chelledun's Full Review: James B. Stewart - Disneywar
I finished it! Although I am a fast reader normally, this 500 plus page monstrosity has been a full month project. Was it worth the read? I would have to say Disneywar is required reading for any Disney enthusiast, as well as people interested in one of America’s most successful (and surprisingly scandalous) business empires.
Plot Information
James B. Stewart pieces together the history of the Disney empire under Michael Eisner using interviews, transcripts of court testimony, and accounts of overheard conversations. The story opens in the prologue on November 20, 2003 with an account of Roy Disney’s removal from the board of directors. The bulk of the book is then somewhat of a flashback, beginning on Michael Eisner’s first day as chairman and chief executive of Walt Disney Company in 1984.
Stewart focuses the story around Eisner and details his career in chronological order. He takes the reader through the important developments in Disney’s film, amusement park, and television history. There are also detailed accounts of the various hirings and firings of the officials who serve under Eisner. These include Jeffery Katzenburg, who later formed the successful Dreamworks film company. Throughout the story an overarching theme emerges of Eisner’s fear of competition, which results in his discovering an excuse to fire people when they begin to become too powerful or popular. At the same time, he is skilled in getting what he wants from people right up until the time they are forced out of the company. The story ends with Eisner’s resignation after pressure by Roy Disney and Stanley Gold. An epilogue a brief reflection on the positive and negative events of his legacy with Disney.
The Good
James Stewart offers the reader a true insider’s perspective. The amount of detail is amazing. Somehow Stewart has waded through mountains of material to place all the events and conversations in chronological order. He also seems to be fairly detached and does not allow himself to succumb to Eisner’s charm. Stewart’s self-awareness is demonstrated when he states, after a conversation with Eisner,
I realize that by mentioning Litvak’s remark-assuming Litvack said it…Eisner has simultaneously positioned himself as someone I can’t trust, and has ingratiated himself with me. He has cleverly attempted to turn me against Litvak…exactly what so many current and former Disney executives have told me happened to them. (Page 456)
As a big Disney fan, I really enjoyed all the discussions of various films, theme park attractions, and television shows interspersed with all the business discussions. I learned some interesting new facts, particularly with regard to the film and television divisions. It seems that Disney passed on several television shows and movies which have become phenomenally successful, such as Survivor and Lord of the Rings. Eisner’s bad taste in such matters is almost shocking, considering he hated the film Pirates of the Caribbean and the television show Lost, both of which have become big hits for Disney/ABC in the past couple of years.
Even for those who aren’t big Disney fans, the story is interesting and at times reads like a soap opera. Eisner is a complex character, and often says one thing but does another. The book delves into some clearly shady deals, friendships dramatically destroyed, and huge failures in film and television. Throughout everything, Eisner remains completely in denial in both his letters to shareholders and personal conversations. I find Michael Eisner more interesting than a character one would make up!
The Not So Good
I feel that this book may have trouble finding its niche. I am a person who is extremely interested in Disney history and details about the film and theme park histories. However, I found some of the extremely detailed business portions of the book a bit dull towards the end. Stewart’s attention to detail is impressive, but I can only handle so many board meetings. On the other hand, the reader of Stewart’s typical fare (Wall Street scandals and Whitewater) may be bored by the huge amount of detail put into discussions of Disney theme parks and animated features. For a person interested in both Disney and corporate structure, however, this book will be a match made in heaven. I’m just not sure how many people of that type there are!
Overall…
I feel a sense of accomplishment after finishing this book, and have definitely learned quite a bit of new information about the Disney corporation. Stewart does an amazing job putting together a huge amount of very detailed information. This isn’t a quick read, but it is an interesting one.
The Walt Disney Company was once the all-conquering model of American corporate culture, assimilating any entity that crossed its path like Star Trek ...More at Alibris
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