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.

Wow, a Barbie textbook! I love this. I could see myself getting a physical copy for sure. It mentions the history of Barbie all the way up to the Barbie movie which is on a list of my all time favorite movies. I think this would be excellent for a feminist studies class.

Barbie has a special place in my heart having played a large place in my childhood as well as shaping my mindset that anyone can do/be anything. So when I found Robin Gerber's Barbie: Her Inspiration, History, and Legacy I immediately requested it read (which I'm so glad I got to!). Although it is a short book, don't let that fool you, Gerber's book is so fun and thoroughly researched with extensive backgrounds behind the Barbie doll, her creator, Ruth Handler, and the global phenomena that followed.

Filled with images from early advertisements to modern campaigns and photos of Mattel founders and Barbie fans, this bright, colourful book is perfect for any Barbie fan who wants to look back into their childhood, or those who still have Barbie fever from the film released last year.

Thank you, NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – becker & mayer! for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Although this was a really interesting book, I unfortunately I’m not the biggest fan of factual books. I thought this was going to have a little bit more of a family. I’ll be easier to read in a little bit last text but thank you so unfortunately I didn’t realise that this was the type of book because the cover made. It seem very fun and interesting unless textbook factual so obviously that is my mistake but once I read this book which I just didn’t enjoy it

Like most women, i re fell in love with barbie during the summer of barbie 2023, and this book is a beautiful addition to the barbie fever that has taken over. stunning pictures are interlaced with barbies history, i think this would be the perfect gift for fans of any age.

This book is a beautiful history of Barbie. Starting with the history of Barbie and its creators and continuing with vivid photographs of Barbie’s and their inspirations. This was a trip down memory lane!

As a girl who grew up playing Barbies, this was such an excellent read. The photos and the backstories just triggered something so nostalgic I felt like a kid again while reading this!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC to review!

4 stars!

This was a fantastic read and a must for any Barbie fan. After the recent movie my love for my childhood friend was rekindled so I jumped at the chance to read this.

All the pictures used were fantastic and I loved seeing the patents even shown too. Not only does the book explore how and when Barbie was started but also the impact she and her friends have had around the world. It speaks about how Barbie has fans of all ages, races, and genders, the global love Barbie has and if the love will continue to grow in the future.

As a Barbie girl from the age of 2 I adored this book, seeing the history of the iconic doll move with the times and fashions was a real treat. I loved all the 90's bits as it took me right back to my Barbie hey days. People are too quick to blame Barbie for things the reality is she is a powerful empowering iconic for everyone. This book would a great gift for Barbie Girls of all ages...I hope the love created for Barbie after the success of the movie continues and we keep getting treats like this book!!!

Thank you NetGalley for letting me read this arc!

This is a book for all the Barbie lovers (like me). I loved the Barbie timeline where you can see all the evolutions and all the different sorts of Barbies. Little me is screaming while reading this book. Everyone should read this book!

So I grew up loving Barbie, so I may be a bit biased, but I loved this book! I think it talked more about the creation of Barbie than I’ve ever heard before! I have looked into the history of Barbie many times, but this definitely taught me a lot that I didn’t know. I also loved the pictures, especially of Barbie is designer clothing. I didn’t know that much about Barbie’s connection with the fashion industry!

Beautiful anthology of Barbie from creation to today and all her styles in between. This would make a great gift to any fan of the doll or the movie with beautiful photos of dolls that’s I never knew existed over the years.

Thankyou so much to NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book. It was really fascinating to learn the history and back story of the Barbie doll.

The photography through showcasing Barbie from her debut, showing all the drawing of the outfit designs, showing Ruth and Mattel through the years. It talks about how Ruth Handler came up with the idea, and also naming Barbie after her daughter Barbara as it was her that helped Ruth come up with the idea. Ruth wanted Barbie to be an affordable doll for adults and children, getting the idea from a doll cut out magazine her daughter had where you had paper dolls that you popped out and then cut the clothes out and then used the little folds to hang them on the “doll.” She wanted to create something more, something 3D that you could not only dress up but play with. She had her idea rejected so many times saying it wouldn’t sell and no one would want it, boy was she proven wrong.

The book not only talked about the creation of Barbie, but also the global phenomenon that she became and her impact on the world going right up to today mentioning the blockbuster hit movie, Barbie.

This is a great book for any Barbie fan, learning her history and finding out she is so much more than a doll. I feel like it teaches you to push and never give up…can you imagine if Ruth would have taken no for an answer when she pitched the idea of Barbie.

Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for letting me read this advanced copy!

I really enjoyed this book and all the insights it gave into the iconic world of Barbie. As a fan of Barbie, I enjoyed learning about her history and her creator, Ruth Handler. I also enjoyed the pictures that were provided throughout, showcasing so many of the beautiful Barbie dolls and outfits that she wore over the years. It was so wonderful to be able to see so many of the fashion designs and Barbie dolls that were mentioned in the book.

I liked how the book not only talked about the creation of Barbie, but also the global phenomenon that she became and her impact on the world - including the blockbuster hit movie, Barbie. Highly recommend to those who are fans of Barbie and would love more knowledge about how she came to be, and how she's changed the world!

Thank you NetGalley, Robin Gerber, and the publisher for allowing me to read an early copy in exchange for an honest review! I really enjoyed this book and would love to see what it looks like in person. It includes a lot about Barbie, from the history to the new movie, and has some gorgeous images. I learned a lot about the doll while reading and how it's grown over the years. The chapter about the movie really interested me because I loved the movie. I recommend this to all Barbie fans! It would make a great coffee table book.