I read this with my ten year old daughter and we both loved it. Lots of information on the history of Barbie with gorgeous photos and the timeline at the end was a nice touch.

Thank you Netgalley, Robin Gerber and Quarto Publishing.

As a colossal Barbie fan as a child, I jumped at the chance to enjoy this informative and insightful look into the phenomenon that is the cultural icon that changed the face of children's toys. This is packed with insights into the history and psychology of the Barbie doll, which I expected, however I didn’t expect to be so inspired and enamoured with Ruth Handler. She championed her idea and remained true to her conviction that this mass market doll would both appeal to the young girls of the time with the gap in this market for a toy that would be designed for their desires, but also tap into their imaginations with an aspirational glamourous "everywoman". I knew before reading this that Mattel has always been conscious of evolving the Barbie persona to reflect the changing times and empowerment of the audience - it seems unlikely that the first owners of the original Barbie doll would ever have imagined that there are options available in every career imaginable for Barbie (I had no idea there was an architect edition to be honest). With the images bringing the history and evolution to life, one of the joys of this book is obviously seeing all the iterations of the doll across time (and trying to spot ones I had owned), how the marketing has changed to reflect the changing population and fashions.

As the movie addressed the current public perception of Barbie as less than stellar and various backlash throughout history, I wondered if this book would also confront this - I did feel that this was not addressed explicitly, perhaps understandably, but this does make this quite a one sided reflection.

Above all, the weaving through of anecdotes of how perennial superfans have engaged with the doll makes this memorable read very much more about how the pop culture icon is more than just a doll and holds a place in people's hearts as well as history. The nostalgia made this a really joyful read that hopefully appeals to many.

Thanks NetGalley for this advanced reader copy.

A nice overview about the history of the famous Barbie doll. From the first ideas and patents to the special editions released through the years. Accompanied with a lot of photographs. A good read for fans or those who just want to know more about the Barbie history.

This was so cute! After seeing the Barbie movie last summer, I’ve been obsessed with Ruth Handler and her role in the creation of Barbie. I loved getting to read more about the evolution of Barbie over the years. This is a great book for adults, young adults, and even young girls who are starting to read longer books.

I received an ARC of “Barbie: Her Inspiration, History, and Legacy” by Robin Gerber from NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group/Epic Ink in exchange for an honest review. I cannot tell everyone how much I loved this book.

The book’s formatting was absolutely PERFECT. The text, besides being easy to read and informative, had enough white space to make reading it an actual joy. And the photographs! There were full color photographs splashed across every single page. The author included photos of numerous Barbie dolls throughout the years, from 1959 through today. I particularly love how Gerber incorporated some black and white photographs as well, especially of the older photographs of the company’s founders, Ruth and Elliott Handler.

I played with Barbie dolls as a child. As an adult, I purchased them as well for my “closet collection.” Unfortunately, I no longer own the collection as I had a habit of giving away the dolls to all of the kids who became googly-eyed after I showed off my Barbies. But I **love** Barbies! So, when Gerber began discussing Barbie’s creator Ruth Handler, it really piqued my curiosity.

I’ve always admired how the company paid so much attention to diversity, so I shouldn’t have been surprised when Gerber revealed that Ruth Handler was Jewish. Learning this fact really makes it clear just how much the Jewish community has helped the United States become such a wonderful country. Sure, the US has its problems, but our problems are outweighed by the enormous talent in this country. And without the Jewish community, the United States would not be what it is today.

In just nine chapters, Gerber was able to provide a concise overview of the history of the Matell Company, its workers, and the impact that Barbie dolls have had not just on the U.S., but on countries around the world. I learned a lot from this book—including learning for the first time that Barbie had a surname (Roberts)!

This book is every Barbie lovers dream. But it’s also an important part of advertising and marketing history as well. People are going to love reading this book and I encourage everyone 100% to read this book.

Thank you NetGalley for this early copy of Barbie by Robin Gerber. The timing couldn't be better for me as I volunteer at a museum that just opened an exhibit on Barbie and the Power of Pink.
I thought the information provided in this book was perfect, with an easy delivery of information and a plethora of pictures. I learned some new information on Mattel and the evolution of Barbie and walked away with an even greater appreciation for what the brand stands for.

I think this is the perfect size book and anyone would enjoy learning more about the brand, its mission and all the nostalgia that goes with Barbie.

Because of the Barbie movie by Greta Gerwig I have been reading more about the history of Barbie and I really liked the illustrations of this book, I would love to see it in physical edition!

Because of the Barbie movie by Greta Gerwig I have been reading more about the history of Barbie and I really liked the illustrations of this book, I would love to see it in physical edition!

After watching Greta Gerwig's movie on Barbie, I pulled out all of my childhood Barbies, cases, clothes, camper, etc. It has reignited a nostalgia in me of remembering when play was all about imagination (no cell phones or iPads or personal computers back then). I remember creating worlds with Barbie and I smiled when I saw some of the outfits in this book as being ones I owned or my best friend owned. I knew this book would be a great read because I had read Robin Gerber's book "Barbie and Ruth" that came out in 2010 and enjoyed it tremendously. Not only do we learn about the history of Mattel and the idea for Barbie, we also learn about how they are made, their impact on fashion and meet some of the collectors. The photos and artifacts in this book are terrific. I really enjoyed the trip down memory lane!

Thank you to Netgalley and Quarto Publishing Group – becker & mayer!, Epic Ink for an ARC and I voluntarily left this review.

OBSESSED. Fascinating and visually stunning. I need to buy a hardcover of this book for my coffee table ASAP.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of "Barbie" by Robin Gerber. This coffee table book features stunning illustrations and a very thorough timeline of the creation and evolvement of Barbie over the last 50+ years. To say "now is the time" for this book is an understatement. I have 3 girls who are obsessed with Barbie; the Barbie movie rules our household; and Barbie dolls are on every surface of the playroom. This was a beautiful book to flip through and provided an expansion of the minor history presented in the Barbie movie. I loved looking at the evolution of the doll, her hair, makeup, clothes, accessories, etc. I would love to buy this for my home when it is released!

I thoroughly enjoyed delving into Robin Gerber's "Barbie." The narrative gracefully unfolds, offering a captivating journey through Barbie's inception to the silver screen. Exploring the genesis of Barbie's concept, the inspiration that fueled its creation, and the pivotal elements shaping her evolution was truly fascinating. Additionally, gaining insights into Margot Robbie's thoughtful style choices for red carpet events added a delightful layer of depth to the book. Gerber skillfully weaves together the history, evolution, and personal touches, creating a heartwarming narrative that beautifully captures the essence of Barbie's journey.

"Kim felt that Ruth Handler created the doll with a clear human truth at her core that will endure: a girl can be anything she wants to be."

If you were a fan of the movie Barbie (2023) or are generally interested in the history of the Barbie doll you will like this book! Gerber dives into the backstory of Barbie's creation, including the setbacks creator Ruth Handler met along her journey of designing and marketing the famous doll. "Ruth was the kind of person who's determination grew when her dreams were denied. Just as she had persevered to marry Elliott, she held on to her doll idea, believing she would make it work." And make it work she did...

The book lost me when it went into detail about various collectors and fans of Barbie. Personally, I wasn't very interested in reading these individual accounts but they are solid proof of Barbie's success and continuous evolving legacy. "What keeps Barbie culturally relevant? McKnight added, 'There's this wonderful open-endedness to Barbie. She's a canvas for storytelling.'"

The book's concluding chapter described the impact of the 2023 movie, which I found to be a fitting nod to such a huge milestone in Barbie history. I am excited to see Barbie continue to expand its diversity and create spaces for girls to dream bigger than ever before.


Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for sending me an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance readers copy in exchange for an honest review

This is the ultimate book for Barbie fanatics and collectors - providing any and everything you want to know about Barbie from its inception to the #BarbieMovie , with beautiful photos and even a timeline at the end of the book

This was a great read to learn more about the celebrated figure that we know as Barbie, great that the legacy of Barbie is ever evolving.

I didn't play with dolls when I was a little girl but I had mad respect for Barbie's social life and accessories. She had everything, a swimming pool, a fancy house, so many clothes...
This book tracks the evolution of Barbie, from the time when her originator realized that paper dolls didn't offer enough opportunities to the modern age. You can see the original designs and how her original accessories were styled. There are pictures of Barbie through the years, with stories of the women "sheroes" who had their own Barbies. In the end, the author asks why the Barbie movie made such an impact.
Barbie is fascinating because of her pervasiveness in culture, and I went to the Barbie museum exhibit several years ago. There really is nothing she can't do. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this

I have been a huge fan of Barbie ever since I was a little girl. But I never knew who created her. This book is full of information of how she was created and evolved over time. It was interesting to look at how Barbie changed over the years and how all the other versions came about. One thing I do wish was that there had been more colour photographs. I was hoping to see some photos of the Barbies I had in the 80's. This would make a good coffee table book, but other than that, I would not recommend.

I thoroughly enjoyed this well-researched and thorough history of Barbie. I grew up playing with the dolls myself and am a computer programmer today. Girls can truly be anything. This book will be great for every Barbie fan out there.

Like many others, I adored playing with Barbie's as a child. I have many fond memories of opening dolls on my birthday and playing for countless hours with my siblings and friends. This book shone a light into the history of a beloved childhood toy and the source of many treasured memories.
The information presented in this book was clear, concise and factual. But for me, the real joy of the book was in its images, the vintage diagrams and photos were illuminating, it was also enjoyable to look at the different dolls, recognising some that I owned and some that I have purchased for the younger members of my family.
The book shows the enormous scope that Barbie has and how she has evolved over time to be able to be able to be a beacon of representation to different people from different backgrounds.
The timeline at the back was well done in demonstrating the continuity and change of Barbie as a brand.
This book would make a fantastic addition to the coffee table of any Barbie fan.
Thank you to Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I grew up with the original Barbie and Barbie movies and loved the new movie that came out! Learning a little bit more about the history and how it has effected society was very interesting.