NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • For the first time ever—a comprehensive biography of one of the twentieth century’s most innovative creative artists: the incomparable, irreplaceable Jim Henson He was a gentle dreamer whose genial bearded visage was recognized around the world, but most people got to know him only through the iconic characters born of his fertile imagination: Kermit the Frog, Bert and … Kermit the Frog, Bert and Ernie, Miss Piggy, Big Bird. The Muppets made Jim Henson a household name, but they were just part of his remarkable story.
This extraordinary biography—written with the generous cooperation of the Henson family—covers the full arc of Henson’s all-too-brief life: from his childhood in Leland, Mississippi, through the years of burgeoning fame in America, to the decade of international celebrity that preceded his untimely death at age fifty-three. Drawing on hundreds of hours of new interviews with Henson’s family, friends, and closest collaborators, as well as unprecedented access to private family and company archives, Brian Jay Jones explores the creation of the Muppets, Henson’s contributions to Sesame Street and Saturday Night Live, and his nearly ten-year campaign to bring The Muppet Show to television. Jones provides the imaginative context for Henson’s non-Muppet projects, including the richly imagined worlds of The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth—as well as fascinating misfires like Henson’s dream of opening an inflatable psychedelic nightclub.
An uncommonly intimate portrait, Jim Henson captures all the facets of this American original: the master craftsman who revolutionized the presentation of puppets on television, the savvy businessman whose dealmaking prowess won him a reputation as “the new Walt Disney,” and the creative team leader whose collaborative ethos earned him the undying loyalty of everyone who worked for him. Here also is insight into Henson’s intensely private personal life: his Christian Science upbringing, his love of fast cars and expensive art, and his weakness for women. Though an optimist by nature, Henson was haunted by the notion that he would not have time to do all the things he wanted to do in life—a fear that his heartbreaking final hours would prove all too well founded.
An up-close look at the charmed life of a legend, Jim Henson gives the full measure to a man whose joyful genius transcended age, language, geography, and culture—and continues to beguile audiences worldwide.
NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY BOOKPAGE
“Jim Henson vibrantly delves into the magnificent man and his Muppet methods: It’s an absolute must-read!”—Neil Patrick Harris
“An exhaustive work that is never exhausting, a credit both to Jones’s brisk style and to Henson’s exceptional life.”—The New York Times
“[A] sweeping portrait that is a mix of humor, mirth and poignancy.”—Washington Independent Review of Books
“A meticulously researched tome chock-full of gems about the Muppets and the most thorough portrait of their creator ever crafted.”—Associated Press
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Excellent and uplifting book about a creative genius! You learn about where he started as a boy all through is his life and very untimely passing. Wonderful story and very lovingly written!!
At 608 pages, this is a virtual tome on one man’s life, not because of incessantly dry facts and figures, but because that is what it took to create an accurate biography of one of the last century’s creative geniuses.
Far more than the co-creator of Sesame Street and The Muppet Show, Jones tells the story of a young man’s journey through the last decades of the 20th Century and how he influenced modern puppetry and story telling, and how he helped create educational television for children.
Starting with the early days of Sam & Friends right up to the ill fated The Jim Henson Hour, Henson is shown as a constant innovator in the truest sense of the word. His mind was always working on the next idea or how to improve something he’d already developed, a trait he passed on to his eldest sons Brian and John.
Jones’ book uncovers very complex sides to Henson. He (Henson) took great pains to keep his family and business life separate, but his acumen in parenthood and corporate dealings was unquestionable. Henson was absolutely devoted to his children. In excerpts from interviews throughout the book, Henson is shown to be a man who would play with his children and take an active role in their hobbies and interests, all the while teaching them, most often by example, some of the best talent management and business skills money can buy.
Henson would instruct his manager and lawyers to “never sell what I own.” Interviews with Frank Oz, Carol Spinney, and Bernie Brillstein, among others, were treated as respected and valued contributors to the Muppet organization. When the merger with Disney resulted in Brillstein being pushed aside as the Muppets’ agent, Henson presented him with a $7M check and offered to pay him $500k annually for the rest of Brillstein’s life.
What surprised me most was Henson’s Taoist view of the world. Raised as a Christian Scientist, Henson did not ascribe to any one spiritual ideology. He was most certainly a subscriber to the “go and do no harm” school of thought. In personal and business dealings he did what he thought was ethical and fair. When Henson Associates’ insurance provider refused to pay for the health care of an employee’s daughter who had cystic fibrosis, Henson insisted the company’s provider be changed to one that would. And Henson did all these things with a quiet humility and grace.
Jay Jones’ biography is one of the best books in that genre I’ve read in a long time. His thorough research along with Henson’s meticulous notes and journal entries produced a complete history of the imaginative personalities this world has known.
A little one sided. The author obviously loved Hansen. But still a good read.
I loved the Muppets from their earliest days as guests on Ed Sullivan to their TV shows and movies. Having watched the characters emerge and their popularity grow, it was facinating to learn the story the man who created them. While somewhat over detailed in places, it was interesting to learn Jim Henson’s story was amazing and far more than just the loveable puppets old Sesame Street.
I’m a Henson fan, and this is filled with things I didn’t know. He was gone too soon, but he surely left his mark. I’t more than Sesame Street. I recommend it!
I have always been a fan of the wonderfully talented Jim Henson, but did not know much about his background and his rise to fame. This book gives all of that in great detail, but that is also this books detriment. Every single detail of Jim’s life: every business deal detail, every real estate transaction, etc is covered. Not a lot of detail about his relationships.
I learned some things about Jim Henson that were kind of a shocker. He was definitely an odd fellow, but EXTREMELY talented. I didn’t realize that he lived in England about 1/2 his life. If you like Jim Henson’s work, you will enjoy reading the book.
Love Jim Henson and this book solidified that. Wonderful man and brilliant creations!
Good overall biography on an extremely creative figure. Not nearly as good as bios on Thurber, Geisel, Dahl or Herbloch, but along those lines. Revelations are that Henson spent as much time on business activities as in creative endeavors, and that probably took away from his overall – though still impressive– body of woirk; second, it was sad to see that he probably didn’t have to die when he did, but personal neglect early on in his illness led to the serious condition that took this fine life too early
Learned much about this creative and famous man!
It was very much “business related” interesting how it all came to be such a success. But not a lot of personal details about Jim.
It’s made me think about the creative process. A very interesting book!
Like so many of the books I read they begin so great and I hate to put them down but about halfway through the book it is almost like they are filling in with unrelated stuff and that is when I lose interest. I am glad I read it; I learned
a lot about the Muppets and how they evolved, etc.
Didn’t realize Henson’s life was so frantic. He was always so calm and cool. Knowing the ending really broke my heart. He was a genius and national treasure. Author did a wonderful job making a cohesive timeline of Jim’s life.