When Ruth Handler develops an idea for her toy company Mattel, she has no idea it would shape American culture for generations to come. Standing at only 11 inches tall, Barbie would become the center of Ruth’s universe and the universe of those who surround her including her family, her head engineer Jack Ryan who struggles with his own personal demons, and designers Charlotte Johnson and Stevie Klein who would be intricate in bringing Barbie to life.

Renee Rosen has a way of plucking an ordinary, everyday item out of the universe and then building a world around that item that’s steeped in its rich history. Whether it’s Cosmo, Estée Lauder cosmetics, or in this case Barbie, she manages to immerse the reader in such detailed history that at the same time, feels fresh and modern. Some of the themes of this book – women in the workplace, views on the female body, the impact of success- are all equally relevant in the year 2025.

Ruth’s story is incredibly inspiring. Her grit and pure determination to bring Barbie into the homes of many, is really the driving force behind this story and of Barbie’s ultimate success. Without Ruth, there is no Barbie; without her team, there is no success. While it was hard at times to read about these characters struggles, whether with alcoholism/drugs, a fear of coming out, feelings of abandonment and the desire to look like Barbie at any cost, it made them all that much more real.

🎧 This is absolutely terrific on audio helmed by Abagail Reno. In fact her narration is so good, it felt as though this was a full cast even though it’s told in third person narration. She brings the book completely to life and really made this story shine. I highly recommend the audiobook or even better, an immersive read with the audio and physical book.

Read if you like:
▪️Barbie
▪️American history (1950s-1970s)
▪️ensemble casts
▪️strong FMCs
▪️stories about the toy industry
▪️Mad Men vibes

Thank you Berkley Pub and PRH Audio for the gifted copies.