Barbie and Ruth

Posted at June 11, 2009

Description:

The tragic and redeeming story of how one visionary woman built the biggest toy company in the world and created a global icon.

Barbie and Ruth is the entwined story of two exceptional women. There’s Barbie: the diminutive yet arrestingly voluptuous doll unveiled at the 1959 Toy Fair who became the treasure of 90 percent of American girls and their counterparts in 150 countries. She went on to compete as an Olympic athlete, serve as an air force pilot, work as a boutique owner, run as a presidential candidate, and ignite a cultural firestorm.

And then there’s Ruth Handler, Barbie’s creator: the tenth child of Polish Jewish immigrants, a passionately competitive and creative business pioneer, and a mother and wife who wanted it all. After a business scandal that forced Ruth out of Mattel, the company she founded, she drew on her experience as a breast cancer survivor to start a business that changed women’s lives. She was ultimately honored as a pioneer, humanitarian, and masterful entrepreneur.

Based on original research, extensive interviews, and previously unavailable material, Barbie and Ruth tells the fascinating story of how two women forever changed American business and culture.

Customer Reviews:

I learned so much from reading Ms. Gerber’s book. The best part for me was the history lesson. When you put Barbie & her development in the context of the times you gain a much greater appreciation for the accomplishments of her creator. a lovely read. an education.

A cautionary tale that still manages to offer an inspiring & empowering precedent for women in power, BARBIE & RUTH is a must-read. An early woman executive who dared to enter & master a man’s milieu, finally committing grave moral errors, but ultimately emerging wiser & of greater service to the world than she could have ever imagined, Ruth Handler, as Robin Gerber intelligently & entertainingly portrays her, is a relatable shero. Her human foibles, her dramatic struggles, her drive to succeed, & her require to redeem herself by giving back, set a powerful example for strong, smart women who may have made mistakes, but require to turn their lives around. Thanks, Robin Gerber, for this important book — it made me feel that I could learn from my own mistakes & achieve anything as a leader, an entrepreneur, a humanitarian as well as a woman.

Barbie & Ruth is a love story, success story, & business scandal story all wrapped into two - & it is all TRUE. The story of how a woman came to create the doll that represents the best & the worst of femininity is fascinating & Gerber’s account is not only well told but very balanced.

somebody interested in developing their own business from the ground up can learn something by reading Robin Gerber’s book about Ruth Handler’s experience. This well written story describes the challenges & triumphs over the years that the Mattel company introduced the Barbie doll & so plenty of other popular toys. it is up to the reader to make a judgement (or not) regarding the personal & business decisions made by Ruth as she rose to the top, & later hit bottom. Whatever you think about the Barbie doll & her creator, you will gain a new appreciation for what it takes to succeed in a very competitive environment, whether it be the retail business or any other business. I think you will find it worth the time to read this book.

Barbie & Ruth is truly wonderful! I’m recommending it to all of my friends- a quantity of whom joined me in my rec room to play Barbie dolls when they were young!
Ms. Gerber keeps the story moving & always interesting.

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