis has reached record-breaking heights; preventable overdoses are now responsible for more annual deaths than traffic accidents, suicide, or gun violence. Fentanyl—a potent, inexpensive, and easy-to-manufacture synthetic opioid—has thoroughly contaminated the drug supply, and while it frequently makes front page news across the country, it remains poorly understood by policymakers and the public. In Fentanyl Nation, recovery advocate Ryan Hampton separates the facts from the fiction surrounding Fentanyl, and shows how overdose deaths are ultimately policy failures.
-
-
Challenged everything I thought I knew
- By Debbie Courtney on 10-21-24
By: Ryan Hampton
What listeners say about Disney High
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Kindle Customer
- 01-07-25
Interesting but not as juicy as I’d hoped
This was a good overview of the rise of the Disney channel. It doesn’t provide juicy stories or new information but rather a summary using quotes from other news sources. I don’t think it ended abruptly like other reviewers noted.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Alicia Hill
- 10-22-24
Missing a conclusion
The focus of the book is more on the business side, which I enjoyed. I was afraid it was going to be heavy on teen gossip. It feels like the book just abruptly ends. I wish them was a better conclusion and summary before the epilogue.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Glenda Brown
- 11-13-24
Sold by Lalaine's narration, stayed for the tons of uncovered production info
I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. I found out about this book through Lalaine's Instagram. While some of this book is already public Information, I was so intrigued by all the production/branding info that this book contained.
Interview excerpts from producers, directors, costume designers, Radio Disney Djs!
I also enjoyed Lalaine's narration for the most part. You could tell she wasn't the most experienced, but her voice had that optimistic but cool, perhaps world-weary quality that only a former Disney Channel actor would possess.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- N. Halpern
- 11-21-24
In-Depth and Educational, Yet Abrupt
I love books like this - retrospectives on cultural moments and biographies - and this one was no exception. It’s immensely nostalgic for me, as I grew up alongside the shows and stars mentioned, being around 11 years old by the book’s end. The book gripped me the whole way through and led me to a lot of independent googling throughout.
However, I found that it ended abruptly and each section, or star, also ended abruptly. I wish there had been smoother transitions between the sections and especially at the end. Going straight from the cancellation of Sonny With a Chance to an epilogue was jarring and I felt that there was a missed opportunity to properly conclude that section before the epilogue.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Anonymous User
- 10-27-24
For all who wished for a Wand ID
The perfect listen for the fans that grew up during the golden age of Disney Channel. I can’t imagine who I would be, or what my interests would be, if it wasn’t for the massive amount of time I spent watching disney channel shows and DCOM’s, reading tiger beat and j14, coating my walls in posters. This book is both heart warming and heart breaking. A great read/listen.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Amazon Customer
- 11-16-24
Educational Nostalgia
Absolutely loved this book! So nostalgic to revisit so many of the series and DCOMs I loved as a kid and hear the business side as an adult who can now appreciate that angle.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Jessica
- 12-09-24
A delight for this elder millennial
This was such a fun read especially for those of us who followed some of this drama in real time. The subjects are treated with care and respect and the glimpses into the behind-the-scenes happenings were titillating. Having Lalaine read the audiobook was the cherry on top. Highly recommend!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Ryan Arko
- 09-24-24
Inside the Machine
The initial announcement, I was ready for an attempt at an exposé by the author that would shake Disney. Just prior to release, Lalaine explained that this was a look behind the magic and that it wasn't to trash Disney or child acting. Expectations set. Cool.
Except what Ashley Spencer does is create one of the most informative understandings of not only how Disney Channel works/worked, not only how the lives of the stars from its peak era were lived, but it details how modern Disney was a machine decades in the making.
I wasn't expecting to hear how Disney shirked the home market in the 70s or how Jett Jackson's success as a minority led drama was also the reason it was pushed on its own sword by the decision makers of the day. I didn't expect how candid it would be about things like Christy Roman's boob job, and this book delivers candid while never crossing into tabloid sensationalism.
Lalaine does a beautiful job in narration. Listening to her the last ten hours has been a welcome decision by all parties involved, and I'd be happy to hear her read my tax return filings if it meant more opportunities for her as a narrator.
Ashley Spencer is a journalist, so I was ready for her to put feet on ground to do the work, but I wasn't ready to absolutely run the ground like it was her killing field. Modern journalism is mostly bloggers telling the reader how to feel or think, but Ashley is a real journalist who tells it how it is instead, and that's so refreshing in 2024.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Leslie
- 10-05-24
Reads like fiction!
I’m listening to the audiobook and it’s great! It’s non-fiction that reads like fiction. Storytelling is superb and I’m wowed at the sheer number of insiders that participated in this project. The author paints a vivid picture of how a network shaped pop culture and affected those involved, either centered on the big stage, lurking behind the curtain or watching from in front of a screen. Narration by both author and Lalaine is phenomenal!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful