Michael Eisner Books

When one sees the title The Scouting Way: A Daily Guide to Living With Scout Values, they might assume that it is a book about the life of a boy scout. This book is so much more. It is an inspirational guide to living a life full of the values and ideals similar to those of scouts.

The accounts from various professionals give it a well-rounded feel - a remarkable insight into every day life. Whether speaking of happiness, teamwork, honesty, or reverence, there is a viewpoint and a story that will literally lift you from your chair. Sporadic lists and activities, including lists of things to make you happy, give it a particular uniqueness.

Tom Jones, a space shuttle astronaut, demonstrates how to turn disappointment into happiness. He was successful in "dealing with adversity and overcoming it mentally." What a great concept, right?

Letitia Baldridge tells of her childhood struggle when moving to a new town and dealing with the sadness associated with feeling left out. Even the story of her 7th birthday party could force any adult to see the importance of friendliness.

This book is a true inspiration. It's an emotional and intellectual effort to demonstrate the ways in which the values of scouting can be applied to the life of every reader. Although the style is simple, you will be overwhelmed (in a good way) with sentiment. It is a must-read and it will be sure to get your priorities and perspectives in order.

This Book is a great gift for a highschool or college graduate. This should be a mandatory read for the 21st century that may need a re-adjustment in their moral compass.
I would highly recommend this book.

Dan Marrazzo

It is really, and I mean this, together with Scouting For Boys, the best book I have ever read about Scouting. I can 't express how this book is changing the way I look upon my own life. Every day, right after breakfast, I read the daily story, its introduction, and the hints for that day. Every single day without exception.

On one hand, I'm glad that I may say honestly that many of the given hints and things to do are already common to me in my everyday life. But on the other hand, I also realise I have a long way to go before I can proudly say that I live The Scouting Way in every aspect of that daily life. And the book will most certainly help me to get closer to it, day after day.

Until now the book inspired me on two things. First I wrote an own story on my Scouting life. But the second is far more important. As everyone makes some kind of a New Year's promise, by example giving up smoking or something like that, I've promised myself what I've written in my story: to do my best to follow the rules and guidelines of Scouting in every aspect of my life, to spread out the words about Scouting to everyone who wants to hear them, to bring happiness to everyone as it was brought to me in all those years and to remain Scout for ever.

So, the only thing I can do here in this review is thank the authors for sharing those great stories with me. Please keep on doing this and I'll keep on using these stories to improve my own life and the life of everyone surrounding me.

I am the Proffessional Staff member for Scouting New Zealand with the responsibility for Resource Development, Youth Programme Delivery and Adult Leader Resources and Training

I have subscribed to the Scouting Way Newsletter and as a result of that I purchased a copy of the Scouting Way Book in November 2001

This book embodies the true Ethic and Values which form the basis for Scouting anywhere in the world, it supports the Promise and Law which are at the very core of our purpose

I find the examples in the Scouting Way to be fresh, thoughtful and above all else examples of very good practice expressed by work face adult Scout Masters, messages are simple to understand and show the values that young people and adults adopt as members of Scouting

If this book were available and being used by all Youth Workers both volunteers and proffessionals eg teachers the communities from which they worked in would be immeasurably improved

Acceptance of a values based programme by more young people would enhance their lives and that of their future families, this book gives them this opportunity

Scouting Worldwide will make use of this resource as it is a very valuable tool for youth development

I congratulate Sanfra and Jeff Schwartz on their publication of the Scouting Way Book and I look forward to further issues

Stephen Lock
Programme and Training Manager
Scouting New Zealand
....

The Scouting Way: A Daily Guide To Living With Scout Values is an inspirational guide to living one's life by the principles, virtues, and values of Scouting. From Cheerfulness and Patriotism to Honesty, Continual Learning and Reverence of God, thirty different positive values are examined in depth with informative and compelling essays, thoughts, examples, and encouragements to live one's life in better terms than ever. Evocative of fond memories from one's scouting days, The Scouting Way is an upbeat, first-class highly recommended guide to physical and spiritual self-improvement.

This book is a very eye opening piece. Nothing seems to be hidden or spared. It's written from a factual point of view, and although I have not completely finished it yet (about 3/4 through it) I have been surprised and amazed at the information presented. This book does not take the "let's jump on the pro-Disney bandwagon", nor does it take the stance of a "Disney is so awful" book, instead I feel that this book presents both sides of the tale (pardon the mouse tail pun), and discusses the backstabbing, deals and underhandedness whiloe also presenting things that were also positive during the Eisner years. It (so far as I have seen) is balanced in what it presents. I look forward to finishing this book to see what other surprises surface in the court battles and the conclusion. War was an appropriate title!

I've read this book a couple of times now; it's a long read (over 500 pages) but a compelling one. I'm interested in the Disney Corporation and how they became what they are today, and have read a couple of bios of Walt along with some books on the Imagineers, and I found Stewart's DISNEY WARS to be a worthy adjunct to those types of books. It takes the reader from the "dark" days just before Michael Eisner and Frank Wells took the reins through the rebirth of animation and of live action films for Disney owned studios, and finally to the relatively recent struggle by Eisner to hang on to his power. Along the way we meet tons of executives, managers, and creative types, including Jeffrey Katzenberg and Michael Ovitz. We watch as Disney executives move on to other corporations. We live through the takeover bid by Comcast (though I would have liked more on this topic). And the constants through the entire book are Michael Eisner, who goes from a risk taking creative executive to someone desperate to hold onto everything he feels is "his", and Roy E. Disney, Walt's nephew and the closest thing there is to a "face" of the Disney Corporation.

It's an engrossing tale of corporate intrigue and maneuvering, and I will probably read it again in a year or so.

It was good to learn of what goes on behind the scenes before great hits like Little Mermaid, Aladdin, and Pirates of the Caribbean surface in movie theaters. I have always taken these movies for granted, not appreciating before reading this book how many fights and battles often go on before such great movies are out.

Despite the negative tone, the book is a great inspirational read. A lot of lessons can be learned from the mistakes of Disney executives. The book also demonstrates how corporate politics are inescapable at huge corporations like Disney and they can be quite an invigorating challenge to deal with.

The book felt too long and could have been made much shorter while still retaining the great stories and lessons.

Still, Disney War is definitely a recommended read, especially for those who have entrepreneurial aspirations.

Boy is this is a soap opera! It's 500 pages of unrelenting detail. Don't read this book if thinking hurts your head. The author covers a lot of space and paints a vivid picture of the modern CEO - rapacious, egomaniacal, and totally devious.

Ironies abound.

Example 1, Walt Disney has been portrayed as an anti-semite or even a pro-Nazi (cf. Marc Eliot's book). Then his successor - Eisner - brings in a panoply of jewish executives (Katzenberg, Ovitz,the Weinsteins, Shapiros, Bornstein, Iger et al - and this is a short list). Of course, Eisner in his dementia considers most of them threats to his hegemony and many are either fired or forced to leave the company. Eisner can make friends (he's a charming guy) but he can't keep them.

Example 2, Roy Disney (Walt's nephew)and Ron Miller(Walt's son-in-law)are fighting over the Disney legacy and Roy brings in Eisner to subvert Miller's position as head of Disney. Miller is driven out and Eisner takes over with Roy's approval. Then after a decade or so, Roy decides Eisner is no good and then he tries the same trick on Eisner he used on Miller. Eisner eventually steps down. Of course, he pretty much screwed Disney over on his way to making hundreds of millions of dollars so I don't have much sympathy for him.

Example 3,NBC's Don Ohlmeyer called Ovitz the anti-Christ and Ovitz bawled that this remark was anti-semitic. How sensitive. Yet the Weinstein brothers produced Disney's flagrantly anti-Catholic movie "Priest". Also, once, an enraged Eisner refered to Steve Jobs of Pixar as a "Shiite Muslim".

Read Schweizer & Schweizer's "Disney - The Mouse Betrayed" for some details not covered in this book.

I read this book after reading Comic Wars by Dan Raviv which was also a corporate tell all type of book. Disney War was even better and it was really difficult to put down. It was truly amazing and somewhat comforting to know that even men and women we believe to have reached the top of their professions still exhibit the same human flaws of jealousy, distrust, insecurity, pettiness, and vindictiveness that typically are central to our most revered literary classics. It's hard to know who the good guys and bad guys are as everyone seems to provide a little or a lot of both sides. As with most corporate stories the main characters lose their reputations but remain as wealthy if not wealthier then before their downfall.

Great book , but a little lacking on detailed information, I guess Isner is still present and Disney will only let only a small amount of there stuff out the door so to speak, I suppose you can't blame them they spent a lot of time and energy getting it right ...there really isn't anywhere else on this planet that has gone to so much trouble to make get it right...I would have liked to know more tech stuff than is in here...

This book contains an astonishing array of images and sketches from throughout the development of various projects the Imagineers have worked on. If you are interested in really understanding the forced perspective of Cinderella's Castle, or the graphical concept behind "It's A Small World", or if you're just a big fan of the Disney theme parks, this is a remarkable resource, full of life and creative spark. Though it does not have any sort of case study of the development of any particular attraction (though why would it since the most important part of the development is the final version, the one that guests get to enjoy!), a single flip through the book will reveal the vast amount of effort that goes into the Imagineer's creations. Through a closer inspection it is possible to understand the intricate ways in which the various departments collaborate on the projects. Overall, it's a spectacular collection of images and ideas, and is well worth the money for anyone who has ever dreamed of being an Imagineer.

Wonderful book full of information! Definitely recommend this for any Disney behind the scene facts!

I added this book to my collection several years ago, and it is a great addition to any Disney or Imagineering fan's collection. I personally am a huge fan of Walt Disney the man, and all the projects he was involved in. This book gives more images than anything else, but some of the images and the little bit of information it gives is definitely interesting and fun to have. If you are looking for something more in depth about Imagineering I don't know if you will really find it here - it is similar to what you might get in watching a behind the scenes special feature on a DVD, it just glosses over some of the projects and plans throughout Disney Imagineering history.

I taught high school art and retired a couple years ago. This was my bible for creative ideas and approach. I now teach at the college level and still use it regularly as a reference.

I have gifted this book to several of my outstanding students. They loved it.

This book provided insights about others' camping experiences. Thus I could compare it with my own camping experiences (mostly at BSA camps). It takes alot of courage to handle the rigors of camping, in my opinion.

Although the sleep-away camp that I went to was rather different than the one Michael Eisner attended and lovingly described in this book (the rustic Keewaydin located in Vermont), nevertheless, I definitely related to Eisner's remarks on how summer camp can simultaneously foster in children independence, interdependence and constructive competition. I liked the way the book jumped around from generation to generation, to show how the benefits of the camp experience are timeless. His ode to the camp owner (forever known to campers and staff as "Waboos") is quite touching, especially his depiction of present day, close to 90 year old, Waboos, who's almost blind. My enjoyment of the book was certainly enhanced because one of my favorite activities as a camper was canoeing, which is a cornerstone of Keewaydin. I'm very curious as to how the two boys known as Q and Pepe, who were able to attend the camp as a result of a charity that the author finacially supports, are doing these days.

"Camp" is a charming little book, especially for someone like me who was also, to some extent, shaped by summer camp.

Eisner's descriptions of his experiences as a camper really hit home for me, I would recommend this book heartily. Coincidentally I also was a Beaverbod (attended Camp Beaverbrook) run by Amee and Niha and Mr Mahnke's Brother. The experience described in Eisner's book is much more "East Coast" than my own experience but still rings true if you ever went to summer camp. His descriptions of the aging Camp Director and the emotions he evokes are great. Good read!

Eisner's book is a wonderful reflection of his experiences over many summers at a prominent northeastern "sleepaway camp." Being a northern Californian, I was not exposed to this particular genre of camp experience, but my brothers and I were fortunate to attend a wonderfully similar enclave three hours north of us called Camp Beaverbrook, which featured most of the same experiences (save for the wonderful natural lakes) that Mr. Eisner recounts. Our camp directors, "Amee and Niha" (Bob and Marion Brown from Orinda, California) built the place by hand and created a wonderful place for young people ("Beaverbods," we called them) to grow up and learn to live with others. Mrs. Brown even wrote her own reflective book called "Past Tents," which is unfortunately out of print. If you enjoyed Mr. Eisner's book, you should also see the movie "Indian Summer," which never ceases to bring a tear to my eyes.

I went to camp too. Camp Hawthorne in Raymond, Maine. This book is the best and a worthwhile read for any parent with a kid at camp or any parent considering sending their kid to camp. It's likely even better for kids like me who went to camp because no matter what experience Eisner describes, the same memories come rushing back in all their fun and splendor. One of my camp friends always used to say he was going to write a book about camp called "Camp Camp." (A generic book he had in mind.) He always said no one would believe what great fun and experiences we had. He never wrote the book but I am extremely happy that Michael Eisner has. It is no samll wonder he has been so successful (say what you might about his last few difficult years - those years were difficult for anyone in business.) He actually came through them in good shape and there's a reason he did. Nothing is as tough as that first canoe trip that you lead. If you forget any one of a number of items it can turn three days into ten. Kudos to Eisner for writing about camp in all its splendor, honoring those who gave kids like us the time of our lives, and carrying on the tradition through generosity usually reserved for only the finest of America's institutions. He's got his heart and him money in the right place!

An excellent book adaptable to almost any environment where customers are encountered. The Disney Institute is "over the top" when it comes to caring for their guests (read: customers) and any business person would do well to study their methods. You won't adopt everything Disney does, but you will find success in implementing the fundamentals of how to treat your "guests" in any business.

This is a well written, easy to read book that gives you the insight on how Disney continues to be the best at serving their guests. From Disney Speak to the four main things that encompass their customer service philosophy. All is included.

An excellent choice for anyone interested in the nuances of great customer service.

lot's of great info from the Disney point of view. It may seem the book only applies to the theme park environment, but it's easy to apply their guidelines to almost any business

From the first page this book began teaching lessons worth well more than the cover price! Im a retail manager that often looks for ways to drive my teams and actively engage my customers.

Through well written examples of several operating practices you slowly begin to learn how the daily operations of Disney World apply to your own business. Within the first few chapters I was sharing the principles with my team leaders.

The entire book is written in a way thats not typical of business improvement books. The Disney template allows you to understand the theories by recalling your own visit to Disney World or Disneyland. You remember the small details that you encounter during your stay. The book even points out those elements taken for granted that would detract from the experience if they werent there; like pavement textures and garbage cans and it all makes sense.

I bought this book after a very positive recent visit to Disneyland. This is actaully when I would recommend buyng the book. Either before or right after a visit. Trust me, this will impact your understanding of the books priciples.

If Walt Disney had known how his own business beliefs would affect the 21st Century business person I feel he'd be proud. Forget the old corporate templates and listen with your heart to Walts vision of how to please your customers. Be our guest will provide the magic carpet ride, you just have to get on.

Great book with actionable ideas that I have implemented in my company and they are making a possitive difference. Even if you are not in a "leadership" position, by sharing these processes with your boss or even testing them on a small scale and letting others see the possitive impact, you will look like a star. Disney is not a huge success by accident.
Bottom line: it all comes back to customer service. You want to keep customers or get more customers; get this book and don't be afraid to try what is in it.

Peter Krass has edited the Wisdom Series series which includes this volume. Each anthologizes brief essays by different "icons of business." A brief bio of each author precedes her or his essay. In the Introduction, Krass asserts that "Among these various characters, in fact, the general consensus is that leaders are made, not born. The mythology of some mystical ability that surrounds these leaders is just that -- myth. As to the question: What makes a leader? The answer is here" in the 51 essays which he organizes within the following framework:

Part I: The Necessary Qualities

Part II: Dealing with Adversity

Part III: Visions of Progress

Part IV: Evolving Perspectives on Labor

Part V: Company Culture

Part VI: Habits and Idosyncracies

Part VII: Motivators and Mentors

Part VIII: Leading Revolution

[NOTE: Gary Hamel has written a truly brilliant book entitled Leading the Revolution. Compare and contrast his ideas with those expressed by Bossidy, Galvin, Vernon, Watson, Jr., Eisner, Wachner, Marriott, Jr., and Henry Ford in Part VIII.]

Of the 51 essays, the ones I found most valuable include all of those in Part VIII; also, others earlier in the volume such as "The Real Essence of Business" (Roberto C. Goizueta), "Roving Leadership" (Max DePree), "A View from Olympus" (Bill Gates), "American and Japanese Styles" (Akio Morita), "In the Public Eye" (Susan L. Kurtzig), and "Are You a Job-Holder or a Results-Getter?" (T. Coleman du Pont. A wide range of individuals discuss an even wider range of business issues. My suggestion is to select a topic or two of greatest interest and dive in. Because business circumstances can so often change so rapidly and (sometimes) unexpectedly, what you learn from what you read today may well help you to prepare more effectively for an uncertain future in which a new peril or opportunity emerges. Moreover, my guess is that there will be several other essays in this book to help you then, also.

I have also reviewed most of the other volumes in this series and recommend each of them highly.

This should be on every leader's or "wanna-be" leader's desk. Written by some of our past century's most effective leaders and edited to provide "side-bars" for the most important points in each of their articles, this book provides a much-needed tool. I have used it to draw on for speeches, research papers, and debate points. I first checked it out from the library to see if the content was worth buying - and I immediately ordered it! This definitely provides food for thought and inspiration. It includes not only the actual articles written by the leaders, but also a one-page profile/background on each.

What does it take to be a successful business leader? This book, edited by Peter Krauss, is filled with classic writings by legendary business leaders. Also in this book, the reader will find, behind the inspirational phrases and classic pieces of advice, the stories and examples that will inspire, and turn advice into action. This book is not so much focused on telling one must be done, but focuses on showing what has and can be done.
For example, in the late 1800's, National Cash Register's John H. Patterson was in trouble. He was trying to sell a product that everyone resented: the cash register. Why pay for a machine that double-checks the clerk's competency and honesty? Nobody wanted these "thief-catchers" in their stores. No way.
Today, no store is without a cash register. This is a tribute to Patterson's great leadership skills. Patterson was a genius at convincing others to accept his new ideas and motivate a sales force to sell those ideas.
Another example is offered from ITT's Harold Geneen. Geneen argues that if a leader has to pull rank, the leader is not a leader. He believed that one must be able to inspire hard work and creativity without resorting to commands.
J. Paul Getty points out those true leaders know how to battle an inevitable crisis. He adds that leaders love to be challenged.
From Levi Strauss's Robert Haas, the reader learns that great leaders must have a deep set of core values and principles. These leaders must not only have them but effectively communicate these beliefs and principles. Best leaders can find ethical solutions to deep conflicts because of a strong belief and principle structure. Learn how Haas had to deal with child labor at a time when child labor was critical debate.
This book is full of examples on each page. The reader will see some of the challenges that have faced some of the best known firms, and the great leaders that navigated those treacherous waters, and survived to write about it.

This tome is a solid start to what ought to be a publication series every three to five years. There are always going to be ideas, articles, and perspectives that are left out-- and yet these may be very important resources. This book does leave some key areas unrepresented, but in general it is an important source work for educators, researchers, and libraries to own. The cost is another issue, so get your institution to purchase a copy if you can.

"Sponsored by the National Art Education Association and assembled by an internationally known group of art educators, this thirty-six chapter handbook provides an overview of the remarkable progress that has characterized the field of Art Education in recent decades. Organized into six sections, it profiles and integrates the following elements of this relatively new and loosely coupled field: history, policy, learning, curriculum and instruction, assessment, and competing perspectives. Because the field of art education is relatively new and loosely coupled, this handbook provides those inside and more importantly outside the field an invaluable snapshot of both its boundaries and its current content." Like other research handbooks, the Handbook of Research and Policy in Art Education provides an indispensable reference volume for scholars, policy makers, and advanced students in the field.
SYNOPSIS
Forty-one academics, most from the U.S., contribute 36 chapters to this resource text for scholars, policy makers, researchers, and advanced students in the field. Coverage includes an historical overview of art education during the 19th and 20th centuries; the core value questions about the purposes of art education, which inform policy decisions; development and learning in the visual arts; teaching and teacher education; forms of assessment; and emerging visions in the field. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Michael Eisner put out this book, which covers the first half of his tenure at the Disney corporation, in order to justify what he has done so far. While the man is convinced he is Walt reincarnated which will lead to problems later on this book does show what Eisner has accomplished. The modern movie industry would look very different if Eisner had not been on the scene. Overall I would take this book in stride and enjoy the story of everything Eisner touching turning to gold and then having it be someone else fault when it falls apart.

I bought this book on special - ... Can't complain!!

But I must tell you it was a brilliant book and one that you will read right through and look forward everytime you pick it up. It was brilliantly written and about things that you know of. Movies you've seen or heard about. So it involves you in all his business ventures. In between all the stories is great advise and great ideas which you can relate to your own business.
Overall just really enjoyable and well worth looking at.

The whole book is about Michael Eisner and the Disney Kingdom.

Michael Eisner is the soul of the Disney Kingdom. He creates the success of Disney by his innovation and good managaement skills.

From this book, I learnt that the critical success factor for a entertainment business is innovation. People want something new and exicting, if you fail to fulfill their needs, you are the loser of the game.

After reading this book, I know how to increase my bargaining power, and how to put myself in a supervior position during a negotiation.

This is really a good book!!

After the Death of Frank Wells and the fallout from Katzenberg and Ovitz all i had heard about was how Michael Eisner was hard to work with. This book gives Eisner's account of the events.It gives a account of Eisner's career through his point of view.It does exactly what a autobiography should do without resorting to perticularly harsh blows to others.

I got this book during my last visit at Disney and I can say I was not disapointed. The book starts with Mr. Eisner's visit to the hospital and then goes all the way back to his summer school years. You might ask, so why is it interesting at all?

Well, the writting is very engaging and all sorts of names start to pop up like rabbits in a very natural way; like if you were speaking of your friends and collegues. The only thing is that your list of partners might not include George Lucas, Robert Redford, Clint Eastwood, among the several celebrities mentioned.

Eisner, however, details his hits and misses with the apparent upmost sincerity. Like the first time he tried to close a deal and how he got mad because the other party tried to take advantange of the situation at the last minute...

I come from a business background and I have experienced many of the situations that Eisner covers in his book. It is very nice to read his point of view on many topics and affect all business managers every day.

I think his dealing with Jeffrey Katzenberg was debatable and each party tried to get the most water for their own well and forgot to see what was best for Disney. At the end I think they all lost...

The book is very good indeed. Don't think is it another way to spend your money on a Disney product because if it is, you will be getting the best part of the bargain.

This great historical novel is a sweeping narrative about the Holy War in the 13th Century and the effects it had on those who fought for the cross. Brother Lucas is charged with exorcising Francisco's demons upon his return to Spain from the Crusades. When Brother Lucas first encounters his old friend, Francisco is speechless, but before long, he unburdens himself to Brother Lucas in a disturbing tale of battle and betrayal.

Francisco departs for war with his cousin, Andres, and they encounter gruesome battles against the infidels. They are at odds with the illegitimate son of the King, Don Fernando, who has no qualms about slaughtering innocent women and children and other unscrupulous behavior, before finally betraying Francisco and Andre, who end up in a Muslim prison. Their fight for survival in this dungeon is perhaps the most chilling part of the book. But Francisco's eventual release and return to Spain comes at a cost. He returns without Andres and has to justify his survival and his cousin's demise to Andres' sister Isabel, who is also Francisco's love interest. His confession to Brother Lucas and Isabel seems to release him from his demons, but a final confrontation with Don Fernando is the culmination of all of Francisco's internal conflict.

The Crusader delivers an action-packed historical account with vivid battle scenes and depictions of the Middle East. The novel even has a touch of The Name of the Rose with its account of monastic life. The first person narrative from both Brother Lucas and Francisco are rich with detail and emotion. This is a true prize for historical fiction fans.

Ok..I won't bore you with a drawn out synopsis of the book, I'll just tell you this - if you never read this book, you're seriously missing out. Honestly, it's my favorite book ever - I really don't like to re-read books, but this one I feel I could read over and over, it's so excellent. The characters are great - you really feel for them. The plot is fantastic and the setting superb. It sounds cheesy, but this book kind of changed my life - yeah, kind of weird, I know, but...just read it. For those of you who tried to read it but didn't get through it, at least give it till page 60..or maybe 100...if you're not hooked by then, I guess (gasp) it's just not for you.

Excellent book. Talented storytelling. Well balanced mix of chivalry and male comradery. Good use of historical sites.

Starts out kind of slow, but by the time the story moves to the Holy Land, it is excellent from there on out. Really enjoyed it.

In this fresh, exuberant historical novel, Francisco is a troubled former knight who returns from the Crusades a broken man. Through the narration of Brother Lucas, the monk assigned to exorcise him, we learn of Francisco's travels to the Holy Land, the battles he fought in, the woman he loves, and the horrors he witnessed. I don't pretend to know a lot about history; I can't say if the historical aspects are "accurate" or not. This book does seem very well researched, though. No matter: the characters are interesting, the descriptions vivid, and the plot intricate and fast-paced. For all but the fanatical history buff, that should be enough to enjoy this gem of a novel.

Although covering the same story this was a good companion read to Disney War by James B. Stewart. Disney War covered the Disney board revolt, animation under Katzenberg and ABC in much more detail than this book. However, The Keys to the Kingdom added much more detail on Eisners years at ABC and Paramount in much more detail which provided greater evidence of Eisner's success when completely focused on the creative aspects of television/movies. This success was contrasted with his failures when he had to take on leadership and operational roles while dangerously dabbling/micromanaging in the creative aspects during his last 10 years at Disney. This book also provides a good look at the downfall of Eisner just like Disney War due to his isolation and fear of strong leadership reporting to him. Anyone interested in Disney, Eisner, and the television/movie industry should read both!

A very well written account of the movie business--detailing a lot of the major players. Discussion how decisions are made and how grown men act like little boys most of the time. This industry is ruthless and this book gives the reader on all the inside scoop about how that happens. A fascinating read. The pictures stink but thats ok.

Some may say that Masters' book is biased against Eisner, but she does nothing except reiterate the feelings about him that have been voiced by many others in other forums. Maybe you want to give him the benefit of the doubt, but the duplicity, wishy-washiness, undercutting, second-guessing, micro-management and all around malevolence that is evidenced shows that's pretty much impossible. What we can't figure out is just why he is the way he is? Why does he casually cast aside decades-long friendships? Why doesn't he cultivate relationships with valuable talent instead of alienating them? What is most important to him that would cause him to make some the decisions he does? Eisner seems to be capable of cutting off his nose to spite his face--he fails to do things that would be beneficial to the company's bottom line which is what he claims to be most interested in. It doesn't add up. Still, it is fun reading about the Paramount years, the Katzenberg trial, etc. At this point in time (summer of 2002) when many believe Eisner is in danger of losing his job, this book gives us as much insight as possible as to the inner workings of Eisner's brain.
instead of burning

Keys to the Kingdom predicted the current situation at Disney with remarkable accuracy. The insights about Michael Eisner turned out to be right on the mark.

Oh Lord, this book is so unbelievably frustrating....more than any book I've ever read. Eisner, his life and his actions are so completely fascinating and Masters somehow manages to take all this great material and make it mind-numbingly boring...what was she thinking? That you could write a "nuanced" portrait of someone by throwing in hot gossip, sound bites, bits of articles from Time and Newsweek, as well as a bunch of stories that don't remotely relate to the main subject but are "dishy"? There was so much I wanted to know as I read this book, so many questions I had and she didn't answer any of them. Masters discusses Eisner's charm vs. his ruthlessness, she brings up provacative examples of his relationship to his family, his friends and his colleagues, and then steamrolls all of them by emphasizing how "aloof" he is and "imperial." Doesn't she know that when sketching a complicated portrait of someone, you can't just throw a bunch of facts around but you have to maintain interest by putting them TOGETHER to form a PERSPECTIVE, a CONTEXT. Much more time should have been spent on Eisner's days at Disney (rather than the completely gratuitous tales of his time at Paramount, and Star Trek, and Nimoy, and Gene Roddenberry, and Don Simpson, and Barry Diller, and...well you get the picture). I liked the parts about his childhood and his relationship to his parents, they should have been given much more space...but the biggest flaw of this book is the lack of info on the Eisner-Katzenberg relationship. Sure, Masters give plenty of space to financial issues about Katzenberg's bonus, but aside from Wall Street enthusiasts, who the hell cares? She COMPLETELY glosses over the roots of the Eisner-Katzenberg bond, and we never get an idea of WHY IN THE WORLD DID THESE TWO PEOPLE REMAIN TOGETHER FOR 19 YEARS IF THEY WERE SUCH ENEMIES? What held them together? How exactly did they meet? She talks about how Katzenberg was won over, like others, by Eisner's self-deprecating charm and his (Eisner's) confidence in him, about Katzenberg's not-so-great childhood and his problems with his own parents (very vague descriptions there as well) and how Katzenberg constantly "sought Eisner's approval". Why? What did Eisner offer him that no one else did? Why did Katzenberg follow Eisner from Paramount to Disney? She spends a whole lot of time talking (in a dry, Variety-kind-of-way) about the break-up, but the real question she (and other writers) have often missed is NOT why this relationship crashed and burned but why it was born in the first place. Why did Eisner need Katzenberg? Why did Katzenberg become so enamoured with animation, with his role at Disney, with a potential role as Eisner's number 2? These people are not carbon cut-outs, they are people. They are fascinating, complex characters and Masters gives them with about as much focus as subjects of an obituary. She seems more interested in how much money Captain EO lost, how much money Eisner allegedly cheated certain people out of, how much money Eisner paid Michael Ovitz, how much money Katzenberg wanted, how pissed Leonard Nimoy was at Paramount, what a disaster Star Trek: The Motion Picture was to produce. I don't know about you, but I didn't pick that book up to learn about this stuff. It's SO DIFFICULT to really learn about these people (Eisner and Katzenberg) despite their famous "relationship" or "feud" extremely little is really written about their interactions together as people...you have to research a ton of articles to even find out anything...this is such an interesting subject but whatever Master's knows that the rest of us don't, she isn't sharing. Her book (like many articles) unfortunately is pervaded with the "Everyone knows this" kind of tone that drives me nuts...well, I'm not a Hollywood producer, or director, or actor. I've never met either of these people, but that's why I'm interested! People buy books on Spielberg because they're interested, why the hypocricy? Masters book is slanted, glib, gossipy, disorganized, unfocused,and worst of all, insulting to the reader.