Peanuts

Schulz and Peanuts: A Biography by David Michaelis

I checked out this book on a whim-- it beckoned to me from the new books shelf at the library and I thought 'why not?' (oh, the beauty of the library and the freedom it offers...) What an excellent and pleasant surprise this book turned out to be! It's one of the best biographies I've read in a long time. The fact that I'm only a casual fan of Peanuts and yet was completely captivated by this book is a testament to how well written and researched it is. Schulz (who went by the nickname "Sparky" for most of his life. Sparky Schulz? I could never get used to reading this) is a compelling character, and I think that the author does a good job of exploring all of his complexities and delivering an even handed portrait. This book also provides an interesting look at the early days of comics. They were a phenomenon, and I enjoyed learning about the history and evolution of their popularity.
There are actual Peanuts comic strips scattered throughout the book, and I loved this touch! They're not all grouped together in one section, and they're not even always in the same place on a page. It was wonderful to read about a particular story line or technique that Schulz was working on, and then see a relevant comic strip.
I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes a good biography, and/or who has even a passing interest in Peanuts or comics in general.