
Walt Disney: An American Original (Commemorative Edition)
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About this listen
The Walt Disney Company honors its 100th anniversary in 2023. As part of the festivities, this must-have biography tells the story of Walt Disney's life— told as no other book can!
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 went bankrupt on his first movie venture and developed into the genius who produced unmatched works of animation, and ultimately was the creative spirit of an international entertainment empire that has enchanted generations.
Walt Disney: An American Original is a fascinating and inspirational work that captures the spirit of Walt Disney. This Commemorative Edition includes: new introductions from Jeff Kurtti and Marcy Carriker Smothers and endnotes to add further context and connect Walt's story to today.
Searching for more ways to connect with the Disney Parks and films? Explore these books from Disney Editions:
Delicious Disney: Walt Disney World: Recipes & Stories from The Most Magical Place on Earth
A Portrait of Walt Disney World: 50 Years of The Most Magical Place on Earth
Birnbaum's 2023 Walt Disney World: The Official Vacation Guide
Birnbaum's 2023 Walt Disney World for Kids: The Official Guide
Art of Coloring: Walt Disney World
Maps of the Disney Parks: Charting 60 Years from California to Shanghai
Poster Art of the Disney Parks
Holiday Magic at the Disney Parks: Celebrations Around the World from Fall to Winter
The Haunted Mansion: Imagineering a Disney Classic
The Disney Monorail: Imagineering a Highway in the Sky
©2023 Bob Thomas, Christopher Miller, Jeff Kurtti, Marcy Carriker Smothers, Rebecca Cline (P)2023 Disney EditionsListeners also enjoyed...
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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
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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!
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this is just a timelilne of disney
- By Tammy Krick on 10-21-21
By: Susan Veness
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Women of Walt Disney Imagineering
- 12 Women Reflect on their Trailblazing Theme Park Careers
- By: Julie Svendsen, Karen Connolly Armitage, Becky Bishop, and others
- Narrated by: Xe Sands
- Length: 6 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
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Capturing an era - and preserving the stories they have told their daughters, their mentees, their husbands, and their friends - a dozen women Imagineers have written personal stories from their decades designing and building the Disney worldwide empire of theme parks. The book represents a broad swath of Imagineering's creative disciplines during a time of unprecedented expansion.
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Enjoyable!
- By Melanie P. on 07-29-23
By: Julie Svendsen, and others
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The Disneyland Story
- The Unofficial Guide to the Evolution of Walt Disney's Dream
- By: Sam Gennawey
- Narrated by: James Patrick Cronin
- Length: 16 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
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The Disneyland Story: The Unofficial Guide to the Evolution of Walt Disney's Dream is the story of how Walt Disney's greatest creation was conceived, nurtured, and how it grew into a source of joy and inspiration for generations of visitors. Despite his successors' battles with the whims of history and their own doubts and egos, Walt's vision maintained momentum, thrived, and taught future generations how to do it Walt Disney's way.
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The narration is killing me.
- By Chris on 03-24-15
By: Sam Gennawey
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The Animated Man
- A Life of Walt Disney
- By: Michael Barrier
- Narrated by: Jack de Golia
- Length: 17 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
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In his compelling new biography, noted animation historian Michael Barrier avoids the well-traveled paths of previous biographers, who have tended to portray a blemish-free Disney or to indulge in lurid speculation. Instead, he takes the full measure of the man in his many aspects.
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8th Book
- By PAUL MATTA on 04-16-24
By: Michael Barrier
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The Ride of a Lifetime
- Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of the Walt Disney Company
- By: Robert Iger
- Narrated by: Jim Frangione, Robert Iger
- Length: 8 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
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Robert Iger became CEO of The Walt Disney Company in 2005, during a difficult time. Competition was more intense than ever, and technology was changing faster than at any time in the company’s history. His vision came down to three clear ideas: Recommit to the concept that quality matters, embrace technology instead of fighting it, and think bigger - think global - and turn Disney into a stronger brand in international markets.
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Joins “Shoe Dog” as required biographies.
- By Matt S. on 01-02-20
By: Robert Iger
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Buster Keaton
- A Filmmaker's Life
- By: James Curtis
- Narrated by: David Pittu
- Length: 31 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
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It was James Agee who christened Buster Keaton “The Great Stone Face.” Keaton’s face, Agee wrote, "ranked almost with Lincoln’s as an early American archetype; it was haunting, handsome, almost beautiful, yet it was also irreducibly funny. Keaton was the only major comedian who kept sentiment almost entirely out of his work and . . . he brought pure physical comedy to its greatest heights.”
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A well-researched, entertaining expose
- By Ed Pegg Jr on 02-17-22
By: James Curtis
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Jim Henson
- The Biography
- By: Brian Jay Jones
- Narrated by: Kirby Heyborne
- Length: 21 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
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He was a gentle dreamer whose genial bearded visage was recognized around the world, but most people got to know him only through the iconic characters born of his fertile imagination: Kermit the Frog, Bert and Ernie, Miss Piggy, Big Bird. The Muppets made Jim Henson a household name, but they were just part of his remarkable story.
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Dramatically complete
- By T on 10-01-13
By: Brian Jay Jones
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The Wonders of Walt Disney World
- By: Aaron H. Goldberg
- Narrated by: Susan L. Crawford
- Length: 7 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
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The Wonders of Walt Disney World will guide you from park to park and attraction to attraction, across all of the Disney property. It will open your eyes to the stories behind the stories of each attraction and bring forth hundreds of secrets that Disney weaves and hides just below the surface.
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Needs an audio companion
- By Todd on 01-13-19
What listeners say about Walt Disney: An American Original (Commemorative Edition)
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- Amazon Customer
- 03-07-24
Incredible Story
Among other things that stand out, here is a man who just endured and kept going in spite of obstacles. Far from perfect he just worked hard and kept working and changed the world.
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- Vicki Lynne R
- 03-28-24
A Windiw into Walt
I truly enjoyed learning about Walt's life and his visions, and how he created the wonderful world of Disney that he left us his legacy for all of us!
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- Charles Ferrara
- 03-11-24
Incredible Historic view of WED
This was one of the most comprehensive books on the life of Walt Disney and the Disney Dynasty. Incredible read. A must for any Disney lover.
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- Reading Grandma
- 09-18-23
The variation in narration was off-putting though the Walt Disney Story is amazing!
I had previously read Disney’s Land by Richard Snow which was excellent. This was an overall biography of the remarkable life of a man we all felt belonged to us.
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- Jonathan Osborne
- 02-26-24
Excellent information
And so well written. Hard to put it down! The author keeps in interesting from beginning to end.
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- Mike Sullivan
- 05-18-24
As a Disney fan… I learned so much.
I’m a former employee of Disneyland and an Uber fan. I saw this book on the shelf in one of Disneylands shops and had to listen to it. The detail of Walt’s life is abundant and very entertaining. Recommended to anyone interested in Walt’s life… especially recommended to Disney Adults.
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- K. Marlowe
- 03-10-24
Great book
Great detail without being boring at all the way the story is told really flows nicely
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- Paul Neon Davidson
- 02-12-25
Almost Made Me Cry (Just a little)
This biography was surprisingly honest with who Walt was and it was interesting to see how he saw and thought of things. From his life growing up to his last moment he was always being inspired and working and that influenced me quite a bit while listening. I felt like I got to know him and when it finally got to his final moment I teared up a bit and it made me realize that the Disney studio wasn't always the huge corporation it is now; it was once a man's dream and it sounded like a fun and imaginative place.
If you want to get inspired, feel some optimism and learn more about how Walt went about his work I HIGHLY recommend this. It's as fun and intriguing a ride as any in Disneyland.
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- Amazon Customer
- 03-19-25
Love it! Best biography
Husband and I both read this independently and both loved it. Big Disney fans and it is fun to hear the start of things
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- Grant bixenmann
- 03-07-23
a great audio book
I loved it but the narrator gets the title wrong at least twice its walt disney an American original not walt disney an American story but other than that it's great
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