The Autobiography of Santa Claus

Rating:
Summary: This book puts the magic back in Christmas!
Review: I bought this book because I love stories of Santa. This book is the best I have ever read! I have given numerous copies as gifts and if I find anyone that hasn't read it I buy it for them! Everyone should read this book, you don't have to have kids to appreciate it. But if you do have kids, it will show you how not to tell them that Santa is a myth, because he isn't. My kids are grown and we all still believe! Great book, by a great author!

Rating:
Summary: A wonderful mixture of fantasy and history
Review: I can't even imagine how long it must have taken Jeff Guinn to research and piece together this unusual book, but the hard work was worth it. "The Autobiography of Santa Claus" is part novel, part history, and something that anyone who loves Saint Nicholas will be grateful to read.

Guinn tracks down the origins of nearly all pieces of the Santa Claus legends and pieces them together, beginning with the birth of Nicholas in 280 A.D. He traces a life that lasts over 1700 years and explains how every well-known story of Santa Claus came to be, mixing in science with magic and throwing in actual historical figures to color the piece. (You'll never believe who some of Santa's "helpers" actually turn out to be.) He takes the character through the dark ages, through the Victorian era, mixes him in with European and American history and literature and finally brings it all together in the present day.

The book doesn't have much of a climax, but that's because it is written as an "autobiography," not a novel. The stories just stop because they've all been told... for now. That's part of the miracle -- the knowledge that Santa Claus will outlast us all and continue bringing his true gift, hope, to children all over the world long after you and I are gone. It's a wonderful book,and for people who love Christmas, I can't recommend it enough.

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Summary: SANTA CLAUS IS REAL
Review: MY SISTER BOUGHT ME THIS BOOK ONE CHRISTMAS AND WROTE A NOTE INSIDE THAT SAID " WHOEVER MEETS SANTA FIRST , AND HE WILL COME FOR US ONE DAY TO JOIN HIM AND ALL THE OTHERS IN THE GIFT GIVING, WE HAVE TO GO GET THE OTHER SISTER... SO WE CAN GO TOGETHER- TO THE NORTH POLE AT LAST." I BURST INTO TEARS IN FRONT OF MY CHILDREN AND RELATIVES AND HAD TO RUN TO THE BATHROOM TO GET MYSELF TOGETHER.. WE ARE KNOWN AS THE "CLAUS" SISTERS. EVERYONE WHO HAS EVER HAD A DOUBT ABOUT WHETHER SANTA IS REAL OR NOT NEEDS TO READ THIS BOOK. I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH
ABOUT IT AND FOR THOSE WHO DO BELIEVE- IT REALLY DOES ANSWER SOME OF THOSE QUESTIONS WE HAVE ALWAYS WONDERED ABOUT.

Rating:
Summary: Interesting and fun read
Review: Well most of know that Santa started out as St. Nicholas, a bishop from Asia minor and of course we know he ended up at the North Pole as the man we know today.

But, what happened in between? How did Nicholas start his gift giving and how did he get to where he is today? Jeff Guinn attempts to explain all of that in this delightful book. Read how Santa started out and met the future Mrs. Claus. His travels throughout the world and his eventually settling at the North Pole.

Guinn takes know facts about the actualy St. Nicholas and weaves them into the Santa Mythology we are all familiar with. Fun book to read.

Rating:
Summary: When You Believe
Review: While visiting Barnes & Noble this past weekend on my annual Christmas book hunt, I stumbled across Jeff Guinn's THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF SANTA CLAUS. Little did I know, at the time, was that I stumbled across a true Christmas treasure.

THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF SANTA CLAUS tells the complete story of Saint Nicholas, from the day that he was born, up until present day. The story is not only a fantastical tale, but features many facts from history, and many Christian undertones.

As we are taken on this incredible journey with Santa Claus, we also meet up with many of Santa Claus' good friends, including Mrs. Claus, who also posess the gift of magic.

This is a must-read this holiday season for everyone the world over. Whether you are 1 or 100, you will be amazed with Santa Claus' fantastical life story.

Erika Sorocco