ddxv's review against another edition
4.0
It took me a couple chapters to get into this book. At first it felt obvious and full of platitudes. Things that I feel most people have heard of already. I started to realize that there was more to it as you hear about how Pixar actually realized these ideas in their management and culture.
Ultimately, I enjoyed this book quite a bit. The stories about the story creation process, merger with Disney and relationship with Steve Jobs all stand out.
I hope others enjoy it as much as I did.
Ultimately, I enjoyed this book quite a bit. The stories about the story creation process, merger with Disney and relationship with Steve Jobs all stand out.
I hope others enjoy it as much as I did.
leiresaldivar's review against another edition
5.0
Se ha convertido en uno de mis libros favoritos, lleno de lecciones de liderazgo y de cómo fomentar la creatividad en muchas áreas. Súper recomendable
somanytictoc's review against another edition
5.0
This book is billed as a management book for handling creative types, but I think it could more broadly apply to anyone working with millennials. Catmull places great importance on valuing your employees' contributions, flattening the hierarchy, and giving your employees autonomy. I really wanted to show some of these quotes to all of my former bosses. I'd love to work for a company run in the Pixar Way.
The book meanders a bit, moving from a straight biography to a corporate management how-to to a history of Pixar and Disney Animation, but luckily it doesn't dwell too long on any one aspect. The book is very readable, and if you don't like part of a chapter, just ride it out. Catmull changes direction quickly enough that nothing feels bogged down.
I'd recommend this to anyone who wants to understand how to manage a creative environment. I came close to only giving 4 stars because I never had, well...I never had that highly emotional Pixar moment I was expecting. For a guy who has cried during the past 4-5 Pixar films, I kind of expected the book to lead with its heart rather than its head, but Catmull takes a different path this time. It pays off, just in a different way.
The book meanders a bit, moving from a straight biography to a corporate management how-to to a history of Pixar and Disney Animation, but luckily it doesn't dwell too long on any one aspect. The book is very readable, and if you don't like part of a chapter, just ride it out. Catmull changes direction quickly enough that nothing feels bogged down.
I'd recommend this to anyone who wants to understand how to manage a creative environment. I came close to only giving 4 stars because I never had, well...I never had that highly emotional Pixar moment I was expecting. For a guy who has cried during the past 4-5 Pixar films, I kind of expected the book to lead with its heart rather than its head, but Catmull takes a different path this time. It pays off, just in a different way.
jeffthink's review against another edition
4.0
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, in part because it imparts much hard earned wisdom about how to build an effective team, organization, and culture oriented around achieving excellence, and in part because it offers a enjoyable history lesson on the field of computer graphics, animation, Pixar, and Disney.
As a leader in an organization, I've seen firsthand how difficult it is to run an efficient / productive company, while also creating the space necessary for creativity & innovation to prosper, given that the former appeases the "short term" stakeholders, while the latter ensures the long term prosperity for the "long term" ones. It's a delicate balance wrought with mistakes, and this book speaks to many of them.
There's no doubt that Pixar, and Disney Animation after the Pixar purchase, has dominated their space, and achieved unparalleled excellence. There are many lessons, stories, and quotes that speak to how difficult the process has been, despite how easy it has appeared to the outside world. In particular, this quote resonated with me:
"Because too many of us think of ideas as being singular, as if they float in the ether, fully formed and independent of the people who wrestle with them. Ideas, though, are not singular. They are forged through tens of thousands of decisions, often made by dozens of people."
To know that such a creative force as Pixar wrestles with the same marathon-like process as the rest of us striving to be creative is reassuring and invigorating.
And as a final key lesson from the book:
"The first principle was “Story Is King,” by which we meant that we would let nothing—not the technology, not the merchandising possibilities—get in the way of our story."
What's your story, and how will you use it to empower change?
As a leader in an organization, I've seen firsthand how difficult it is to run an efficient / productive company, while also creating the space necessary for creativity & innovation to prosper, given that the former appeases the "short term" stakeholders, while the latter ensures the long term prosperity for the "long term" ones. It's a delicate balance wrought with mistakes, and this book speaks to many of them.
There's no doubt that Pixar, and Disney Animation after the Pixar purchase, has dominated their space, and achieved unparalleled excellence. There are many lessons, stories, and quotes that speak to how difficult the process has been, despite how easy it has appeared to the outside world. In particular, this quote resonated with me:
"Because too many of us think of ideas as being singular, as if they float in the ether, fully formed and independent of the people who wrestle with them. Ideas, though, are not singular. They are forged through tens of thousands of decisions, often made by dozens of people."
To know that such a creative force as Pixar wrestles with the same marathon-like process as the rest of us striving to be creative is reassuring and invigorating.
And as a final key lesson from the book:
"The first principle was “Story Is King,” by which we meant that we would let nothing—not the technology, not the merchandising possibilities—get in the way of our story."
What's your story, and how will you use it to empower change?
viveknshah's review against another edition
4.0
A insightful inner workings of how Pixar was built, how the same formula was tweaked to ensure the revival of Disney Animation was not hindered using the same formula and most importantly, for a layman like me who always wondered how do you institutionalise creativity which we usually believe to be so individualistic, Ed does a great job at explaining the thought process behind a lot of initiatives as a manager and a leader he and his group took and what the end results were. Sharing examples of them all with unique commentary of the thought process really helped gauge the dynamics of the event.
A great read to learn about the secret sauce of one of the most successful brands marrying seemingly opposite forces of Technology and Arts and creating a recipe for organisational success.
A great read to learn about the secret sauce of one of the most successful brands marrying seemingly opposite forces of Technology and Arts and creating a recipe for organisational success.
murphykat's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.75
subtle's review against another edition
I love this book, not just because it fulfills its mission of giving tons of insights on how to create and manage a large team of creatives, but because it gives the reader an inside look into one of America's most cherished animation studios. This is the first book I've seen that moves past small scale interpersonal creative team management into managing a large organization, and it tackles the topic admirably. The peeks into how movies like Toy Story(1,2,&3), Up, and more were made make this book a must-read for fans as well.
luarentaylor's review against another edition
5.0
Truly one of my favorite reads in a while. An earnest and introspective glimpse into the talent and tenacity that built the powerhouse that is Pixar. I must have highlighted 80% of this book. I would recommend this to anyone, especially if you're a creative or interested in innovative leadership (with actual examples of technique and true accounts). *Most* especially if you have a soft spot for Disney. All three? This is definitely the book for you.