Well I enjoyed this book at least. I love the fact it goes into theology and philosophy and the contentions with that and Oz. Something I would never make connections with myself unless someone explained things to me like this book does. I also like the fact that I learned things from this; I was expecting reading this for fun already knowing a bit about L. Frank Baum. I learned he and Susan B. Anthony have a connection other then being feminist. Baum's mother-in-law was close friends with and part of the suffragette movement with Anthony. Anthony was even invited to Baum's wedding but couldn't make it. Another cool fact (or I thought it was interesting at least) was that Baum was a chicken farmer, hence Billina's character in later books and the Nomes weakness.

Some of the parts ere interesting, but I wondered if they were more of the authors input. I do love all the connections Oz has with other things that were happening at that time. To me, Oz is Americana. Something I think people should read at once. Some of the stuff are dated, but works if you know about the time period. Of course most people only know about the classic movie, it a good movie, but that's not the whole Oz story.

My only two complaints I had were this was one briefly covering the other Oz books. I still want to know what made Baum decided to make Tip and Ozma the same character making it kind of odder reading the book today with the transgender movement. My other complaint is he referenced the movie too many times. I think once or twice is good, but he didn't even talk about Return to Oz which actually follows the books over other movies. He should had just stuck with the books maybe and briefly talked about the movie.

If you are a fan of not just the books but the history of the books and L. Frank Baum's life then I recommenced this book to you. Maybe if you like the movie too, but I would read the books before reading this. I would also recommend to read some Joseph Campbell too before reading this because he quotes that man a lot too (which is perfect). This book covers a lot and I'm not going into all of it, but like I said I enjoyed this book. ( )

Excellent overview of Baum's life and how actual events may have influenced the Oz story. Focuses a bit much on the history of women's suffrage due to his mother-in-law's involvement with Susan B. Anthony, but that was obviously part of his life.

The final 3-4 four chapters make an excellent review/summary of all events in a plot review of the story. Additional material relating how the story lived on after Baum's death relates some of the events behind the development of the 1939 movie.

"The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" is going to be the next book I read thanks to Evan I. Schwartz. His book is a fascinating account of the life of L. Frank Baum. The Baum story touches scores of 19th century historical tidbits that have always interested me, for example: "the burned over " district of northern New York State. (From it came our country's greatest hoax, still surviving: Mormonism). Other historical tidbits in this book: Wounded Knee, Chicago World's Fair, Cardiff Giant Hoax, early feminism, early anti-organized religion movement, Sitting Bull's death, Theosophy, and many more.

Evan Schwartz's FINDING OZ is an enjoyable biography of L Frank Baum, as well as of Baum's semi-wicked (threatening, intimidating) mother in law Matilda Joslyn Gage. Matilda was a leading suffragete of the period, with a domineering personality. Life in upstate New York, Aberdeen and Chicago are detailed through good times and panics. Sidebars, if they can be called that in a book, are the Native Americans and a religious movment of the time called Theosophy. Descriptions of the Chicago Worlds Fair are captivation, the intellectual side of the fair not the entertaining.... Finding OZ is as much finding the transition from 19th century to 20th century America at the individual and family levels. The Wizard of Oz is found in the life experiences of L Frank Baum, from childhood to the moment he saw the story in his mind. Joseph Campbell's contemplation of myth and life play a key role in the interpretations. It is a fun read...... now for the movie.