Susan R. (Sue-in-AZ) -
I enjoyed this biography of Ruth Handler - creator of Barbie.
The book really pulls together the full arc of Ruth's life, both personal and professional.
Written in chronological order and very easy to follow.
I was amazed at the obstacles she overcame and the personal drive she brought to every part of her life.
The book really pulls together the full arc of Ruth's life, both personal and professional.
Written in chronological order and very easy to follow.
I was amazed at the obstacles she overcame and the personal drive she brought to every part of her life.
Pam B. reviewed Barbie and Ruth: The Story of the World's Most Famous Doll and the Woman Who Created Her on + 2 more book reviews
I must have been one of the few who never owned a Barbie doll (too poor, I guess) but the neighborhood girls and my girl cousins did, and I got to play with them! So this book intrigued me from the start.
Ruth (Barbie's inventor) and her husband were a great match: One was the do-er and one the dreamer, and from a garage to a huge company to court battles through cancer and AIDS, the family continued on.
What I liked best about this book, is that the author focused on Ruth's energy and spirit. I found that it was presented in a factual manner and didn't bias the reader. Perhaps not as emotional as some biographies can be, this book started with the basics(Ruth's parents, Ruth's birth) and continued on through her marriage, family, and goals.
And yet, I could almost feel the author's pride in telling about the paths that Ruth blazed as a businesswoman - of not just one company - and her amazing yet practical ideas when it came to surviving breast cancer. (I had no idea about that part!)
As for the court battles that erupted between Ruth and Mattel, I thought it was a little slow but not too boring.
If you're looking for an easy read about a doll and its legacy, this will interest you. If you're looking for an in-depth biography, with lots of details about the family, the author's Bibliography is extensive.
Ruth (Barbie's inventor) and her husband were a great match: One was the do-er and one the dreamer, and from a garage to a huge company to court battles through cancer and AIDS, the family continued on.
What I liked best about this book, is that the author focused on Ruth's energy and spirit. I found that it was presented in a factual manner and didn't bias the reader. Perhaps not as emotional as some biographies can be, this book started with the basics(Ruth's parents, Ruth's birth) and continued on through her marriage, family, and goals.
And yet, I could almost feel the author's pride in telling about the paths that Ruth blazed as a businesswoman - of not just one company - and her amazing yet practical ideas when it came to surviving breast cancer. (I had no idea about that part!)
As for the court battles that erupted between Ruth and Mattel, I thought it was a little slow but not too boring.
If you're looking for an easy read about a doll and its legacy, this will interest you. If you're looking for an in-depth biography, with lots of details about the family, the author's Bibliography is extensive.
