Amazon.com
Neal Gabler's meticulously researched biography, Walt Disney offers the full story (Gabler is the first writer to gain complete access to the Disney archives) of the American icon. Readers will discover the whole story, witnessing Disney's invention of a "synergistic empire that combined film, television, theme parks, music, book publishing, and merchandise." What fans don't know could fill a book (this book in fact), and we asked Gabler to point out a few of the juicy bits. Read our interview with him, and his "10 Things That May Surprise You" list below. --Daphne Durham
10 Second Interview: A Few Words with Neal Gabler
Q: Why Walt Disney?
A: When you write about someone as grandiose as Walt Disney, you may tend to get a little grandiose yourself, so forgive me. But I had always set the task for myself to examine the forces that helped define American culture in the twentieth century and those individuals who might be regarded as the architects of the American consciousness. Walt Disney was certainly one of those forces and one of those architects. His visual sensibility is arguably one of the two most important in the last century, along with Picasso's, yet Picasso has received dozens of biographies and Walt Disney had, when I began, not received a single full-scale, fully-annotated biography. I wanted to fill that gap in our cultural studies. I thought that if one could understand Walt Disney, one could go a long way to understanding American popular culture.
Q: One thing that strikes you when reading the book is that Walt Disney never had any money. With all his success how is that possible?
A: It is astonishing that Walt Disney was always--and I do mean always--in dire financial straits until the opening of Disneyland. The primary reason wasn't that his cartoons weren't making money, because they were--at least until the war in Europe when the loss of that market meant disaster for the features. But even as they were making money, the studio was losing money because Walt was constitutionally incapable of cutting corners, enforcing economies, laying off staff. The only thing about which Walt Disney cared was quality. He thought that quality was the way to maintain his preeminence, though quality also had the psychological advantage of letting him perfect his world. The problem was that quality was expensive. To cite just one example, Walt spent more than a hundred thousand dollars setting up a training program for would-be animators, though even then the return was small because Walt was so picky that very few of the candidates actually qualified to work at the studio. Money meant very little to Walt Disney. It was only a means to an end, never an end in itself.
Q: When did Walt first conceive of the idea for Disneyland and what were the initial reactions to the idea?
A: It is very difficult to determine exactly when Walt hatched the idea for Disneyland, though he seems to have been thinking about it for a long time, at least since the early 1930s. Certainly by the time he was taking his daughters, Diane and Sharon, to amusement parks on Sunday afternoons in the late 1940s, he had formulated the idea to establish a park that was clean and wholesome and where parents wouldn't be afraid to take their children. The original plan was to build the park on a plot adjacent to the studio in Burbank, where there would be a train, a town square, an Indian village and kiddieland rides, but as Walt's ideas expanded, so did the need for a bigger plot. As for the reactions to his idea, Roy was initially reluctant, as usual, and Walt's wife, Lillian, was firmly opposed, though she had also been opposed to his making Snow White. Still, Walt exaggerated the opposition as a way, I think of elevating his own foresight and determination. In fact, as the plan grew closer to realization, corporations sought to be included as lessees, and even banks, that had been skeptical, became more receptive. When the park opened, it was an instant success.
Q: What do you think has been Walt's most lasting impact/legacy on American culture?
A: One could answer this question in a dozen different ways depending on one's priorities, but I think his largest bequest is a matter of the American mind. Walt Disney helped change the national consciousness. He got people to believe in the power of wish fulfillment--in their own ability to impose their wills on a recalcitrant reality. That's what Walt Disney did all his life. He managed to replace reality with his illusions--what some people now refer to disparagingly as Disneyfication. He sold us on the idea of control because Walt Disney was himself a master of control. We see the results everywhere--from film to theme parks to virtual reality to virtual politics.
You Don't Know Disney: 10 Things That May Surprise You
1. He is
not frozen. His body was cremated, and his ashes are interred at the Forest Lawn Cemetery in Glendale, California, near his studio.
2. Mickey Mouse's original name allegedly was Mortimer but Disney's wife Lillian objected because she thought it too "sissified."
3. Some of the names originally considered for the dwarfs in Snow White were: Deafy, Dirty, Awful, Blabby, Burpy, Gabby, Puffy, Stuffy, Nifty, Tubby, Biggo Ego, Flabby, Jaunty, Baldy, Lazy, Dizzy, Cranky and Chesty.
4. Walt Disney suffered a nervous breakdown in 1931 and descended into depression after the war, concentrating his attention on model trains rather than on motion pictures.
5. Fantasia was the result of a chance meeting between Walt Disney and symphony conductor Leopold Stokowski at Chasen's restaurant.
6. During World War II the Disney studio became a war factory with well over 90% of its production in the service of government training, education and propaganda films.
7. The studio stopped production for six months on Pinocchio because Walt felt the title character wasn't likable enough. During this time he devised the idea of introducing Jiminy Cricket as Pinocchio's conscience.
8. Walt Disney received more Academy Awards than any other individual--32.
9. Disney modeled Mickey Mouse on Charlie Chaplin and that Chaplin later assisted the Disneys by loaning them his financial books so they could determine what kind of proceeds they should be getting from their distributor on Snow White.
10. MGM head Louis B. Mayer once rejected the opportunity to distribute Mickey Mouse cartoons shortly after Walt had invented the character because Mayer said that pregnant women would be frightened by a giant mouse on screen.
Book Description
From Neal Gabler, the definitive portrait of one of the most important figures in twentieth-century American entertainment and cultural history.
Seven years in the making and meticulously researched—Gabler is the first writer to be given complete access to the Disney archives—this is the full story of a man whose work left an ineradicable brand on our culture but whose life has largely been enshrouded in myth.
Gabler shows us the young Walt Disney breaking free of a heartland childhood of discipline and deprivation and making his way to Hollywood. We see the visionary, whose desire for escape honed an innate sense of what people wanted to see on the screen and, when combined with iron determination and obsessive perfectionism, led him to the reinvention of animation. It was Disney, first with Mickey Mouse and then with his feature films—most notably Snow White, Pinocchio, Fantasia, Dumbo, and Bambi—who transformed animation from a novelty based on movement to an art form that presented an illusion of life.
We see him reimagine the amusement park with Disneyland, prompting critics to coin the word Disneyfication to describe the process by which reality can be modified to fit one’s personal desires. At the same time, he provided a new way to connect with American history through his live-action films and purveyed a view of the country so coherent that even today one can speak meaningfully of “Walt Disney’s America.” We see how the True-Life Adventure nature documentaries he produced helped create the environmental movement by sensitizing the general public to issues of conservation. And we see how he reshaped the entertainment industry by building a synergistic empire that combined film, television, theme parks, music, book publishing, and merchandise in a way that was unprecedented and was later widely imitated.
Gabler also reveals a wounded, lonely, and often disappointed man, who, despite worldwide success, was plagued with financial problems much of his life, suffered a nervous breakdown, and at times retreated into pitiable seclusion in his workshop making model trains. Gabler explores accusations that Disney was a red-baiter, an anti-Semite, an embittered alcoholic. But whatever the characterizations of Disney’s personal life, he appealed to the nation by demonstrating the power of wish fulfillment and the triumph of the American imagination. Walt Disney showed how one could impose one’s will on the world.
This is a masterly biography, a revelation of both the work and the man—of both the remarkable accomplishment and the hidden life
Customer Reviews:
The Ultimate Disney Biography.......2007-10-03
Many biographies have been written about the life of Walter Elias Disney. However none have ever been so complete. Neil Gabler's Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination is simply magical. Mr Gabler research in the Disney archives for this book and it shows. The attention to detail is amazing, and it is a must read for any Disney fan.
A book that sits you on the lap of Walt himself.......2007-09-26
I have read numerous books on Walt Disney. What I found so important about this book was that the author does not tell one side. He tells all sides. Where as one author may only tell the story he selects in writing about, Neal Garber tells all sides. Leaving the reader in control of what to believe to be true or not. I loved the way Neal wrote this book. I felt like Walt was my friend as I read it. The book is more convincable (i use the word convincable because of so many different accounts of the same story that is conveyed to the reader) because of the time spent researching Walts actions and communication. I highly reccomend this book as the FIRST read of many Walt Disney books. This way when you do read books by other authors (who did not have access to the Disney Archives) you can make your own judgement on whether or not the story is as accurate as the author thinks.
Neal addresses the 'frozen Disney' immediately. At first I wrote him off as hiding the true facts. By the end of the book I believed Neal that Disney was in fact cremated.
I highly recommended this book to tons of people, and I recommend it to you too!
Not exciting but lots of data - and many errors..........2007-09-23
Having collected and read about Walt Disney and animation for 30+ years, I found that the only proper way to read Gabler's biography is as follow-up to the great book by Michael Barrier, "An Animated Man", also available on Amazon. Barrier gives the structure of Walt's life as centered on Walt's true loves: his animation and his parks. While Barrier's book is a very pleasant read, and gives insight in what made Walt tick. As a contrast, Gabler recites data as if it was a class in Latin and represents Walt as a kind of nut. Gabler clearly neither likes nor understands Walt. He also has no knowledge of--or love for--the medium of animation, and he keeps talking of Walt's "animations," an expression that is only used by people who have no idea what they are talking about. But he did have access to the Archives, and thus some things are only to be found in his book. There are many, many factual errors in Gabler's book. A huge list can be found on Barriers's site (Google "GablerErrata"). And as a final note, on that same site, one can read that Diane Disney Miller herself thinks the Gabler book is a gross misrepresentation of her father (Google "Diane_On_Gabler"). So buy both books, read Barrier first, then Gabler, and then make up your own mind!
Good biography, but a little too long.......2007-08-26
Gabler does a good job with Walt Disney, but sometimes the text reads like transcribed notecards. Otherwise, Gabler covers all the bases and deals with some painful personal incidents with sympathy, such as the death of Walt Disney's mother and a fatal riding accident from Disney's polo-playing days, which other biographers have tended to play down or use against the man behind Mickey Mouse...this is the un-Richard Shickel version.
Well balanced and researched treatment of an iconic figure.......2007-08-16
Gabler has thoroughly researched his subject to the point that he can catch Walt Disney in the act of fabricating his past and can set the record straight. He writes clearly and tells the definitive story of Walt Disney. The question is whether the subject is worth 880 pages and the reader's investment of time.
On balance, I think it is. At a minimum, the story is interesting as a case study for a business school. There is much to be learned from Disney's early struggles in business. Disney's passion for the business and willingness to invest everything back into improving it explains his ultimate success -- a lesson that business executives who focus simply on next quarter's results always fail to appreciate. The book also explains to me why Disney's lawyers are so universally acknowledged to be so vicious: it's payback time for some of the screwing that good old Walt suffered in the 20's and 30's.
But at a deeper level, the story is interesting from a character and a sociological perspective. Disney is a sad and tragic figure. Gabler does not do a hatchet job on him, and there is much to admire. But in the end, he is a very lonely and at times mean-spirited man, bitter at the compromises he has to make for the sake of finances and, more importantly, at never quite finding the perfection he seeks in his art. And Gabler does a very good job of discussing the appeal of Disney's work and why Disney's own personal longings resonated so much with that of American society. The tension between Disney's conservatism and orthodoxy, on the one hand, and his advocacy of personal expression and resistance to wrong-headed entrenched authority, on the other hand,is very well developed by Gabler.
The book would have benefitted from some tougher editing. The early years are much too overblown. There is a lot of unnecesary detail in the book.
I do recommend this book as an exceptionally well researched and balanced account of a subject worthy of the attention.
Book Description
Now in Paperback
"This remarkable set of essays defines the role of imagination in general education, arts education, aesthetics, literature, and the social and multicultural context.... The author argues for schools to be restructured as places where students reach out for meanings and where the previously silenced or unheard may have a voice. She invites readers to develop processes to enhance and cultivate their own visions through the application of imagination and the arts. Releasing the Imagination should be required reading for all educators, particularly those in teacher education, and for general and academic readers."
--Choice
"Maxine Greene, with her customary eloquence, makes an impassioned argument for using the arts as a tool for opening minds and for breaking down the barriers to imagining the realities of worlds other than our own familiar cultures.... There is a strong rhythm to the thoughts, the arguments, and the entire sequence of essays presented here."
--American Journal of Education
Customer Reviews:
Pedagogically provoking but also repetitive.......2007-08-23
This was a required text for a literacy studies graduate class. The context was pedagogically provoking along the threads of progressive modern education standards that are taught to budding teachers. Some repetition was present as it is a lengthy text with a primary focus and one author. My classmates and I were a bit disappointed with the lack of example and proposals for the curriculum/pedagogy changes being presented. This is a text to be read for establishing perspective not for quick tips or golden ticket ideas.
One of the most important books I've ever read.......2004-01-08
Maxine Greene defends the role of the arts as social medicine and advancement. She brilliantly argues for maintaining art in curriculum. Art often requires of us to imagine things which do not exist in reality. This excercise is vital in creating social change. In order to create a new and better world, we must first imagine it. We must encourage our children (and adults for that matter) to imagine. That's the first step and I feel society becoming less imaginative and more homogenized. PLEASE READ THIS BOOK!!! AND BUY A COPY FOR A TEACHER.
Book Description
Since the beginning of his existence, man has used imagination to create magical worlds that would transport him beyond the borders of reality. Art of Imagination is a trilogy consisting of the award winning Illustrated History series: Science Fiction of the 20th Century (Year 2000 Hugo Award Winner), Horror of the 20th Century (Bram Stoker Award nominee), and Fantasy of the 20th Century creating the ultimate collection. It was in the twentieth century that book, magazine, and poster artists reached new pinnacles of creativity in depicting the unknown. This collection of works by artists and designers of movie posters, books, and magazines provides a hearty feast for the eyes of the enchanted reader. These artisans and their works are the subject of this new must-have book for not only collectors of memorabilia, but for every person who has longed to step into his or her imaginary world, be it one of fantasy, flight, or fear -- if only for a moment.
Customer Reviews:
Lost for days..........2006-01-31
This book is amazing. You will find yourself peering at every full-color nook and cranny for days. There are so many historical, book, and film references, you'll find yourself taking endless notes for things to look up later.
If you consider yourself even the slightest of sci-fi/fantasy/horror fans, you will cherish this book.
It is quite a tome, however. Be sure to work up your bicepts before trying to lift it.
MY HIGHEST RECOMENDATION.......2005-01-08
If ever there was a book that's a treasure trove of images and information, this is it. An incredible array of pulp, comic, paperback and other art of 20th century science fiction, horror, fantasy and the like. The production values of this mammoth book are great, with familiar and totally obscure titles shown and explicated. Buy this book!
A heavyweight vision........2003-11-02
First off I think you should know that this wonderful book's 768 pages weigh a bit over ten pounds. It is a reprint of three very popular Collectors Press 20th Century series, Science Fiction, Horror and Fantasy. I bought this copy because I'm interested in visual popular culture and I was very impressed with the historical scope of the subject matter, the 1300 colored illustrations include not only book jackets but covers of magazines, comics and nicely, film posters.
With so many illustrations you can search out your favorites, I like the work of Hannes Bok, Kelly Freas and Jeff Jones and there plenty of examples of their work. Running through all the images the three authors contribute a popular history of each genre but it is the huge collection of covers that make this a knockout book for me.
***FOR AN INSIDE LOOK click 'customer images' under the cover.
BTW, I bought this big book at a huge discount and I suggest you take the trouble to check the title out on the comparison shopping book websites, you'll be surprised at price variations.
Necessary purchase for my collection of art texts.......2003-05-13
Being a professional artist, and a mondo horror fan, I was craving to get my pencil smudged paws on this book. Over 700 pages of lavishly illustrated science fiction and horror history. Art of Imagaination brings to attention the works of the great artists who have worked in this field for over a century. Anyone with even a minor interest in thsi subject would find this text a true page turner. Highly Recommended.
A Trip Through the Fantastic!.......2003-01-17
This book is a must have for anyone who is creative. If you've lost your sense of wonder, this book will bring it back. You cannot help but be inspired by this fine tribute to the illustrators and art directors of fantastic art. You will not be disappointed buying this book. No cheap black & white stroll through memory lane here. It's a full color journey spotlighting the creative talent of imaginative artists from days gone by to today. High quality paper and binding are the icing on the cake. A tip of the hat to the authors and publisher for such an authoritative volume on a thinly treated subject.
Book Description
They’re the very best in contemporary glass beadmaking, 1000 dazzling and unique examples by an international array of artists. This color survey has it all: the beads come single or in multiples, in jewelry or sculptural pieces, flameworked and kilnformed; and their diversity and beauty are amazing. Julia Skop’s intriguing Secret Surprise showcases clear glass beads with millefiori slices at the ends. Bruce St. John crafts his beads out of diachroic glass, then fuses and coldworks them at the lapidary well after completion. Nebula Black Necklace, from Rene Roberts, features an organic-looking focal bead adorned with fine metal leaf, glass shards, and a subtle dot decoration. An artist’s comment and detail image accompany many of the photos. A Selection of the Crafters Choice Book Club.
Customer Reviews:
Gorgeous, Gorgeous Book!!.......2007-06-11
This book is pure eye candy!! For those who just appreciate beautiful works of art, or those who are involved or learning lampworking, this book is amazing. No instructions, just pictures of finished glass beads, but that is more than enough.
One of the Bibles for Lampwork Beads!.......2007-01-09
Every Beadmaker and collector should have this book in their library!
creative.......2007-01-03
the pieces are selected by great care.they develop your imagination.whether you are a beginner or an advice beader, you should have this book.
Visual Stunner.......2006-08-23
A creative inspiration for all lampworkers & all who appreciate fine beads! Sooo many beads, so little time! You'll never need to ask "what should I try next?"
Lots of Eye Candy!.......2006-06-30
This little book shows a great variety of glass beads. I am amazed what some people can do with soft glass. The book is filled with wonderful color photos of completed jewelry. For the price it is a great value.
Book Description
Imagine a night when you can ride your bike right up the stairs to your bed. Imagine a night when your toy train rumbles on its tracks out of your room and roars back in, full sized, ready for you to hop on for a nighttime adventure. Imagine a night when a farmer plays a lullaby on his fiddle, and his field of sunflowers begins to dip and sway to the rhythm. Imagine a night when ordinary objects magically become extraordinary...a night when it is possible to believe the impossible.
With the intrigue of an Escher drawing and the richness of a Chris Van Allsburg painting, renowned Canadian artist Rob Gonsalves depicts that delicious time between sleep and wakefulness, creating a breathtaking, visual exploration of imagination and possibility that will encourage both children and adults to think past the boundaries of everyday life, and see the possibilities beyond.
Customer Reviews:
Surreal Imagination.......2007-05-14
I bought this as a gift for my adult artist son. The technique used by Rob Gonsolves is exquisite. The words that go with the artists rendition are priceless.
magical images.......2007-02-14
When I was growing up, I remember having a book with beautifully vivid pictures. They were entire scenes that you would have to stop and look at for quite awhile in order to take in the whole scene. This is such a book and the words that go along are so calming and guiding. My daughter loves to gaze at what is happening on every page.
Imagine a Night.......2007-01-09
This is a great book with fantastic illustrations. It is great for any aged person.
Exercise your child's imagination.......2006-03-11
We loved both Imagine a Night and Imagine a Day. The artwork is a great introduction to surrealism and more importantly the power of imagination. It is a great way to teach your children to think out-of-the-box. Since receiving this as a gift myself, I have made it a standard for baby gifts to others. Always the same response, "what an unbelievable book".
4 and a half but willing to be generous.......2005-10-27
I gave this book 5 stars to balance it with the 4 that I gave his other book; Imagine a Day. Both books are awash with the same wonderful surrealism. Its a trip to another world on par with Escher. Unfortunately the trip is far too short, only 16 paintings. His two books should be combined to one in my opinion but other than that a great experience.
Book Description
*Combines two favorite topics--drawing and creativity
*Enclosed spiral binding means it lies flat while artists work!
*Features countless inspirational drawings from the author and other famous artists, including R. Crumb and Maya Lin.
Every artist wants to be more creative, and this book demystifies that often confusing process. There are dozens of exercises to help readers more fully engage their artwork and unlock the power of the imagination. Artists will learn how to recycle old drawings into fresh ideas and discover new ways of working that free their creativity. Artists of all levels--working in every medium--will come away more confident and creative!!
Customer Reviews:
Get this book!.......2007-04-16
This is a great how-to-draw book, because it has a very smart strategy: finesse the negative self-criticism that keeps most of us from even beginning to do anything smacking of `art.'
When a six year old once asked her father, a college art instructor, what he did for a living, he said, "I teach people how to draw." Incredulous, she replied: "You mean they forget!?"
We all know why that is-- a censorious voice inside our heads keeps up a murderous barrage of intimidation: "You suck! You can't draw!" And we knuckle under.
Most books on how to draw just reinforce this anxiety. They aim to teach you how to draw realistically, which for most of us means there is just one way to get it right, and a thousand to screw it up. How to solve this problem? Cookie-cutter schematic diagrams are given for drawing everything from portraits to horses, but every time you draw one of those almond shapes for a head, then put in a cross on which to put facial features, you've become a robot and art, an assembly-line production. That's a far cry from the utter fearlessness we all had when armed only with crayons.
This book blows by all this tomfoolery because it cares little for cheap realism but much for real creativity. By not focusing on the "what" but the "how" this book lets you not only think like an artist, but become one. In its pages learning is doing as rules are jettisoned in favor of principles, suggestions and exercises that gently immerse you in the experience of drawing, so that before you know it, you're scribbling away as intently as any six-year old... or Van Gogh. Getting the terminally self-conscious to believe in themselves as artists is no mean achievement--it's damn hard to do as a matter of fact--but Bert Dodson does this beautifully. (Even more experienced artists will learn much from perusing this wise and thoughtful book.)
But don't misunderstand one thing. Dodson's emphasis on creativity isn't an injunction to just "do what you feel." Drawing books like that leave you hanging in the air with no chance for traction and forward-momentum. This book is not one of those. The format in Keys to Drawing with Imagination not only generates much artistic material to work with, but will channel your growing understanding, concentrating it, so that a genuine mastery emerges, confident enough to undertake its own experimentation and exploration. This book is designed to be like the Buddha's raft--once it carries you over the river, you leave it behind to go on your way. For, ultimately, making art is about being free.
I have only one small cavil to make about this superb drawing book. The title bites. With a subject as exciting as creative drawing, this title is like giving Marilyn Monroe a name like Norma Jean. It obviously hopes to cash in on the success of Mr. Dodson's earlier book, Keys to Drawing; I sense the money-grubbing hands of the publisher's bean-counters. My condolences to the author, a most witty and engaging man, who must be suffering grievously.
Teacher/Artist's view.......2007-03-30
Thank you, Bert Dodson, for Drawing With Imagination. It is a much needed elixir for both my creative and professional life. I've been an Art teacher for thirty years and I know from experience that you can teach almost anyone how to draw and paint well. Learning to use the tools is the easy part. What's hard is stimulating the imagination and the confidence to be creative.
Dodson's new book is a brimming reservoir of inspirational projects and ideas for the artist or teacher. Some of these exercises are so freeing, blocks to creativity seem to melt away leaving a fresh landscape of fertile ground. Using Bert's book as a basis for lessons my high school beginning students are stumbling onto originality and my advanced "Portfolio" students are discovering new directions for their work.
Every teacher and artist needs a copy of this book at their fingertips if only for an infusion of energy for your classroom and studio. I didn't realize till I got my copy, I've been waiting for this book for a long time.
This book could be a valuable resource for any enterprise that aims to create something new.......2007-03-30
As a sculptor by avocation I find Bert Dodson's book delightful in its exuberant enthronement of imagination. As a biologist by vocation I'm equally pleased at how much this book evokes the experience of the scientist. The scientist keeps a sharp eye out for mystery in nature, imagines plausible explanations, devises experiments to test his ideas, and emerges with insights. The artist, similarly, observes, experiments interprets and brings forth something new. For both, imagination is a powerful key to success in discovery.
I am particularly impressed by Dodson's use of metaphor as a potent artistic explanatory device. In many different situations he discusses and illustrates ways in which "metaphoric seeing" " - looking at something and seeing something else - "awakens our ability to bring our own interpretation to reality."
Bert Dodson- Genius!.......2007-03-27
Bert Dodson's new book on drawing from the imagination liberates drawing from its shackles and empowers all of us to make a strong visual statement in our own unique way. Thank you Mr. Dodson for expanding on your classic work, Keys to Drawing. You never stop inspiring us but most of all you make us believe in ourselves!
I loved this book.......2007-03-25
Keys to Drawing with Imagination is a wonderful book for someone who loves to draw but doesn't feel confident. This book helped me realize that my doodles have the potential for beginning my journey into my imagination. I like reading into the mind of Bert Dodson, the artist, which helps me understand what drives at least one person's creative vision.
Book Description
Picture a childhood void of the joyful images and sensations we associate with play--a childhood lacking in curiosity, diversity and symbolic meaning--a childhood without playmates or friends. Children on the autism spectrum are among those who face serious challenges learning how to play in both social and imaginative ways.
But no longer do these children have to remain lost souls on the fringes of playgrounds and other social gathering places. In Peer Play and the Autism Spectrum: The Art of Guiding Children's Socialization and Imagination, Pamela Wolfberg turns her award-winning research into a practical manual for practitioners and caregivers seeking to address the unique and complex challenges children on the autism spectrum experience.
This practical guide offers an introduction to the basic principles, tools and techniques that comprise the Integrated Play Groups model, designed to support children of diverse ages and abilities on the autism spectrum (novice players) in mutual play experiences with typical peers and siblings (expert players). Small groups of children regularly play together under the guidance of an adult facilitator (play guide) through a carefully tailored system of support. The emphasis is on maximizing children's developmental potential as well as intrinsic desire to play, socialize and form meaningful relationships with peers. At the same time, an equally important focus is on teaching the peer group to be more accepting, responsive and inclusive of children who relate and play in different ways. This innovative book is full of forms, checklists and other tools to facilitate implementation.
Customer Reviews:
One of the many tools to use with treating PDD.......2006-02-22
There is so much out there about Autism, classified as a pervasive developmental and neuropsychiatric disorder, whose causes are not fully understood. I feel this book is not limited to those with PDD or ASD; it is useful for any child, as other reviewers have mentioned.
Some of the techniques that may be useful in treating a child with PDD, are the systems used in Integrated Play Groups, so well outlined in this book. It seems particularly valuable in mainstreaming a child into "neuro-typical" culture, something that we caregivers want for our loved ones with PDD.
However please remember, in spite of the tone of this book, that with Autism Spectrum Disorders there are no silver bullets, and "play therapy" should not be seen as the end all of treatments for a child with PDD. It should, at best, be viewed as one of the many tools at a caregiver's disposal.
The best book there is to help your child overcome autism........2006-01-03
This book has been the single most important reference book I've used to help my son overcome autism.
Two years ago -- my 4 year old son didn't know how to relate to other children, he didn't speak to other children, he would just stare at them as if they were bugs he was studying. Using the methods expertly outlined in this magnificent book -- my son now plays with others, chats away with them, and has learned much more about how to function in the neuro-typical world. Since the business of children is play -- lack of play skills keeps most children with autism from taking part in childhood activities.
Autism is a communicative and social disorder, this book did more than I could possibly say to help me learn how to teach my son to communicate and to play with others. This book taught me, and can teach all parents and caregivers, that we ourselves can do so much to help our children overcome autism's ill effects, and the basic core of that is in helping them learn how to play.
Excellent, Practical and Refreshing.......2003-10-26
This book is an excellent practical resource for promoting play in children with autism or ASD. This book begins from a philosophy that incorporates and respects all children. It provides numerour practical resources and instructions for setting up integrated play groups. It incorporates research and resources. A refreshing book I can't wait to apply to children with ASD in my occupational therapy practice
Book Description
Designed for courses in Creativity, Two-, Three- or Four-Dimensional Design, Launching the Imagination offers a comprehensive framework on which students, teachers, and administrators can build. The approach in this second edition is refined, distilled, and updated, using over 600 examples drawn from traditional and contemporary sources.
Profiles with interviews of artists and designers introduce students to working processes, career choices, and criteria for excellence from a remarkable group of masters.
Launching the Imagination is available in a comprehensive volume treating 2D design, Creativity and Problem-solving, 3D design, and time-based (4D) design; or in split volumes containing either 2D or 3D design, plus the material on Creativity and Problem-solving.
Launching the Imagination’s
Core Concepts in Art CD-ROM, version 2.0, which engages students interactively with the elements and principles of art through numerous interactive exercises, has been re-organized and expanded. A copy of this CD-ROM is included free with every copy of the textbook purchased from McGraw-Hill, a student-value of over $30, and is also available individually through your local bookstore.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent comprehensive textbook for Core Art curriculum.......2007-04-15
I have been the Core Coordinator at a major public university for nearly 20 years. We have used many Foundation Art books over the years--books by David Lauer, Zelanski and Fisher, Ockvirk et al, Steven Bleicher, Betsy Keonig, and many others. The foundation books by each of these authors have much to recommend, but Mary Stewart's Launching the Imagination is by far the best comprehensive overview on the market. We use it for our classes in 2D, 3D, and 4D. While it would not be appropriate for a course focusing exclusively on Color Theory (for our Color course we currently use Betsy Koenig's "Color Workbook"), it is an excellent foundational reference for beginning art and design students. I am particularly impressed with the sections on 4D (time arts) and Critical Thinking. I have started recommending the section on 4D to upper division students in animation as it provides a broader understanding of time arts via film theory, narrative sequences of all kinds, and book arts. Along with the excellent CD designed by Bonnie Mitchell (a major force in her own right in contemporary computer graphics and animation and a professor at Bowling Green University), this is a great resource for students and faculty alike.
Launching the Imagination Comprehensive with core concepts CD-ROM v3.0.......2007-02-08
I refer my students to Launching The Imagination as the text I feel gives the broadest, most comprehensive and comprehensible descriptions and definitions of three- dimensional design. From composition to concepts, architecture, sculpture, and a variety of design applications, this text points out major differences and commonalities by means of example and explanations in common sense terms. I absolutely recommend it.
Excellent Resource.......2007-02-08
I don't assign a textbook in my Two-Dimensional Design class. Instead I have students compile their own reference guide or text in the form of a sketchbook over the course of the semster. That said, I do use Launching the Imagination as my primary supplemental text and draw many examples and definitions from it for the work we do in class. LTI has laid the foundation upon which many of my projects are structured. If students choose to purchase a book to compliment the course material we cover, I recommend LTI. It's an invaluable resource and I'm grateful for it.
Excellent, Comprehensive Book for Foundation.......2007-02-08
I am the Foundation Coordinator at a four year university, and I have reviewed MANY foundation texts. Most focus on just one aspect of foundation learning: usually 2D design. This book is different: it is a comprehensive text that covers 2D Design, 3D Design, Critical Thinking, and 4D (Time Based) Design. Rather than have students buy three or four texts for different courses, we use this book for all of our foundation courses. What truly sets this book apart, other than it's total foundations approach, is the section on critical thinking. It covers everything from brainstorming to avoiding cliches to different critique strategies & critical thinking. I even use this chapter with my upper division students, who actually thank me for using the section on "how to critique" in particular. The book contains thoughtful reflection questions and summaries at the end of each chapter, along with an excellent glossary and LOTS of color reproductions of both historical and contemporary artworks. If you need ideas for projects, the book comes with lots of supplements, including a website. The Online Learning Center is a goldmine of information, as is the Instructors Manual that can be ordered along with the book. Make sure to order the most recent edition, as the book has been updated with new information. I have been teaching Foundations for nine years, and this is by far the best book out there!
Don't waste your students money!.......2007-02-01
Awful! I regret making my students purchase this book. For beginner art students it is overly complicated and laid out in a confusing illogical way. There are no exercises at the end of each section and the definitions are vague at the best of times. The only practical use I have found for this book is to rip it up and use it for collage.
Amazon.com
OK, so it's a gimmick. A book in the shape of a 3-inch block. It'll take up too much space on your bookshelf. Its 672 pages are unnumbered, making it nearly impossible to find the same one twice. It is full of contradictory advice. And once you've used the book a few times, it'll more closely resemble a splayed slinky than a block.
So what? Author Jason Rekulak believes that inspiration "can be found anywhere--in dreams, highway billboards, newspaper personal ads, the Yellow Pages, restaurant menus, family photo albums, and bizarre morning TV talk shows." He has packed his stubby little book with kindling aplenty to ignite the fire of your writer's imagination. Open randomly to photographs and spark words ("traffic jam," "waiting," "hitchhiker," "prom"), writing challenges, and writing topics. "Chronicle the longest amount of time you've ever gone without sleeping," recommends one page. "Write about the biggest secret that you failed to keep," advises another. Describe "ten minutes that still make you cringe," urges a third. Write about one of the 300,000 Americans who consume at least 10 cups of coffee every day, or one of the 100 people who have registered with the Florida Department of Corrections to witness an execution, or one of the 3,500 members of the International Flat Earth Society. If none of that is enough to bump up your production rate, follow the lead of crime writer Charles Willeford. "Never allow yourself to take a leak in the morning until you've written a page," he says. "That way, you're guaranteed a page a day, and at the end of a year you have a novel." --Jane Steinberg
Book Description
Inspiration Running Low? Is Your Muse out to Lunch? Need a Nudge to Channel Your Creativity?
Here's the first book on writer's block that's packaged in the shape of a block—3" x 3" x 3"—with 672 pages and more than 200 photographs throughout. Next time you're stuck, just flip open THE WRITER'S BLOCK to any page and you'll find an idea or exercise that will jump-start your imagination. Many of these assignments come straight from the creative writing classes of celebrated novelists like Ethan Canin, Richard Price, Toni Morrison, and Kurt Vonnegut.
Within these pages, you'll learn how Joyce Carol Oates uses running to destroy writer's block. Elmore Leonard describes how he often finds ideas just by reading the newspaper. E. Annie Proulx discusses finding inspiration at garage sales. Isabel Allende tells why she always begins a new novel on January 8th. And John Irving explains why he prefers to write the last sentence first.
Fresh, fun, and irreverent, THE WRITER'S BLOCK also features advice from contemporary editors and literary agents, lessons from the awful novels of Joan Collins and Robert James Waller, a filmography of movies concerning writer's block (i.e. The Shining, Barton Fink) and countless other surprises. With this handy little book at your side, you may never experience writer's block again!
Customer Reviews:
Different format.......2007-05-26
Difficult to use! Design is awkward to say the least. Concept is interesting.
Writer's Block.......2007-05-12
Looks like a stack of note paper, impossible to read, and was returned to Amazon.
Worth Every Cent.......2006-07-10
Have writer's block? Well, look no further!
This book is awesome! It contains about a billion writing prompts as well as funny stories and anecdotes about writers we all know. And if you're feeling down about your writing, the stories of the failures in this little cube shaped book will lift your spirits. I couldn't stop reading this book when I bought it and I can't think of a better way to spend ten bucks. Like my title says, this book is worth every cent.
Every writer and writer-wanna-be NEEDS this book.......2004-07-19
As an aspiring writer, I am constantly seeking ideas to inspire me. When writer's block hits (which is often) I open THE WRITER'S BLOCK and flip to practically any page and find numerous ideas on which to write. I have even gone through the book and flagged the ones that I like the most with post-it tags. The only unfortunate thing is -- I don't have enough time to write on all of these awesome suggestions! BUY THIS BOOK. YOU WON'T REGRET IT!
Creative Indulgence.......2004-07-16
This would probably have been a pretty good book, had the writer chosen to present substance, rather than focusing on being cutesy. The 3" X 3" size, which makes it difficult to read, is a serious distraction.
Book Description
Imagine a day when your swing swings you higher than the highest treetops. Imagine a day when you can ride your bike up a path of falling leaves into the very tree they are falling from. Imagine a day when you release a handful of blue balloons into a cloudy, gray sky to create a postcard-perfect day. Imagine a day when the ordinary becomes the extraordinary...a day when anything is possible.
Imagine a Day is the companion book to the critically acclaimed Imagine a Night, which School Library Journal declared "a fascinating foray into the imagination." Renowned Canadian artist Rob Gonsalves once again stretches the limits of visual exploration with his breathtaking paintings and encourages parents and children alike to look beyond the limits of the everyday world and imagine.
Customer Reviews:
mesmerizing illustrations.......2007-02-14
I read this before Thomson's "Imagine a Night". They are both spectacularly illustrated. It isn't a story as much as a guide for imagination. I find myself lost in the pictures and my daughter loves to see where reality and fantasy mix in the pages.
magical, wonderful , hopeful book.......2007-01-19
I would recommend this book to all, children as well as adults.
Imagine a Day by Rob Gonsalves.......2007-01-15
I had to purchase this book because his art is intriguing and could be used in my daughter's creative writing program. Gonsalves' artwork is colorful and extremely thought provoking. This book is an excellent coffee table book as well as a gift to art lovers.
Imagine a Day.......2007-01-09
We got exactly what we wanted, in great shape and on time
Amazing to read and look at!.......2006-11-12
This book is one of the greatest books I've read and reviewed this year!
In its poetic simplistic sense, each verse brings new meaning and clear thought to a basic 3-4 word line. Along with the illustrations, done in an almost salvadore dali method, the pictures are created amongst themselves. A tall bridge slowly becomes people standing on each other helping build the bridge. A man studying a map becomes children diving off into a part of the map and flying over beautiful land. My descritions don't do justice to the beautiful artwork expressed inside these pages. Superb artwork by Rob Gonsalves!
Taken from the book on one of my favorite pages...
imagine a day.....
when roots drink up rivers,
twigs tangle in clouds,
and a tree is a ladder
between earth and air.
This is a must read for children and will also be enjoyed by adults.
Books:
- Watercolor for the Absolute Beginner: A Clear and Easy Guide to Successful Painting
- Where Women Create: Inspiring Work Spaces of Extraordinary Women
- Wide Sargasso Sea: A Novel (Norton Paperback Fiction)
- You Can Draw Star Wars (You Can Draw)
- 500 Bowls: Contemporary Explorations of a Timeless Design
- 500 Teapots: Contemporary Explorations of a Timeless Design
- Architectural Graphic Standards
- ART OF POCAHONTAS, THE
- Audubon's Birds of America: The Audubon Society Baby Elephant Folio
- Beyond Impressionism: The Naturalist Impulse
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- The Four Insights: Wisdom, Power, and Grace of the Earthkeepers
- Pretender
- Gender Space Architecture: An Interdisciplinary Introduction
- Love Her Madly: A Novel
- History: Fiction or Science
- On the Move
- My Name Is Bill: Bill Wilson--His Life and the Creation of Alcoholics Anonymous
- The Hunter Gracchus: And Other Papers on Literature and Art
- Launching Your Kids for Life: A Successful Journey to Adulthood Doesn't Just Happen by Accident
- The wild flowers of Guernsey: With notes of the frequencies of all species recorded for the Channel
Movie Directors
| Arts & Literature
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
Walt Disney Treasures - Your Host, Walt Disney
Walt Disney Treasures - The Complete Pluto, Volume Two
Andrew Carnegie
Walt Disney Treasures - More Silly Symphonies (1929-1938)
Spinning Disney's World: Memories of a Magic Kingdom Press Agent
