Schulz and Peanuts

A Biography

By: David Michaelis

Narrated by: Holter Graham

Charles Schulz, the most widely syndicated and beloved cartoonist of all time, is also one of the most misunderstood figures in American culture. Now, acclaimed biographer David Michaelis gives us the first full-length biography of Schulz: at once a creation story, a portrait of a hidden American genius, and a chronicle contrasting the private man with the central role he played in shaping the national imagination.

The son of a barber, Schulz was born in Minnesota to modest, working class roots. In 1943, just three days after his mother's tragic death from cancer, Schulz, a private in the army, shipped out for boot camp and the war in Europe. The sense of shock and separation never left him. And these early experiences would shape his entire life.

With Peanuts, Schulz embedded adult ideas in a world of small children to remind the reader that character flaws and childhood wounds are with us always. It was the central truth of his own life, that as the adults we've become and as the children we always will be, we can free ourselves, if only we can see the humor in the predicaments of funny-looking kids. Schulz's Peanuts profoundly influenced the country in the second half of the 20th century. But the strip was anchored in the collective experience and hardships of Schulz's generation: the generation that survived the Great Depression and liberated Europe and the Pacific and came home to build the postwar world.

Michaelis brilliantly weaves Schulz's story with the cartoons that are so familiar to us, revealing a man we've never fully known and shedding new light on a touchstone of American life.

©2007 David Michaelis (P)2007 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

"This is a fascinating account of an artist who devoted his life to his work in the painful belief that it was all he had." ( Publishers Weekly)
"This fine, exhaustive text is well-organized and knowledgeable....Michaelis offers considerable insight into the semiotics of comics and the psyche of a master of the craft." ( Kirkus Reviews)

Peanuts Characters

When reading the Peanuts cartoons, I often wondered if the characters were in any way developed from children or people Mr. Schulz knew.
It was interesting to learn they were so interrelated with Mr. Schulz' own family and friends.

It was also interesting to read about Mr. Schulz' life.

Fascinating Life, Lived through his Daily Strip

If you could sum up Schulz and Peanuts in three words, what would they be?

3 words is not enough:
Contemporary Philosopher, Emotionally disconnected, never overcoming his self doubt about the short or long-term value of his life's work

Have you listened to any of Holter Graham’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Hadn't heard Holters performances, but felt his was an ideal tone and depth to reflect the authors significant and very personal insights

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I felt really connected to the personalities in Schultz's lives and how the author found meaning behind both Schulz's and others recollections

Remarkable and Memorable

Excellent writing and narration, this journey feels thorough. I gained and lost respect for Mr Schultz at the same time by getting to know his strengths and weaknesses life. I’m better for having experienced this journey.

an introvert's guide to the universe

? have you seen (CS) charles schulz's charlie brown christmas special
? did you ever wonder where the "peanuts" comic strip came from
? did some of charlie brown's comical woes touch your soul

david michaelis has a more than insightful story for you to explore
the "peanuts" comic strip was a daily part of my youth in the 1960's
the play "you're a good man charlie brown" had a 1,500 show run off broadway

the strip was a highly autobiographical account of CS's youth and adulthood
his intelligent, introspective and misanthropic style permeated each story
CS's mother and first wife became the basis for lucy and other females

graphic novels and storytelling seem to be the rage these days
strips like "peanuts" seem quant and almost stodgy by comparison
but knowing CS's back story made the comic strip come alive for me

CS mined the misery and confusion of his youth for veins of comic gold
later, the strip's simple style made it a safe venue to discuss hard problems
i see it now, as a loving guide to adult life for the introspective child

Whatta' guy!

Who knew the quirky guy behind the cute little characters in "Peanuts"? Eccentric Charles Schultz is presented thru a sympathetic lens, with background reasons that were possibly at the root of his sometimes odd behavior. A thoroughly enjoyable ride thru the roller coaster development of his life, career, marriages, kids and self-therapy via "Peanuts"

Engaging, disallusioning story of famed cartoonist

If you could sum up Schulz and Peanuts in three words, what would they be?

Engaging backstory tale.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

Most interesting was history of his breaking into the business. Least interesting was repetitive commentary of how the strip never reflected Schulz's life (when it clearly did).

What about Holter Graham’s performance did you like?

Narration was superb (is it just me or does Graham sound an awful lot like Charlie Brown should?).

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Worst reaction was how sick and tired I got of Schulz whining about how nobody loved him, what a clear womanizer he seemed to be (at least mentally), and how all he needed was a break. Very disillusioning. I now have to work to forget that to enjoy these classic characters I (used to?) love.

Not as dark as you've heard

This seemed to me to be a fair and overwhelmingly positive portrait of Schulz. I'm not sure what his kids are upset about--so Dad was generally melancholy and a bit removed. What do they think made him a cartoon genius? And his love for them and for his wives is also quite palpable. The stories about where all the ideas and characters for Peanuts came from are quite entertaining. The story of A Charlie Brown Christmas alone is quite revealing. I was rather disappointed not to hear a bit more about the business end of things--how Peanuts became an industry and how Schultz's characters wound up selling snack cakes and life insurance and all that. There's an amazing business story that's not told here, and the author suggests that that's because Schultz himself sort of let it happen via his surrogates rather than directing it himself. But that seems a bit of a copout. On the other hand, the book is quite long enough, there's no real dross here, so I can't complain too much. Recommended.

Pleasant surprise

I enjoyed learning about a beloved childhood comic strip writer who could never accept his fame or happiness.

Wow!

I started listening to learn a bit more who Sparky Shultz was. Turns out, you get it all. Wow! Very good. Your a good man Charles M. "Sparky" Shultz.

Worth reading * 3

A somewhat dry biography, this book gives the reader amazing insight into the eccentric Schultz. If you are a 'Peanuts' fan then you will appreciate learning how the strip's characters came to be and why they act they way that they do.