Even though this book originally came out in the nineties, and this version has a new preface since the Barbie movie came out. I found the book super interesting. The narrator does a really great job to make the text very interesting. I learned so much about Barbie. I would recommend this book to anyone that played with Barbies as a child or anyone interested in Barbie as a culture icon.

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This was an interesting audiobook! It didn't really seem liken too much of a biography, but it was still really interesting and I learned a lot. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ALC!

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the audiobook copy!

Like everyone, I was also a fan of the new Barbie live-action. So when I saw there was a non-fiction book about Barbie and her origin I was intrigued. This book as I kept reading made me lose interest in it. It was a bit long-winded and I just couldn't vibe with the narration. I also realized this is an older book being republished so it was missing current information on Barbie which is what I sort of wanted. I think for others, this will work for you if you are curious about Barbie and have no knowledge of her origin.

This is very competently done, but I wish that these “history of a pop culture phenomena/zeitgeist-y toy”would focus more on the history of the object rather than the business that produced it and the author’s personal reckoning with what the object symbolized for them.

Some of that is fine and even necessary, but I keep reading these thinking I’m going to get something very different than what I end up with. If you’re really here for a feminist critique of Barbie or Mattel’s decision-making, you’ll probably enjoy this more than I did. I was looking for the consumer history/sociocontextual role of the doll, and I didn’t get much of either.

Barbie takes a lot of heat from both ends of the political spectrum. To me, she’s just a wonderfully imaginative toy whose attributes reflect rather than create societal values. Greta Gerwig’s Barbie movie did a wonderful job of using Barbie to both promote feminism and refute those who would use her to politicize and condemn frivolous fun, and I wish that we saw more of that from those who wish to put her story into book form.

I really enjoyed learning about the history of Barbie and how the doll shaped America and its culture. I thought it was interesting that the doll was originally inspired by a male pin up doll and it really highlights how Barbie started out as the male idea of a perfect woman and a way for mothers to show there daughters how to be a “lady”. I love how the recent Barbie movie showcased women taking back femininity what means to be a woman. Very thought provoking and timely considering the new movie.

I didn’t realize that this was a re-release of a book from the 90’s until I had already begun the book, which was disappointing as someone who was looking for new information about the brand and the dolls. I guess the plus is that the psychoanalysis is still relevant.

This is an updated reissue of Forever Barbie and is a fascinating, broad "biography" of an iconic toy. The narrator, Robin Weigart, knows just when to add a bit of snark to her voice.

This book is a fascinating look at the history of the Barbie doll. The book explores how Barbie was created, how she changed over time, and what she means to people.
The author examines how Barbie has influenced ideas about being a woman, body image, and shopping habits. The book is well-researched and mixes facts with personal stories, making it interesting and easy to read. It shows how a toy can become a powerful and sometimes controversial symbol.
And not last I would like to thank NetGalley, the author and the publisher for offering me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was interesting and informative, especially after the Barbie resurgence of 2023.
Thank you to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for an audio ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was such an interesting read about the history behind Barbie and Mattel. I really enjoyed listening to this in audiobook format and definitely recommend!

Thank you so much to the publisher and to NetGalley for the e-arc.

First published in the early 90s, before I became owner of my first own Barbie doll, Lord wrote this history of Barbie (and therefore, ultimately, of Mattel) in conversation with the founders, inventors and innovators of the toy industry, but also with a look at the doll collector scene, society and, of course, the children who used the blond icon to play pretend throughout the decades of her ascension into legend.

Now, of course, with a new preface that briefly summarizes what happened to and around Barbie in the meantime – the catalyst for this updated edition evidently being the cinematic phenomenon that is „Barbie The Movie“ (2023). I was there.

In the end, I was less interested in the economy of Big Toy & Co., which took up a good chunk oft he book, and more invested in the sociocultural importance of Barbie. Prehistoric fertility goddess Barbie??? Yes please! I had never even gotten close to considering this angle of looking at the doll. Of course she is a figurine and idol. And then, only briefly alluded to, was the way kids use dolls to (re-)enact sexual encounters and what that means. Why not talk about that even more? Okay, I know why.

That being said, I understand that this book can‘t be a comprehensive account of Barbie’s rise to fame, and never claimed to be, but some important (to me) aspects were definitely missing from the addendum up front. Hello? The Barbie movies, hello??? Instead of a reprint and new look, I wish there was a sequel to this investigation that expands on the newest developments of Barbie’s look, shape, and audience, or bonus chapters at least.

LOVED! I listened to this audiobook as I was driving around town and I now love Barbie more than I have before.

Nararator was great. Everything was easy to understand even at faster speeds. Liked the smoothness of the reading.

After seeing the Barbie movie, I was interested in learning more about the history of Barbie and exploring the impact she's had on our society and culture. This book delivered on both fronts. This book was originally published in 1994, and it's told from the perspective of that time. I appreciated the updated preface about the Barbie movie, but I wish the full book had been revamped to have a more modern perspective or at least had the last 30 years of history added to the end.

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Thank you so much for the advanced copy!

Unfortunately, it wasn't quite what I expected. I do believe that it'll be a great book for the super fans and the ones interested in the behind the scenes and Mattel's businesses... that is not me though.

I believed it would be a different type of study on Barbie and her influence.

A wonderful new edition of a classic look at Barbie and how her creating, growth, and history has impacted women since her advent in 1959. The updates to this edition are smart and a perfect reflection of the current climate. Lord does an excellent job of referencing Greta Gerwig's Barbie without seeming like a way to cash in on the popularity of the movie. Additionally, the narrator is incredible. She sounds so similar to Helen Mirren's narration of the Barbie movie. I love her voice!

Loved the narrator and the subject topic of this book. The Barbie information was fresh and new. .

I really enjoyed listening to the audio of this book! Thank you again for the copy! This was great, informative listen on the history/background of Barbie. And it also gives us a glimpse into how the creation of Barbie still affects us today, especially women. Alas, Barbie was made FOR women BY women! It was great experiencing this, especially after having seen the Barbie movie, which I loved so much.

Get the chance to discover the story beyond what you might know as Barbie - the doll, barbie - the movie, or Barbie - the model and discover Barbie - the person, in this stunning biography put together by M. G. Lord. Readers and listeners will get the chance to discover how barbie grew from her low origins as “Bild Lilli” all the way to the 2023 movie phenomenon!

Special thanks to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and the editorial team for giving me the opportunity to review the ARC in audiobook format and to you, my reader, for taking the time to read this honest personal book review.

If you are interested in other of my book reviews, make sure to follow me on GoodReads! #ForeverBarbie #NetGalley #LifeLongLearning

Unfortunately, this was a DNF for me. While I loved the newly added introduction exploring the recent impact of the Barbie movie on society, the rest of the book felt a bit dated to me (and was originally published in 1994), and I couldn’t get into it. I think it would be interesting if the whole book was retold through a more modernized lens.

Thank you to M.G. Lord, Dreamscape Media, & NetGalley for the audio ARC! All opinions are my own.