Forever Barbie by M.G. Lord, a Kindle book I started reading on August 9th. I was in a bind about if I should read a non-fiction biography or a sociological/social commentary book. .... Bingo.

This book's writing style is surprisingly cheeky and really well-documents Barbie's physical and occupational changes to the times, right down to the rotation of her torso in 1967 and the examples of pseudosexual accessories that Barbie used vs Ken's (i.e. Barbie's boxy purses with bananas spilling out of i More...

I’m not sure why I picked this book up. I do not have any strong feelings toward Barbie. I am neither a collector nor am I a basher of this plastic doll. I understand the appeal for young girls to want the doll and I have some very fold memories with her. There was something fun about changing her outfit whenever I wanted and letting her have a different career every day. In fact, the less items that you have, such as the dream house or pink corvette, the more imagination that you can use with h More...

I thought this would be interesting but instead it was very dull! There were a few illuminating points, but only a few in the entire book. I was relieved to finish this most scattered essay of arguments.

Her chapters were random and didn't lead on from one another, it seems like she just started writing without any sort of a plan. The pictures, too, were irrelevant most of the time or corresponded to a completely different part of the book.

The beginning of it was written quite objectively, like More...

This was a daily special from the Nook Book store and I bought it because I collect Barbie. I don't know what to expect from this book, but was excited to read it. However you can tell by the one star rating that I did not enjoy this book.

First off, its dated. This book goes about as far as the early 1990s. That's almost 20 years ago. A whole lot has changed in that time.

Two, this book needed organization. The writer should have spent more time organizing the book into a timeline, or something. More...

Not sure why I finished this book it was so bad. The writing was poor, the structure confusing, the insight so-so. I did learn some interesting things but it would have made a better article than a book. Highlights:

- Barbie's proportions "were dictated by the mechanics of clothing construction. The doll is one-sixth the size of a person, but the fabrics she wears are scaled for people".
- Barbie was created by a women and-in my opinion-was a more quality product when women were running the line More...

I was expecting a breezy history of Barbie, but this book really includes some in-depth psychoanalytic theory and history. I appreciated the deeper look at Barbie's symbolism as a both a cultural object and an individual experience. It definitely feels uncomfortable to think of Barbie as something with connections to, for example, ancient fertility sculptures, but it was also helpful in placing her in a larger context of our views of the feminine vs. femininity vs. womanhood. This book made me w More...

An in-depth book chronicling the history of the most famous doll. In a day when you can google the facts quickly, this book took a long time to tell the Barbie story. The facts are intriguing enough, from her start as a german porn symbol to a multi billion dollar icon who has had multiple careers and fabulous clothes. The author delves into the deep meaning behind Barbie (did you know there was some?) to the detriment of an otherwise fascinating history. Sex symbol? Fertility Goddess? Work of A More...

I'm doing a project where I try to read books from all kinds of genre. Poetry, art, fiction, non-fiction, etc.

This was my women's non-fiction choice for October and I thought I would have to slough through it like other non-fiction that I've read this year.

I was pleasantly surprised. I loved this book. It had everything! Sarcastic humor? check. Feminists? check. Making fun of old-fashioned homemakers from the 50s? check. And when it got to the part of My First Barbie and the ugly Western Barbi More...

Forever Barbie started out like just my cup of tea- a sociological look and gender construction and culture through the evolution of a disputed plastic icon. Unfortunately, the book devolved into a disorganized collection of interviews with obscure performance artists and lots of assumptions on the part of the author that Barbie is so popular because with her pointed toes she resembles ancient fertility icons. The solid cultural criticism of the first few chapters became a hodgepodge of disparat More...

Fascinating book by cultural critic M.G. Lord (and first generation owner of a Barbie doll), tracing Barbie from 1959 to the present. Funny and provocative insights on what Barbie means and why she arouses such passions pro and con. Gave me a lot to think about, and it was most entertaining.

Definitely more interested in Barbie world after reading this book. I do hope the people that make Barbies are paid well though.

Very in-depth and well-researched book. I learned some disturbing things about what people do with Barbies that I'd rather forget (!)

A nice reminder to me about why I was never particularly 'in' to this particular pop cultural phenomenon.

My favorite quote from the book:

"Barbie is the ugliest piece of shit to come out of Amerikan factories."

Boring. I am usually enthralled by the history of this doll, but unfortunately this author bored me to tears.

I now have nine 'used' barbies in my living room. Take from that what you will.

M.G. Lord is an inimitable wit.

please read best book eer

A very interesting Barbie story...with a twist.

As others have said, this is great fun but the author reaches a bit to make her points. Loved, loved, loved her account of playtesting the "Barbie Queen of the Prom" board game with a variety of top-level career women and committed feminists, and watching them "devolve into back-stabbing, predatory cartoon mantraps out of Clare Booth Luce's The Women" in their scramble to be popular and score boyfriends.

Up to page 117 and lovin' it. A powerful analysis of a cultural icon. How Barbie came to be and how she evolves to meet the imaginative needs of those who love her through the ages.

Pop culture and unintentional sexuality keep this book moving along. Or maybe it was intentional, the way the doll was first made with a submissive "down and to the side" glance on her face, then changed to Barbie looking straight ahead.

I never had any such thoughts while playing with my Barbies. I enjoyed them; wonder what that says about me?

So far, some good history, but way too much psychology! It's just a doll!!

This was a wonderful biography written by a woman who related her own Barbie memories to a sympathetic retelling of Barbie's history. I really enjoyed reading something that didn't take issue with Barbie since I love Barbie so much myself.

Tracks the history of Barbie, through her highs and lows, and kind of gets into the artistry and the mythical ways one could look at her. I don't care much for Barbie and what she stands for; however, she morbidly fascinates me.

Never was a big Barbie fan. Got about half-way through Lord's attempt to make this doll a feminist symbol and fails badly, in my opinion. Those angled feet that can only wear high heels are NOT the fertility goddess' progs.

This reads like a PhD dissertation from someone specializing in feminist studies. It's not that the topic or the ideas are bad. Dissertations just aren't the kind of reading I enjoy. Had to drop this one

Tried to read it. Maybe I wasn't in the mood, but despite the photos, the writing seemed dense and the book seemed way too long.

Reading this book in high school set in motion events that cumulated into my only arrest, to date.

Long story!

It's not what you think! Sex, corporate espionage, and class warfare--a fascinating read.