7 Books Every Disney Fan Should Read

One of the things that I love most about Walt Disney, and the entire world of Disney, is the fascinating heritage that it holds.  From Walt and Roy Disney’s humble beginnings to the creation of Mickey Mouse and ultimately Disneyland, the story of how it all began is awe-inspiring.  The history, the stories, the legends all weave an amazing tapestry the fuels our passion and our love.  And reading up on that history helps us all learn to love Disney even more.

You can start with these seven books and see where the journey of reading takes you.  As your knowledge of Disney’s history grows, so will your love for the people who created the characters, animated films, and theme parks we all know and love.

1. Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination, by Neil Gabler

The definitive portrait of one of the most important cultural figures in American history: Walt Disney.

2. Ink & Paint: The Women of Walt Disney’s Animation, by Mindy Johnson

In this amazing book, author Mindy Johnson pulls back the celluloid curtain on the nearly vanished world of ink pens, paintbrushes, pigments, and tea. From the earliest black-and-white Alice Comedies to the advent of CAPS and digital animation, meet the pioneering women who brought hand-rendered animated stories to vibrant, multicolored life at Walt Disney Studios and beyond.

3. Disney Wars, by James B. Stewart

The fascinating and dramatic inside story of the downfall of Michael Eisner, Disney Chairman and CEO, and the scandals that drove America’s best-known entertainment company to civil war.

4.  Walt Disney’s Disneyland, by Chris Nichols

This bountiful visual history draws on Disney’s vast historical collections, private archives, and the golden age of photojournalism to provide unique access to the concept, development, launch, and enjoyment of this sun-drenched oasis of fun and fantasy.

5. Walt Disney: An American Original, by Bob Thomas

After years of research, with the full cooperation of the Disney family and access to private papers and letters, Bob Thomas produced the definitive biography of the man behind the legend–the unschooled cartoonist from Kansas City who went bankrupt on his first movie venture but became the genius who produced unmatched works of animation.

6.  Secret Stories of Walt Disney World: Things You Never Knew You Never Knew, by Jim Korkis and Bob Mclain

Inside secrets of Walt Disney World from one of the worlds most knowledgeable Disney Historians, Jim Korkis.  It’s a book of Disney secrets, each exactly two pages long, and each brimming with backstage lore.

7.  Mickey Mouse: The Evolution, The Legend, The Phenomenon!, by Robert Heide and John Gilman

Since his film debut in Steamboat Willie on November 18, 1928, Mickey Mouse’s star has continued to rise, reaching his modern status as a worldwide cultural icon.  From the authors who brought you Disneyana and The Mickey Mouse Watch comes a fascinating, fun-filled look at an international icon.

What Disney Books do you suggest?

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