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The Wisdom of Big Bird (and the Dark Genius of Oscar the Grouch): Lessons from a Life in Feathers
An inspiring message for all ages: Find your inner bird.
If you’re looking for wisdom and joy in your life, go straight to Sesame Street and heed the words of its most beloved and profound resident, Caroll Spinney, who has spent the past thirty-four years in a bird costume (and a trash can) as Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch.
Three decades inside a giant puppet have taught Spi...more
If you’re looking for wisdom and joy in your life, go straight to Sesame Street and heed the words of its most beloved and profound resident, Caroll Spinney, who has spent the past thirty-four years in a bird costume (and a trash can) as Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch.
Three decades inside a giant puppet have taught Spi...more
Hardcover, 160 pages
Published
December 18th 2007
by Villard
(first published April 29th 2003)
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A Christmas gift, I finally had a chance to read The Wisdom of Big Bird (and the Dark Genius of Oscar the Grouch): Lessons from a Life in Feathers by Caroll Spinney.
More of an autobiography than the philosophical musings one might expect from the title - this slim book brought many a smile to my face (and the occasional tear to my eyes) as Spinney recalled his 30+ years working in the world of puppetry and with Sesame Street and Jim Henson. Spinney's interest in puppetry began as a c...more
More of an autobiography than the philosophical musings one might expect from the title - this slim book brought many a smile to my face (and the occasional tear to my eyes) as Spinney recalled his 30+ years working in the world of puppetry and with Sesame Street and Jim Henson. Spinney's interest in puppetry began as a c...more
Spinney knows The Secret - living your life (inner and outer) in such a way so as to manifest your dreams into reality. That said...
...was disenchanted to learn that Jim Henson once kicked Ernie out of the way...and when Spinney picked up, brushed off and apologized to Ernie, Henson was, like, "Whoah, dude. You don't really talk to puppets do you??"
...was shocked to learn that a guest punched Big Bird's beak for flubbing a line. And the effect - to the cast an...more
...was disenchanted to learn that Jim Henson once kicked Ernie out of the way...and when Spinney picked up, brushed off and apologized to Ernie, Henson was, like, "Whoah, dude. You don't really talk to puppets do you??"
...was shocked to learn that a guest punched Big Bird's beak for flubbing a line. And the effect - to the cast an...more
This inspirational book gives readers the behind the scenes of the beginning days of Sesame Street and Caroll’s journey to play the role of Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch. I loved reading about his passion for puppets and the steps he took that eventually landed him the job as the most popular and famous bird ever!
Favorite chapters: “Become who you always were” and “Give it a Month.” Both of these chapters helped me appreciate Caroll's commitment to his dreams and inspired me to never...more
Favorite chapters: “Become who you always were” and “Give it a Month.” Both of these chapters helped me appreciate Caroll's commitment to his dreams and inspired me to never...more
I read this book in a day or so & loved it so much! This book is written by the sole puppeter of Big Bird & Oscar the Grouch &, holy moly, he seems like such a happy, grateful, average, hard-working guy. I loved learning about how the Bird actually works, along w/ the behind-the-scenes stories about the Street. Each chapter of the book is titled w/ what the lesson is to be learned from that set of pages but, really, the titles are just dumb & catchy & mean nothing. But, man- what a neat guy ...more
Liz W
rated it
Recommends it for:
any fan of sesame st or jim henson
Recommended to Liz by:
no one. heard about it. huge henson fan, so i got it.
this book was written by carol spinney, fan of henson, who ended up working with him and doing big bird and oscar the grouch for years.
i had seen an interview with him prior to reading the book where he equates working with henson to being asked to be a member of the beatles. just awesome.
this book has many anecdotes of his times working with henson, on sesame street, the story of the girl they did "big bird goes to china" with, getting punched in costume by rap...more
i had seen an interview with him prior to reading the book where he equates working with henson to being asked to be a member of the beatles. just awesome.
this book has many anecdotes of his times working with henson, on sesame street, the story of the girl they did "big bird goes to china" with, getting punched in costume by rap...more
The Wisdom of Big Bird (and the Dark Genius of Oscar the Grouch): Lessons from Life in Feathers
Caroll Spinney
Copyright 2003
Villard Books, an imprint of the Random House Publishing Group
159 Pages
Caroll Spinney
Copyright 2003
Villard Books, an imprint of the Random House Publishing Group
159 Pages
I know what you're thinking: "Sesame Street, Conor really?" You may not know this about me, but I'm just slightly , kind of sort of really Muppet obsessed. More so now in my youth then when I was six watching Maria, Gordon, and Cookie Monster on Sesame S...more
Caroll Spinney has been Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch since "Sesame Street" was created in 1969. In this book, he shares his memories of being on the show and what he has learned about himself and life. Each chapter is a different lesson, like "Listen to your Cabbie" or "Don't Let Your Feathers get Ruffled." I liked this book a lot for two reasons: first, it was fun to learn more about what goes on behind the scenes of one of my favorite shows growing up (for exampl...more
This was a fast and fun read. It was interesting to read about some of the behind the scenes type stuff. I didn't know that the same man has been playing Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch since Sesame Street began. The man who plays Big Bird shares some of his experiences he's had because of Big Bird, and some of the things he's learned along the way.
Baca buku ini bikin teringat sama acara Sesame Street yang dulu pernah tayang di salah satu tv swasta. Karena dulu sering nontonin juga jadi nostalgia.
Selain big bird, ada oscar yang tinggalnya di tempat sampah (dan ternyata diperankan oleh orang yang sama), elmo yang imut, mr.snookers sang gajah, bert & ernie yang sering bertentangan, cookie monster, dan masih banyak lagi yang lainnya. Bahkan sampai ada drakula segala kalau ga salah.
Buku ini bercerita tentang pengalaman Carol Spinne...more
Selain big bird, ada oscar yang tinggalnya di tempat sampah (dan ternyata diperankan oleh orang yang sama), elmo yang imut, mr.snookers sang gajah, bert & ernie yang sering bertentangan, cookie monster, dan masih banyak lagi yang lainnya. Bahkan sampai ada drakula segala kalau ga salah.
Buku ini bercerita tentang pengalaman Carol Spinne...more
I found the book enjoyable. It consists of lighthearted anecdotes and stories from Caroll Spinney's forty years of bringing Big Bird to life on Sesame Street. Nothing profound, but interesting nonetheless, although the title does promise more depth than is actually present.
Do you know how Big Bird works?!?!? I had no idea until I went to a Muppet exhibit yesterday. After learning that and finding out that the same man who IS Big Bird is also Oscar the Grouch, I couldn't NOT buy this guy's book.
The book goes from Spinney's autobiography (in the context of puppets and Muppets), to Big Bird/Oscar anecdotes, and occasional inspirational blather. But, to be honest, I can take a lot of inspirational blather from Sesame Street. I love it so.
This w...more
The book goes from Spinney's autobiography (in the context of puppets and Muppets), to Big Bird/Oscar anecdotes, and occasional inspirational blather. But, to be honest, I can take a lot of inspirational blather from Sesame Street. I love it so.
This w...more
Like many people in the world...really, the world...I grew up with Sesame Street. I hold these Muppets very fondly, and The Wisdom of Big Bird (and the Dark Genius of Oscar the Grouch): Lessons from a Life in Feathers is a fantastic reflection from the man inside Big Bird. Yes, the title is a bit of a mouthful, but the anecdotes are fantastic. If you have ever watched Sesame Street or even seen a Muppet, this is a must read.
i cried throughout the whole book...this is a man who truly enjoys his job and is committed to children...i was so impressed with him and what he has tried to through his career with Sesame Street
Much like Oscar the Grouch and Big Bird helped make me a better person when I was child reading Caroll Spinney's book has helped make me a better person as an adult.
meh. I was disappointed. The behind-the-scenes info on Sesame Street was pretty cool (because I'm a huge Sesame Street geek). But the writing was really bad. Not Dan Brown bad, but still pretty darn bad.
Quick read, fun to read about how Big Bird came to be. I didn't realize the same person had been playing him since 1969! :)
It wasn't exactly what I expected but it was a fun, easy read about the puppeteer who worked as Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch.
Great book! Easy to read and fun. Interesting to realize what goes into Sesame Street. Great life stories.
Short yet satisfying, and a very interesting behind-the-scenes look at Sesame Street. Lovely.
Lady Lioness
marked it as autographed
attic,autographed,NYCC 2010
delightful
Ohhhhhhhhh.
Oh, I just absolutely loved this. As a child who worshipped Sesame Street and wanted so very badly to hug the holy hell out of Big Bird (and just sort of sleep on him...god, he looked so soft), this book is just the greatest thing ever.
The stories are revealing, and funny. Also incredibly touching, especially his first trip to China, with Bob Hope, and the chapter devoted to Jim Henson. That one had tears in my eyes.
What a wonderful, quick read. H...more
Oh, I just absolutely loved this. As a child who worshipped Sesame Street and wanted so very badly to hug the holy hell out of Big Bird (and just sort of sleep on him...god, he looked so soft), this book is just the greatest thing ever.
The stories are revealing, and funny. Also incredibly touching, especially his first trip to China, with Bob Hope, and the chapter devoted to Jim Henson. That one had tears in my eyes.
What a wonderful, quick read. H...more
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3.5
delightful memoir by the guy who is Big Bird (and Oscar the Grouch). NOT a self-help book, which the title made me fear it might be.
A sweet, gentle book with an interesting look behind the scenes at Sesame Street. I also read Street Gang, which is a longer and more academic look at the origins of the show, but this one has more personality and fun snippets interesting to those of us who are puppeteers.
A surprisingly poignant memoir, especially for consideration for young artists -- Spinney's accounts of his work are full of humorous anecdotes on puppetry, but also quiet philosophy on how one may find meaning and fulfillment in doing what one loves.
I would have loved to read more about Oscar, but the book focused mostly on Big Bird. Still, this is a fabulously written book, about two of my favorite characters, and the people responsible for bringing them to life.
Biography of the guy who has been Big Bird since his inception (conception??). Interesting details about the day-to-day workings of Sesame Street with some interesting biography as well. Fast read.
The chapter on Big Bird's orchestral appearances had inaccuracies that were somewhat appalling to this music teacher.
I really enjoyed this one. I wish there had been a little more "insider" info. I was looking forward to learning some behind the scenes stuff and there wasn't too much of that.
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Caroll Spinney has performed as Big Bird and Oscar on Sesame Street since the show's inception in 1969. Prior to that, he performed as many characters on Bozo's Big Top in Boston for ten years, had a career in art and animation, and served in the Air Force. He has traveled the world as Big Bird, won Grammys and Emmys, and been named a Living Legend by the Library of Congress. He lives in New Engla...more
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“Jim [Henson] had written letters to his five children to be opened only after his death. Brian read from his. Jim wrote, 'Be good to each other. Love and forgive everybody.' I remembered Jim telling me that he never wasted energy on hating anybody; he had too much thinking to do.”
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