Recently, I had read and reviewed Charlie Ridgway’s book “Spinning Disney’s World”. That book examined many Disney experiences and explored how the situation was resolved through Public Relations. That book seemed to hop around, sometimes decades as Ridgway ‘remembered’ items of interest.

I have just finished reading David Koenig’s ambitious book REALITYLAND. It too explores experiences and stories, but this time it’s well organized, and thoroughly chronological. And most importantly for the “spin” on this book… devoid of Disney’s Public Relations spin.

I enjoyed the book in very much the same way as Koenig’s earlier offerings MouseTales and More MouseTales. All are unauthorized and live up to it. The read is fun, especially if you are into the sort of back alley stories that Koenig slyly relates.

There is plenty of behind the scenes gossip and dirty dealings. After reading some chapters, I actually felt dirty. The worst is reserved for former CEO Michael Eisner and here is where I felt Koenig gave in to a lot of the anti-hype. At no other time in the book did the information delivery become emotional. Statements along the lines of “Eisner arrogantly dismissed” or that Eisner was an “egotistical bully” that are not quoted to someone else seem out of place in a book so thorough in researched material. Especially after giving a pass to previous administrations whose issues were even more flagrant.

Koenig knows his stuff and knows how to deliver it. Capitalizing on a pre-ordained villain helps bring just enough of a soap opera to keep cynics grumbling for another decade. He’s also a bright enough individual to end the book on an equalizing tone, validating both the cynical and optimistic point of view of the Disney Corporation.

As readers and Disney fans, you will know if this book is for you only if you can stomach a telling with a negative lean… scraping away that pixie dust.

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