Even though I had read many of his book, either as a child or a parent/grandparent, I knew nothing about the life of Dr Seuss. I found the book very interesting. I thought I had read most of the Dr Seuss books, but after reading about his life, I had to order several of his books that I had never heard of before.

If you grew up reading the wonderful and whimsical work of Dr. Suess, then you'll enjoy learning more about the writer. Not only does the book tell us more about his life, but it also goes into detail about the inspiration behind some of his classic work. But most importantly, it shines a light on who the writer was as a person. If you enjoy learning more about writers and what inspired their work, then this book is a must read.

Say this name to schoolteachers and children’s librarians and watch our faces light up, our backs grow a trifle straighter, our steps quicken. Dr. Seuss is the closest thing we have to a patron saint, and when I saw this biography, I wanted it as badly as I’ve wanted any galley. Big thanks go to Net Galley and Dutton, and many apologies for my tardiness. It’s a strange thing but true: when I must write an unfavorable book review, I know just what to say and can do it the same day I finish reading, but for a momentous work such as this one, I need some time for my thoughts to gel. Brian Jay Jones writes biographies of quirky visionaries such as Washington Irving, George Lucas, and Jim Henson, and he doesn’t cut corners. This biography is highly recommended to adult readers, but don’t go handing it off to your precocious fifth grader until you’ve read it yourself. Geisel’s life held some very deep shadows.

Geisel grew up with comfort and privilege as the heir to a family beer making business; the slings and arrows that came his family’s way during Prohibition taught him that small minds can do ugly things. Still, his youth was mostly untroubled; he attended Dartmouth , where he was voted Least Likely to Succeed, and then Oxford, where his studies in Medieval German floundered, his attention drifting to the margins of his notebook, where he drew fanciful creatures and turreted buildings that would later become iconic. It was Helen, his sweetheart, who suggested he follow his heart and pursue art for a living. His early success came in advertising for Flit bug spray. Once he and his bride became financially stable enough to move out of their low rent neighborhood and into a tonier area, he discovered he had no use at all for pretension, and he wrote:

"Mrs. Van Bleck
Of the Newport Van Blecks
Is so goddamn rich
She has gold-plated sex
Whereas Miggles and Mitzi
And Bitzi and Sue
Have the commonplace thing
And it just has to do."

He served in the military during World War II with Francis Ford Coppola making propaganda and training films. His pro-intervention cartoons are surprisingly hawkish—I have the collection titled Dr. Seuss Goes to War on my shelves—but he later realized that it was wrongheaded to demand the internment of Japanese Americans, and in some bizarre way, he intended Horton Hears a Who to be his apology for it.
His family was not Jewish, but his surname confused some people, and he received some anti-Semitic shade that inspired him to stand up for the rights of Jewish Americans.

Jones deserves credit for confronting the anti-Japanese racism and xenophobia in this author’s early years; he doesn’t gloss over it, and he doesn’t turn it into something prurient either. He lays it straight out, along with Ted’s more enlightened thinking in his later years, and it strikes exactly the right tone. This isn’t comfortable material, but then it shouldn’t be.

The most amazing thing is to learn that Seuss—known to family and friends as Ted—wasn’t a successful author until well into middle age. He vacillated between advertising and “brat books” but hit it big when he submitted How the Grinch Stole Christmas to Bennett Cerf at Random House, which would be his second home for many years. Though he and his wife moved to Southern California and much of his work was mailed in, he became known for coming to read his book to the Random House staff in person when it was publication time. (He was also known for being difficult at times, micromanaging the publication of his work, and this may be part of the reason he wasn’t urged to attend business in person on a more regular basis.)

Ted and Helen were unable to have children, a painful fact that they chose not to share with the public. When asked during publicity tours why a man with such a great heart for children had none himself, Ted deflected it by saying others should have the children and he would write for them.

Helen’s illnesses and Ted’s infidelity were aspects of this author’s life I knew nothing about. It’s hard to read about, but again, Jones includes these things in the narrative not to shock us, but because they have to be there.

He was widely known and revered for his insistence that books should be fun for children to read and should not preach or moralize, but instead, should respect the readers. He was a pioneer in this regard, and I owe him a great debt for teaching me to love literature as a preschooler, and for providing such wonderful books for my own children and students later in my life. It is this legacy that remains when the rest falls away, that reading should open new worlds for its young readers; it should not trick or manipulate its audience, but instead should speak to children with respect using language they can understand.

Highly recommended to an adult readership.

If you enjoy the works of the wonderful Dr. Seuss and want to learn more about him this is a fantastical book. You will learn many interesting elements about his life. You will also find out details of what inspired him to write his amazing stories, other works and create his special art work. He was a whimsical artist and writer providing many, many silly rhymes and words as well as artwork we remember from our childhood. These books became movies and TV shows. But, there is so much more to Dr. Seuss. We know of The Grinch, The Cat in the Hat and many of his other beloved character creations, but this book tells us about Dr. Seuss really about Theodor Geisel the real person. There are some amazing things in this book you may have never known and some you may have heard before. Some include about his family life and personal loss. You learn a little more about the stories behind the stories too. Others include his personal missions including work as a political cartoonist and giving messages through his work such as environmentally through The Lorax. I recommend this well done book.

I come from a family of readers and I am raising a reader myself. Each night our mother would read to me and my sister. We often chose one of two books, Horton Hears a Who (I still get tears in my eyes) and The Night Before Christmas. Other books included Amelia Bedelia, Lambert the Sheepish Lion and any story from the Walt Disney Story Books (a 4 volume set that included Tales from Other Lands, Fantasyland, etc) and of course, One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish , Go Dog Go and other favorites. Our family still says Go Dog Go whenever encouraging one another. We read all the Dr. Seuss and Beginning readers etc. ourselves but how wonderful and comforting to lean against your mom while she read it to you. It was a tradition we continue with our own children. Thank goodness, Helen, Geisel's first wife recognized and encouraged his talent.

I was dismayed to read of the means and probable reason for her death. It disappointed me. I realize Ted Geisel is, afterall, a human being and is a separate entity from Dr. Seuss but I felt disappointed. I mean here is a man from whom many of my generation, among others, who learned such lessons as "a person is a person no matter how small" ( something I have found myself saying in IEP meetings many times) and teaching us to get along, to consider other people's feelings, well it doesn't sit comfortably with me. I know it isn't for me to judge and he did so much more that was good. It is just how I felt when learning of it.

I must remember though that this review is for Becoming Dr. Seuss by Brian Jay Jones, not a place to pass judgement on the subject himself. The book is well researched, the time taken by Mr. Jones to really learn about Mr. Geisel and Dr. Seuss, the people, places, and experiences that made them who they were and are (Dr. Seuss will never die) really shows.. He kept it interesting and entertaining. I learned a lot, chuckled often, got teary, and said fondly, "oh, I remember that one". Well done, Mr. Jones, you should be proud.

I read this on my Kindle, it was an uncorrected proof, and I regret to say I had no access to any illustrations or pictures which I assume can only add to the experience. You don't have to be a fan of Dr. Seuss (there may be some) to enjoy this book but it will make the adventure more meaningful.

Thank you to NetGalley for making it possible to read this book.

I love to hear how creatives came into putting their passion to paper, and this book captivated me from the first chapter. It was really interesting hearing about all the famous people who came out of Dr. Seuss' town, and then to have his surroundings come to life. While I read Dr. Seuss to my kids, I can visualize Brian Jones' descriptions of Dr. Seuss' growing up. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to review it.

Jones is what I would call the great biographer. Last year, I read his book on Jim Hensen and loved it. One thing I noted about that one is the incredible length of it, and this book was much of the same. I loved learning more about Theodor Geisel and how he came to be known as Dr. Seuss, but the book was so damn long. It's packed with every little detail about his life and I think it would have been more enjoyable if it was condensed a little bit. *Advance copy provided by the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Enjoyed very much this biography of Dr. Seuss. He is a complex individual with a myriad of positive and negative features that drive his illustrious career. Other biographies of this impressive author have been published but this is the first I have read. It is informative and interesting to read. The first section about his childhood seems a little forced, facts presented without any interest but the majority of the biography is well written and definitely interesting.

I really enjoyed this book. Those interested in biographies/Memoirs will be interested in reading this book. I rate this book 5 out of 5. Generously provided by NetGalley.

Brian Jay Jones is quickly becoming the foremost chronicler of the lives of American pop culture icons. His biography of Jim Henson is one of my favorite books of the past decade. His treatment of George Lucas wasn't quite as insightful, perhaps because there have already been many other books about Lucas and Star Wars. His latest book, Becoming Dr. Seuss: Theodor Geisel and the Making of an American Imagination, looks at a very different creative genius. 

While Henson and Lucas both created stories that entertained millions of children, Theodor Geisel was the only one of the three who focused specifically on children's stories. Interestingly, Geisel initially started writing children's books in part because he sought greater copyright protection over his creations (his work in corporate advertising and newspaper comics belonged to his employer). However, Geisel pretty quickly grew to realize the value of children's literature and became a champion of the genre. He insisted that authors should make stories exciting, but also never talk down to children. To paraphrase Horton the elephant, children are people too, no matter how small. 

In some ways, the Geisel in Becoming Dr. Seuss comes across exactly as you might envision a renowned author of children's literature. He was witty, cared about his work, and generally amicable. However, Jones' biography reveals some details at odds with his wholesome image. Geisel was fond of alcohol and smoking, cheated on his wife, and in his later years became a bit of a curmudgeon. 

One of the most exciting parts of Becoming Dr. Seuss is learning about the origins of each of Geisel's books. According to Jones, much of the Dr. Seuss oeuvre was shaped by word limits. At the time, publishers limited authors of children's literature to a dictionary of around 250 words that were believed suitable for young children given their education level. Geisel often groused about the word limits, but found brilliant ways to use those limitations to his advantage, as the best creators do. The word limit forced Geisel to choose his words carefully and stimulated his imagination to come up with clever make-believe words. Geisel's publisher once bet he couldn't write a story using just 50 words; the result was Green Eggs and Ham, Geisel's bestselling book (and one of my favorites). 

Even as a kid, I appreciated that Dr. Seuss' books often engaged with complex moral and political themes. I've read thousands of books during the past 30 years, but Dr. Seuss' indelible images and catchy wordplay have seared books like Yertle the Turtle into my memory. Geisel himself seems to have evolved when it came to the idea of social commentary in children's literature. When he first started writing, he warned against "preaching" to children and claimed any "messages" in his books were entirely in the eyes of the reader. He later decided to engage in more overt messaging, with the The Butter Battle Book serving as an unmistakable polemic against the Cold War. We sometimes view conservative outrage over "politics" or "social justice warriors" in art as a modern phenomenon, but Jones recounts the outrage of some parents against some of Dr. Seuss' more progressive themes.

Becoming Dr. Seuss is also a fascinating look at publishing in children's literature during the 20th century. If anything, I wish Jones had spent even more time describing the broader context of children's publishing. Geisel would regularly poke fun at "bunny stories" - his dismissive term for boring kids books - but it isn't really clear just how revolutionary Geisel's approach was unless you happen to be familiar with older children's books. Other popular children's writers and animators, including Chuck Jones, Friz Freleng, and Stan and Jan Berenstain, interacted with Geisel and appear in the book.

I found Becoming Dr. Seuss especially fun because Theodor Geisel grew up in Springfield, Massachusetts, close to where my family grew up. I recognized some of the street names, companies, and even local celebrities. And, yes, I've passed by Mulberry Street.

Overall, I highly recommend Becoming Dr. Seuss for readers interested in learning more about Geisel and his books. I look forward to reading Jones' next book in his series about the creative genius who shaped our collective childhoods.

What I enjoyed most about this book was reading about how much the real Dr. Seuss's (Ted Geisel) life differed from his stories. One would think that a children's book author would seek to create works of innocence and morality for children. Yet Geisel/Seuss's work doesn't always end with a happy ending, and in fact, he strongly believed that children shouldn't be "preached at" all the time. His work would include political statements and often his children's stories came from sad, dark places.

Jones's biography of Geisel is fascinating in its revelation of the real Dr. Seuss and the true meaning behind some of his greatest works. Just as most great comedians have a past filled with great sorrow and sadness, Geisel's artistry is the result of loss, failure, and unfulfilled dreams. This is an insightful read and gives new meaning to some of my favorite children's books.

**Thank you Net Galley and Penguin Group/Dutton for early access to this book in exchange for an honest review**

Detailed without being tedious, this book honestly tells Geisel’s story, at times making you love him and at others changing the idealized picture of the good doctor. Jones’ descriptions made it easy to visualize illustrations without having the whimsical images in front of you. Those descriptions sparked memories of reading Dr. Seuss books with my grandmother, a teacher, who experienced the transition of Dick and Jane to The Cat In the Hat, as she taught her first graders to read.

An interesting biography of a man who is in the hearts of anyone who has read his stories. It is a well written and evenly paced accounting of Theodor Geisel, before and after he became Dr. Seuss. A very human man with all the ugliness and beauty of being human. He was a flawed man with a creative wit.

Received as an arc from Netgalley

Detailed and candid, this is a thorough examination of Geisel's life and pulls no punches in calling him out on some of his offensive views for which he did not really apologize in later life. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6977923/Famed-author-Dr-Seuss-books-wrote-racist-misogynistic-cartoons-early-days.html

Dr Seuss books were a very big part and tradition of my childhood from my parents reading them to me at bedtime to learning how to read with his books.
This book is an interesting look into the life of one icon from my childhood. I learned so much about his life growing up.

This is a wonderful book full of all the details of a life that probably anyone would love to read about the one who enchanted probably everyone's childhood.

Becoming Dr. Seuss: Theodor Geisel and The Making of An American Legend
by: Brian Jay Jones
2019
Dutton
3.9 / 5.0

One of of America´s most beloved icons, Dr. Seuss had a controversial and active life. This ia a definitive and detailed biography that left me with an honest sense of the person he was, and his career. I did not like his overall attitude and the way he treated his wife left me cold. Its interesting that a man whose life revolved around entertaining children, never had any and never adopted. However, this was really well written, detailed without being repetitive and boring. I really enjoyed reading it.
Jones begins with Theodor´s childhood and his love of the zoo, his years at college and graduate school writing satirical political cartoons. He joined the army, working on manuals and instruction books, and began publishing controversial cartoons that many called him on. Rightly so!
It was interesting to read about the inspirations for his books and the details of their origins.
Jones biography of Dr. Seuss is comprehensive and well written.
Thanks to Dutton Books for sending this e-book ARC for review. #NetGalley #BecomingDrSeuss

I am a big fan of Dr Seuss's works. So when I saw this on NetGalley I knew I had to read it.

This biography is incredibly well-written and researched. I learned so much more about Dr Seuss and I am now even more in awe of his works.

With more than 60 books to his name, Dr Seuss became a household name for children's books. Going against the grain of a typical children's book during his time, he became an author in his own right, with his own style and voice.

And it surprised me to know that he had never set out to be a children's book author, in fact, he didn't even like children, (nor had any of his own) what more writing for them, and when he finally did, it was more of a 'monetary calling than a moral one'. This decision not only changed his perspective of being a children's book author, but also the children's books industry.

His writing speaks volumes of himself - fun (he's such a great prankster too! Loved the pranks he pulled! Hilarious!), witty, whimsical, spontaneous, and colorful! He was also stubborn to a fault, with a devil may care attitude, which clearly showed by his reluctance to change his stereotypical illustration from his first children's book, To Think I saw it on Mulberry Street (which is one of my many favorite books of his) despite the pressure from his readers and those around him.

The book that catapulted him to fame is... yes, you guessed it, The Cat in the Hat, which resulted from a challenge he accepted, that was to write a book using just 225 words or less . It took him more than a year to illustrate and write it, and it wasn't even his favorite book! Guess which was? The Lorax, which whole book was written on an afternoon on a laundry pad, after a writer's block for a long 9 months.

In addition to his success as an author and illustrator, he was also a screenwriter and his last 3 films had each won an Academy Award. He was a political cartoonist too. Talking about talent! And after years of sweat, blood and cigarettes, he finally won the Pullitzer prize, much to his surprise.

There were many parts that I enjoyed reading, especially about his participation in war and that he was recruited by Frank Capra, a man whom he credited for forming and developing his skills as a storyteller.

I do not, however, enjoy reading about what happened to his first wife, Helen. It was utterly heartbreaking, as I really loved the chemistry between them.

You'll also find out more about his other books (even those not written for children) and the inspiration behind them - like 'The Butter Batter Book' that he wrote which baffled many people, particularly his marketing team; 'You're Only Old Once!' that was inspired by his hospital visits and the character he drew was of someone he knew, and 'The Lorax', his personal favorite and also the most controversial.

This is a must-read for all Dr Seuss's fans. Jones' brilliant writing made this tome a pleasure to read.

Jump in and get to know this enigmatic man behind the books which have brought so much joy and fun in reading! I enjoy so many of his books (yes even as an adult) I can't even pick a favorite!

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Group Dutton for providing me a free eARC of this book! All opinions are mine.

An enthralling, moving, and informative portrayal of a beloved American icon. Jones deftly tells of the young Theodor Geisel, who seems to be the antagonist of his own story, until Dr. Seuss emerges and endears the world to him. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am happy to recommend it.

I have always enjoyed Dr. Seuss’s books, especially The Lorax, but the man himself is an enigma. I found his wartime service, when he was recruited by none other than Frank Capra, to make military films, fascinating. I was kind of bored reading about his privileged college years, and was disturbed to learn that his first wife of many years committed suicide; he married the much-younger woman with whom he’d been having an affair shortly after. Personal judgments aside, this is a well written chronicle of a multi-faceted American icon.