Godzilla on My Mind: Fifty Years of the King of Monsters [Paperback]

William M. Tsutsui (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 23, 2004

This year, to mark the fiftieth anniversary of his first appearance on the screen, the original, uncut version of Godzilla was released in American theaters to the delight of Sci-Fi and B-Movie fans everywhere. Ever since Godzilla (or, Gojira, as he is known in Japan) crawled out of his radioactive birthplace to cut a swath of destruction through Tokyo, he has claimed a place alongside King Kong and others in the movie monster pantheon. He is the third most recognizable Japanese celebrity in the United States, and his fan base continues to grow as children today prove his enduring appeal. Now, Bill Tsutsui, a life-long fan and historian, takes a light-hearted look at the big, green, radioactive lizard, revealing how he was born and how he became a megastar. With humorous anecdotes, Godzilla on My Mind explores his lasting cultural impact on the world. This book is sure to be welcomed by pop culture enthusiasts, fans, and historians alike.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Winner of the 2005 William Rockhill Nelson Award for Non-Fiction. This honor is granted by The Writers Place and The Kansas City Star, and commends the best book by a Kansas or Missouri author published in 2004.

 

"Godzilla On My Mind is a good read, well written, occasionally provocative and full of facts that show it to be well researched as well as a labour of love." -Dr. Dolores Martinez, the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), and author of The Worlds of Japanese Popular Culture

"Bill Tsutsui blends impeccable scholarship with witty writing and an eye for fascinating detail as he follows the romping, stomping path of Godzilla across global popular culture: from Japanese film making in the 1950s, to rap lyrics in the present day; from issues of nuclear disarmament to the character of science fiction fandom; from wind-up toys to advertisements for Nike, Taco Bell, and Dr. Pepper. Inspired by his life-long affection -- passion? mania? -- for the monster, Tsutsui has written a stellar book; an entertaining and vivid look at Japanese pop culture, its globalization, and American encounters with Japan."
--Ted Bestor, Harvard University and author of Tsukiji: The Fish Market at the Center of the World

"William Tsutsui's Godzilla takes a fresh, original, and appealing look at one of our more intriguing pop culture icons. Although informed by careful scholarship, the book is highly accessible. It's funny, stimulating, and an overall pleasure to read. I'll never look at Godzilla the same way again!
--Susan Napier, author of Anime from Akira To Princess Mononoke: Experiencing Contemporary Japanese Animation

About the Author

William Tsutsui is an Associate Professor of history at the University of Kansas.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan; First Edition edition (September 23, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1403964742
• ISBN-13: 978-1403964748
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #191,311 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding !!!, November 2, 2004

By 

Samurai6 (Westchester,New York United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Godzilla on My Mind: Fifty Years of the King of Monsters (Paperback)

An excellent analysis and history of a great movie icon. Godzilla on My Mind is an impressive, well written discussion of the impact Japan's (and the world's) favorite rampaging movie monster has made on the film industry and pop culture in general. The author thoroughly reviews all aspects of the Godzilla phenomenon (the Godzilla films are the longest series of movies in history -50 years old !!!)and tries to answer the question "Why do people love Godzilla so much?". It is an entertaining and affectionate look at a cherised character. A must read for any Godzilla fan.

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I need to find those movies!, January 16, 2005

By 

"magicweasel2001" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Godzilla on My Mind: Fifty Years of the King of Monsters (Paperback)

I didn't consider myself a Godzilla fan. I liked the icon and the destruction Godzilla represented, but I didn't consider myself to be all-knowing about him. But he interested me nonetheless, and I decided to pick up this book and boy was I startled by the sheer amount of knowledge this book contains! If you want to start loving Godzilla, this is what you got to read first!

The six chapters are broke down as following: "Chapter I: The Birth Of Gojira" talks about the first movie and the establishment of an icon. "Chapter II: The Godzilla Franchise" explains everything there is to know about the tewnty six sequels to the original Gojira. "Chapter III: Understanding the monster" tries to analyse why Godzilla is so appealing and why everyone knows him. "Chapter IV: The Making Of An American Icon" explains why, of all places, Godzilla made a name for himself in America, and why he is cemented in American culture. "Chapter V: A Personal Godzilla" analyses the fans of Godzilla, why they love him, and just how much they love him. And finally, "Chapter VI: Godzilla's Spawn" talks about the moviemaking trend started by Godzilla, from the equally loveable Gamera to the american-made Godzilla.

Quite frankly, I never was so interested by a book that didn't feature a story. It is written with a lot of insight and might make anyone who reads it a Godzilla fan. Now, where can I find those movies?

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars JUST BUY IT......, November 25, 2006

By 

Richard J. Oravitz - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Godzilla on My Mind: Fifty Years of the King of Monsters (Paperback)

This is a really great fun read written by a lifelong fan of THE BIG-G. As a Godzilla fan myself, I find this book to be an insightful overview of not only the films but also of the times when these films were made. Tsutsui covers his subject with style and humor, informative without being academic. This is both a FRIENDLY read and a WELL WRITTEN history of Godzilla and his affect on pop culture then and now. Buy this book. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!