George Lucas, Brian Jay Jones
George Lucas, Brian Jay Jones
7 Rating(s)
List: $38.99 | Sale: $27.30
Club: $19.49

George Lucas
A Life

Author: Brian Jay Jones

Narrator: Jay Snyder

Unabridged: 18 hr 18 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 12/06/2016

Includes: Bonus Material Bonus Material Included


Synopsis

The essential biography of the influential and beloved filmmaker George Lucas.

On May 25, 1977, a problem-plagued, budget-straining independent science-fiction film opened in a mere thirty-two American movie theaters. Conceived, written, and directed by a little-known filmmaker named George Lucas, the movie originally called The Star Wars quickly drew blocks-long lines, bursting box-office records and ushering in a new way for movies to be made, marketed, and merchandised. It is now one of the most adored-and successful-movie franchises of all time.

Now, the author of the bestselling biography Jim Henson delivers a long-awaited, revelatory look into the life and times of the man who created Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Indiana Jones.

If Star Wars wasn't game-changing enough, Lucas went on to create another blockbuster series with Indiana Jones, and he completely transformed the world of special effects and the way movies sound. His innovation and ambition forged Pixar and Lucasfilm, Industrial Light & Magic, and THX sound.

Lucas's colleagues and competitors offer tantalizing glimpses into his life. His entire career has been stimulated by innovators including Steven Spielberg and Francis Ford Coppola, actors such as Harrison Ford, and the very technologies that enabled the creation of his films-and allowed him to keep tinkering with them long after their original releases. Like his unforgettable characters and stories, his influence is unmatched.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Igrowastreesgrow on April 23, 2018

This biography was very informative and had a great narrative. I unexpectedly picked it up from the library while getting another book. I definitely do not regret picking it up even though it took me a while to get through it. I can say there was a lot I didn't know that I'm glad that I know now and......more

Goodreads review by Jake on December 23, 2016

Here's something I never thought I'd say: George Lucas is a complicated man. A riddle wrapped in an enigma, wearing a flannel button-down. He's a man blessed with vision but cursed with poor communication skills, a shrewd businessman who was never in it for the money, a passionate director who went......more

Goodreads review by Carol on June 17, 2022

You couldn't possibly ask for a more sympathetic and understanding biographer than Brian Jay Jones. He really bends over backwards to make George Lucas seem sympathetic at every stage of his life. The only problem is, it doesn't work. George Lucas comes across as a creepy little guy who hates emotio......more

Goodreads review by Dominic on February 07, 2017

I read Brian Jay Jones' biography of Jim Henson when it first came out and found myself captivated. Jones conveyed Henson's passion for his work and his joie de vivre. When I saw that Jones had written a book about George Lucas, I was cautiously optimistic. I was interested to see what somebody with......more


Quotes

Praise for George Lucas

One of the Best Books of 2016 - Kirkus

A San Francisco Chronicle and The Globe and Mail Holiday Gift Guide Pick

One of Bustle's "Best Nonfiction Books of December"

One of Amazon's Best Books of December

"George Lucas is a terrific book! Brian Jay Jones has pulled off the rare trick of a writing a biography that appeals to both hard-core fans and casual readers. It is filled with fascinating details, backed up by deep and dogged research, woven into a breezy, fast-paced story that effortlessly pulls the reader into Lucas's world. Future film buffs and historians will look back on George Lucas as a landmark achievement."—Debby Applegate, Winner of the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for The Most Famous Man in America: The Biography of Henry Ward Beecher

"Like the famous opening shot of the very first Star Wars, George Lucas: A Life is sweeping, humbling, and instantly transports you into the world of the mad dreamer. Fellow nerds unite! Finally, we get a book that examines the history of a titan who really changed our lives. Beautifully obsessive and relishes every detail. Just like us."—Brad Meltzer

"A sweeping, perceptive biography. This in-depth portrait...is never less than fascinating. Masterful and engaging: just what Lucas' fans and buffs, who love the nitty-gritty of filmmaking, have been waiting for."—Kirkus (starred review)

"Maestro biographer Jones tackles another brilliant entertainer. The world knows George Lucas as the filmmaker who brought us Star Wars, one of the most iconic Hollywood franchises in history, but as Jones' in-depth, fascinating, and even gripping exploration reveals, Lucas is much more than a gifted storyteller....Jones digs deep to limn the highs and lows of Lucas' career and life, capturing his drive and innovation in crisp, sparkling prose. Masterful and essential for film and pop culture enthusiasts."—Booklist (starred review)

"The collective double take over Star Was never gets old.... Jones, who comes to Lucas from a celebrated life of Jim Henson, tells a more straightforward story in definitive detail."—Tom Shone, New York Times

"Exhaustively chronicles the life and movies of George Lucas, arguably America's most successful filmmaker. [T]ells in granular detail how his films were produced: from initial concept and scriptwriting, to casting and location selections, to the filming and, most importantly for Lucas's process, the editing. [P]roves Lucas's singular legacy is well deserved."—Publishers Weekly

"Engaging... Jones captures the bone-crushing work, the frustrations with film studio overlords and the near failures that resulted in ground-breaking films like American Graffiti and Star Wars."—Jane Ciabattari, BBC

"The most compelling part of Brian Jay Jones' very readable book covers the years in which this kid went from a provincial, and nearly rural, childhood to studying illustration and going to film school at the University of Southern California.... [Jones'] narrative of the ordeal [of making Star Wars] and triumph makes wonderful reading.... Jones is a good storyteller... he proves that an American billionaire can be an odd, brilliant but quite ordinary fellow."—David Thomson, San Francisco Chronicle

"Lucas changed not only the way movies are made but even the way they are shown...Jones mines the literature on Lucas's life and work to produce an admirably comprehensive view."—Charles Matthews, Washington Post

"A fast-paced portrait of the reclusive and visionary George Lucas. His rise from unknown, budget-stretched writer to film industry legend is all here. And it's told through anecdotes and insights that build out the man behind the creation. The perspectives from colleagues, competitors, mentors and friends are at times brutally honest.... It's the one biography for casual and die-hard fans alike."—G. Clay Whittaker, Rolling Stone