How to Read Donald Duck: Imperialist Ideology in the Disney Comic

by Ariel Dorfman
How to Read Donald Duck: Imperialist Ideology in the Disney Comic cover
Good Books rating 3.62
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  • ID: 4845
  • Added: 2025-10-22
  • Updated: 2025-10-24
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 4
Reviews
goodpress.co.uk · Unknown · 2025-10-22
good 3.00

The book is a light read about a world-ending scenario caused by an asteroid hitting the moon, leading to tsunamis, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions. The main character, Miranda, records her family's struggle to survive in her journal, focusing on their hope and resilience. The science is handwaved, and the book is aimed at tweens, offering a frisson of dread but ultimately reassuring them that family and routine persist even in apocalyptic times.

Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer is a young adult novel that explores a world-ending scenario. The plot revolves around an asteroid hitting the moon, which causes massive tsunamis, severe earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions. The increased gravity from the moon's shifted orbit pulls more magma towards the surface, blanketing the world in ash and leading to poor air quality and loss of sunlight. The main character, Miranda, records her family's struggle to survive in her journal, focusing on their hope and resilience. The science in the book is pretty dodgy, but the author admits to handwaving it, aiming the story at middle Americans who might not be well-versed in science. The book is solidly aimed at tweens, offering a little frisson of dread at the thought of the world coming to an end but ultimately reassuring them that family and routine persist even in apocalyptic times. The book is written in an epistolary format, with Miranda's journal entries providing a personal and intimate look at her family's experiences. The political and religious views expressed in the book are mild and could be interpreted in various ways, adding depth to the story without being overly preachy.

Quick quotes

    OMG! Like, the world is totally ending and it like, totally sucks!

    The science is pretty dodgy (the author admits [here](http://susanbethpfeffer.blogspot.com/2008/07/science-of-life-as-we-knew-it-and-dead.html) that she pretty much just handwaved it -- "All the science in LAWKI/d&g is consequence based")

    It's for tweens who want to experience a little frisson of dread at the thought of the world coming to an end and how that might be kind of cool because no more stupid kid brothers or Mom and Dad telling them to do homework, except they wouldn't _really_ want that, so Pfeffer makes sure to reassure them that yes, Mom is still going to make you do homework even when the sky is falling.

tandfonline.com · Unknown · 2023-01-01
fascinating 4.00

The reviewer finds 'Life as We Knew It' fascinating and well-written, praising its imagery and character development, despite some unrealistic elements and a simplified plot aimed at young adults. They highly recommend it for fans of end-of-the-world fiction.

The reviewer has a deep appreciation for 'Life as We Knew It,' particularly its compelling narrative and character development. They find the book's imagery and the way characters adapt to desperate times to be particularly strong points. However, they acknowledge that the story isn't entirely realistic and is somewhat simplified to fit within the young adult genre. The reviewer also notes that while the first book in the series is excellent, the subsequent books are not as strong. Despite its flaws, the reviewer highly recommends this book and its sequel for anyone interested in end-of-the-world fiction.

Quick quotes

    The story isn’t very realistic and is dulled down at certain points to keep it within the limits of a young adult novel.

    The imagery and narrative of this novel are immaculate, and I love how each of the characters develop and adapt to the desperate times they are stuck in.

    This book certainly has its fall backs, but I’ve always found comfort in its simple concept, yet devastating plot.

marxandphilosophy.org.uk · Unknown · 2019-08-19
fascinating 4.00

The book is a fascinating analysis of Disney comics, revealing the imperialist ideology embedded within them. It's a thought-provoking read that challenges the reader's perspective on popular culture.

How to Read Donald Duck is a groundbreaking work that dissects the subtle messages of imperialism and capitalism in Disney comics. The authors, Ariel Dorfman and Armand Mattelart, provide a compelling argument that these seemingly innocent stories are not as harmless as they appear. They delve into the cultural and political context of the time, showing how these comics were used as tools of propaganda. The book is a must-read for anyone interested in media studies, cultural criticism, or the history of imperialism. It's a dense and academic read, but the insights are invaluable. The authors' analysis is thorough and well-supported, making a strong case for their interpretations. The book is not just a critique of Disney but also a broader commentary on the power of media and its role in shaping societal norms and values.

Quick quotes

    The book is a fascinating analysis of Disney comics, revealing the imperialist ideology embedded within them.

    It's a thought-provoking read that challenges the reader's perspective on popular culture.

    The authors provide a compelling argument that these seemingly innocent stories are not as harmless as they appear.

blogs.lse.ac.uk · Unknown · 2019-07-30
mixed 3.50

The book is praised for its immersive and suspenseful storytelling, with readers feeling deeply connected to the characters and the events. However, some critics find the political and religious views of the author intrusive and distracting, affecting the overall enjoyment of the book.

Readers have found 'Life As We Knew It' to be an engaging and suspenseful read, with many feeling deeply immersed in the story. The book's ability to evoke strong emotions and create a sense of being in the characters' shoes is highly appreciated. The suspenseful nature of the plot keeps readers on their feet, making it a gripping experience. However, some readers have noted that the book's political and religious undertones can be distracting. The author's views, expressed through the characters, are seen as intrusive and detract from the overall enjoyment of the story. This has led to mixed feelings about the book, with some readers finding it less enjoyable due to these elements.

Quick quotes

    Amazing. I got totally sucked into the book. There would be moments where I would be freezing cold, despite the eighty degree weather, simply because in the book it was cold.

    The story is so well told, so scary, that I welcomed the lighter moments when the author takes little humorous potshots at the present administration.

    I was intrigued with the idea of the moon being thrown off of its orbit by a meteor, but disappointed in what the author chose to highlight regarding humanity.

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