Happy Birthday Walt!

Walt Disney would have been 110 years old today. The man was a lot more complicated than the ‘Uncle Walt’ character he created for public consumption. Here are a few books I recommend if you’re looking to gain more insight into the man who started it all:

Walt before Mickey: Disney’s Early Years, 1919-1928 by Timothy S. Susanin – More insight and detail of Walt’s early years than I’ve ready anywhere else. I’m still in the middle of this one, but it’s great!

The Animated Man: A Life of Walt Disney by Michael Barrier – Hands down, the best over all biography written in the last 20 years.

The Story of Walt Disney by Diane Disney Miller – Ghost written for with Walt’s daughter Diane, the first look at Walt Disney’s life. It’s perfect for young and old. Unfortunately this has been long out of print.

Walt Disney: An American Original by Bob Thomas. The first official biography of Walt Disney and still one of the best.

Building A Company: Roy O. Disney and the Creation of an Entertainment Empire by Bob Thomas – Yes, it’s a Roy E. Disney biography, but you learn a lot about Walt and Roy’s relationship, which is crucial.