Reading rank 309
Excelsior! The Amazing Life of Stan Lee
, subject: Stan Lee, Marvel Comics, and the creation and promotion of the Marvel universe, 2002
Stan Lee became famous, yet this book shows how much of his life was marked by self-doubt.
65
Coverage Score
3
Scored evidence
About the book
Lee recounts his life in comics in his own exuberant voice, from Timely and Atlas through Marvel's major characters, while George Mair helps shape the memories into a career autobiography.
Why read it
Best if you want a life story that shows the self-doubt behind public success, told in a funny, likable voice.
Key themes
- Self-doubt behind the fame
- Lee's voice on the page
Evidence and original sources
Sources: official Founders episodes — #72, #156
David says what he loved most about the book was learning how much of Stan Lee's life was marked by self-doubt despite his eventual fame.
- Stan Lee: Founder of Marvel — David names Excelsior: The Amazing Life of Stan Lee as the book for this episode after reading its opening passage.
- Theodore Roosevelt — David compares Roosevelt's life motto to a previously covered Stan Lee biography's motto, Excelsior.