Rebel

Rating:
Summary: A GREAT READ
Review: Don't let others dismay you from getting this book. In my opinion, it's a very good read that's full of wonderful information on James Dean. From his days at school (includes report card grades) to his last day (a very descriptive outline of his last day). The book is very well-written and it's even better that Spoto prefers to call Dean "Jimmy" as many friends did. I recommend this book whole-heartedly and you'll be missing something if you don't read it.

Rating:
Summary: Good Book
Review: I just finished reading this book about two weeks ago. I had never read any other James Dean books and I thought this was a very good book, very informative. I didn't get bored or bogged down once. I enjoyed every part of it - Jimmy's early life, life in New York, and his short, but brilliant Hollywood career. I would get totally absorbed in reading it, sometimes staying up way too late just because I couldn't put it down.

I have read other reviews that consider this book "generic" or more detached, but since I am not a James Dean expert, and have never read a book on him before, I can only give my perspective and opinions. I thought this was a very well-written and researched book. I am now reading "James Dean, little boy lost," by Joe Hyams, which I bought through an Amazon Marketplace buyer.

Rating:
Summary: Genuinely Good
Review: Like in all my reviews of James Dean biographies,I try to stress that I have done extensive research into Dean-especially through reading EVERY bio on him I can find. I can't say my opinion is the best-but extremely well informed. That said, Spoto's bio on Dean is very good. I gave it 3 stars not out of any dislike for the book; rather because it was average. The factual information was fairly complete and nothing was noticeably forgotten or incorrect. However, it's more the style and approach taken with this book that makes it normal, but in no way engrossing or fresh. It's hard to put down any Dean bio, because the most a reader can ask for is utter honesty and fluidity of writing. But when a writer takes that extra step to find something you won't find in similar bios or truly has control of his craft as a writer, then it's appreciated. Thus, I have no reason to advise against this book in any way. But it does fall short of other Dean bios such as Joe Hyams' "Little Boy Lost"-which EVERY reviewer gives 4-5 stars. As for "Rebel" by Donal Spoto, however, I would suggest buying used, so as to enjoy what it does offer, with out suffering the high cost of literature for an ordinary book. I'd give it a 'B', with 'A+' being the best.

Rating:
Summary: Rebel : The Life and Legend of James Dean
Review: Of the 18 books I have read on James Dean, this is one of my favorite. Spoto is interested in exploring the psychological reasons for Dean's behavior, both positive and negative. He constantly makes reference to the abandonment issues of Dean's childhood as the answer for his every move as an adult.

Rating:
Summary: Rebel : The Life and Legend of James Dean
Review: Of the 18 books I have read on James Dean, this is one of my favorite. Spoto is interested in exploring the psychological reasons for Dean's behavior, both positive and negative. He constantly makes reference to the abandonment issues of Dean's childhood as the answer for his every move as an adult.

Rating:
Summary: A closer look at the lonely rebel
Review: Supports info on why James Dean did the things he did. And what his emotions were like, and why he was bisexual. I don't want to spoil it though. I'll just say that of the four bio's I read on James Dean (the others being "Boulivard of Broken Dreams," "The Death of James Dean," & "James Dean: a biography by Val Holly") this is the best one so far.

Rating:
Summary: Bland and derivative,
Review: this book pretty much steals all its info from Joe Hyams's 1992 "Little Boy Lost" bio of Dean. Spoto writes like a schoolmarm; indeed he seems the wrong author to write about, much less understand, the sexy, volatile, handsome Dean. A most disappointing read, and given the number of good books on the subject already out there, a most unnecessary addition

Rating:
Summary: Jimmy Dean as a human-man!
Review: This is the best book out there on the life of James Byron Dean. It is not only concerned with the things that he did, but whom he affected personally, and the psychological reasoning behind the actions of this tortured genious. This book leaves no loose-ends untied in it's deconstruction of an icon, so that we can better understand Jimmy the man. This wonderfull book makes you feel as though you know James Dean for who he really was, and not for "whatever people wanted him to be". James B. Dean was complicated, tortured, conflicted and was a bottomless well for everyone's love. This James Dean is both more heroic and tragic than the Studios made him out to be, he is a confused, self-conscious boy. This is the real James Dean. Other attempts at recollecting his life are either glorified, or romanticized. Read this book, if you are a real fan of James Dean the person, not James Dean the legend.

Rating:
Summary: Jimmy Dean as a human-man!
Review: This is the best book out there on the life of James Byron Dean. It is not only concerned with the things that he did, but whom he affected personally, and the psychological reasoning behind the actions of this tortured genious. This book leaves no loose-ends untied in it's deconstruction of an icon, so that we can better understand Jimmy the man. This wonderfull book makes you feel as though you know James Dean for who he really was, and not for "whatever people wanted him to be". James B. Dean was complicated, tortured, conflicted and was a bottomless well for everyone's love. This James Dean is both more heroic and tragic than the Studios made him out to be, he is a confused, self-conscious boy. This is the real James Dean. Other attempts at recollecting his life are either glorified, or romanticized. Read this book, if you are a real fan of James Dean the person, not James Dean the legend.

Rating:
Summary: Can we say... generic?
Review: Yeah... I got this book as kind of a last resort, because the actual book about Dean that I wanted, wasn't available. Near the beginning of the book, when they are talking about his childhood, there are at least 5 pages about the times in which Dean grew up. I didn't buy this book to read about the History of Indiana.