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LEGO: A Love Story
An adult LEGO fan's dual to build with bricks and build a family There are 62 LEGO bricks for every person in the world, and at age 30, Jonathan Bender realized that he didn't have a single one of them. While reconsidering his childhood dream of becoming a master model builder for The LEGO Group, he discovers the men and women who are skewing the averages with collections of hundreds of thousands of LEGO bricks. What is it about the ubiquitous, brightly colored toys that makes them so hard for everyone to put down? In search of answers and adventure, Jonathan Bender sets out to explore the quirky world of adult fans of LEGO (AFOLs) while becoming a builder himself. As he participates in challenges at fan conventions, searches for the largest private collection in the United States, and visits LEGO headquarters (where he was allowed into the top secret set vault), he finds his LEGO journey twinned with a second creative endeavor—to have a child. His two worlds intertwine as he awaits the Will he win a build competition or bring a new fan of LEGO into the world? Like every really good love story, this one has surprises—and a happy ending. Whether you're an avid LEGO freak or a onetime fan who now shares LEGO bricks with your children, this book will appeal to the inner builder in you and reignite a love for all things LEGO.
292 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2010
17 people are currently reading
384 people want to read
About the author
Jonathan Bender
7 books11 followersMy name is Jonathan Bender. I'm a journalist working on a book about adult fans of LEGO. I spent the last year learning about the adult fan culture and rediscovering how to build. The book, LEGO: A Love Story, will be published by John Wiley & Sons on May 10, 2010.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
April 13, 2020
"I snatch up the oversized box and my heart races. Three minutes later we walk out [of the estate sale] into the cloudy afternoon $16 poorer -- $15 for [four used] LEGO sets, and $1 for a glass pitcher adorned with dinosaurs. My return to childhood is now complete." -- the author, on page 38
While I liked Bender's LEGO: A Love Story I did not necessarily love it, but that's not to say it was a bad book or any fault of the author. There are a few moments detailing the history of the popular plastic toy building sets - which were a reliable staple of my childhood, alongside my collections of die-cast vehicles (Matchbox and Hot Wheels) and action figures (G.I. Joe and Star Wars) - and its Scandinavian origin / production, but more of the narrative focused on, to quote the dust jacket, "the obsessive and diverse subculture of adult fans of LEGO ('AFOLs'), walking the line between art and commerce, play and 'Serious Play,' and fantasy and real life . . .". So it's a little more so about the adult collectors / builders, either folks who are recapturing some of the fun of their youth OR those who view it as a somewhat relaxing but fulfilling hobby, as well as the modern practices of the company with this recently expanding demographic. It also details some of Bender's experience in becoming an 'AFOL' - his wife even supportingly gets involved - and a few of the trips he undertook (stateside conventions, a fan's homegrown museum, a production facility) for research purposes.
While I liked Bender's LEGO: A Love Story I did not necessarily love it, but that's not to say it was a bad book or any fault of the author. There are a few moments detailing the history of the popular plastic toy building sets - which were a reliable staple of my childhood, alongside my collections of die-cast vehicles (Matchbox and Hot Wheels) and action figures (G.I. Joe and Star Wars) - and its Scandinavian origin / production, but more of the narrative focused on, to quote the dust jacket, "the obsessive and diverse subculture of adult fans of LEGO ('AFOLs'), walking the line between art and commerce, play and 'Serious Play,' and fantasy and real life . . .". So it's a little more so about the adult collectors / builders, either folks who are recapturing some of the fun of their youth OR those who view it as a somewhat relaxing but fulfilling hobby, as well as the modern practices of the company with this recently expanding demographic. It also details some of Bender's experience in becoming an 'AFOL' - his wife even supportingly gets involved - and a few of the trips he undertook (stateside conventions, a fan's homegrown museum, a production facility) for research purposes.
August 9, 2010
I really enjoyed this book. The author rediscovers his love of building and becomes a full-fledged, card-carrying adult fan of Lego (AFOL). But I think that's because, like the author, I am a former Lego junkie who makes lame Star Wars jokes, went to law school, takes pictures with my wife by smushing our heads together and holding the camera at arm's length, and has a wife who refuses to play Monopoly with me because she accuses me of conspiring with her siblings (I maintain that I'm just good at Monopoly). I think the only annoying part was that our building abilities were so different. For example, the whole first part of the book the author complained about getting bricks apart. He first used his teeth, then grew out his fingernails. I sat thinking that he could just use the Lego brick unsticker (it looks like a bottle opener). By about page 100, he learned of such an apparatus. I'm not sure which of us is more pathetic based on that example, now that I think about it. Either way, this book made me want to convince my parents not to divide the two twenty gallon tubs of Lego bricks in their basement between me and my brother. I need to come up with a plan (other than having children) that gets me 100% of the bricks now. Sadly, that wasn't explained in the book. I'm going to need to start thinking. Or use a Jedi mind trick...
September 6, 2017
A neat little book that awakened an infectious passion for my long lost LEGO days. Although the writing was a little clunky at times, I would still call it an unlikely page turner even if I did catch myself rolling my eyes every second chapter or so.
I couldn't help but notice the overwhelming similarity in writing style and biographical asides between Jonathan Bender and A J Jacobs of The Know It All fame.
Recommended IF YOU ALREADY LOVED LEGO.
I couldn't help but notice the overwhelming similarity in writing style and biographical asides between Jonathan Bender and A J Jacobs of The Know It All fame.
Recommended IF YOU ALREADY LOVED LEGO.
May 12, 2010
this is a memoir from the journalist jonathan bender which chronicles his life through about a year of his rediscovery of lego building. on his journey he discovers the life of afols (adult fans of lego), mocs (my own creations), and other acronyms pertinent to the wonderful building apparatus. while he is making this journey of self-discovery and meeting people in the world of lego he is also forced to go through issues at home as he and his wife kate have been trying to get pregnant. what follows is a journey and a love story that like all good love stories has a wonderful ending.
October 16, 2013
Where is the love? Bender does not for one minute convince this reader that he enjoys Lego.
After p. 220, he starts to have fun. It's not enough.
After p. 220, he starts to have fun. It's not enough.
July 26, 2013
Lego, through the eyes of a thirty something rekindled fan, fits right in with our Lego summer!
May 14, 2017
LEGO: A Love Story is about more than just the enjoyment of LEGO bricks, sets, etc. It's also a brief history of The LEGO Group, the family that started and still runs the company, and about the growing love of the author and his wife as they were trying to start a family.
It is, however, firstly, about LEGO and specifically about Adult Fans of LEGO, AFOLs (pronounced a-fall or a-foal, probably based on the pronunciation of the person that introduced one to the term). Jonathan Bender, the author, chronicles his journey of becoming aware of the attraction of LEGO bricks to himself as an adult, first quietly and then proudly. He also describes the process of including his wife in the journey and their mutual process of trying to begin a family, at first struggling with infertility issues and then (plot spoiler) their joy of expecting and welcoming their first child. (I'll let you make that discovery with them.)
This is a very enjoyable book, perhaps more so because I am definitely an AFOL, but also because I am enjoying the process of watching my grandkids revel in LEGO themselves. Happy building!
It is, however, firstly, about LEGO and specifically about Adult Fans of LEGO, AFOLs (pronounced a-fall or a-foal, probably based on the pronunciation of the person that introduced one to the term). Jonathan Bender, the author, chronicles his journey of becoming aware of the attraction of LEGO bricks to himself as an adult, first quietly and then proudly. He also describes the process of including his wife in the journey and their mutual process of trying to begin a family, at first struggling with infertility issues and then (plot spoiler) their joy of expecting and welcoming their first child. (I'll let you make that discovery with them.)
This is a very enjoyable book, perhaps more so because I am definitely an AFOL, but also because I am enjoying the process of watching my grandkids revel in LEGO themselves. Happy building!
March 22, 2024
3 stars, and that's adding a generous half star just because I like reading about Lego products. As others have noted, Bender is not a great writer, frequently inserting asides that don't have much connection to the people and activities he just told us about. Released in 2010, it already feels dated because of how Lego products, the Lego fan community, and the rest of digital technology has changed since then.
This was my second time reading this book, going back to when I first read it new. There will be no need for a third time.
This was my second time reading this book, going back to when I first read it new. There will be no need for a third time.
April 14, 2024
I have recently become obsessed with LEGO. Since Christmas of 2023, I now own 4 sets, including the retired Bookshop! I really enjoyed learning the history of LEGO and lots of information I didn't know. However, the "personal" aspect of Jonathan life was a downer. He had major anxiety and constantly looked for confidence from others. It read very pathetic, since this wasn't a self help book. Since he is actually a journalist by trade, I wonder if all he's articles are as pathetic or if he even realizes that he has such high anxiety, nerves, or lacks such confidence.
September 2, 2018
A really great read the world needs more play time to ease itself from all the tensions in it.
October 25, 2016
Underrated, 4.25 stars, Goodreads reviewers are way too nitpicky!
February 9, 2012
My librarian sister, always looking to reinforce my geeky tendencies, recommended this book to me as it came across her desk. The e-mail said simply, “you might want to check this out.” The book it linked to was Jonathan Bender's 2010 memoir, LEGO: A Love Story. Telling the story of an Adult Fan of LEGO who emerges from his Dark Ages to reembrace the plastic bricks he once loved, the 270 page hardcover is better-written and more entertaining than I thought it would be. It's also a book that I'm kicking myself for not writing myself.
Jonathan Bender is a journalist who played with LEGO as a kid, and then, like most of us, packed them all up when he reached his teenage years and pretty much forgot about them. He got married, and then, around the time he turned thirty, was researching Adult Fans of LEGO for an assignment, and got sucked back in. It started innocently enough, with Bender pulling his old bricks out of storage and picking up his brother-in-law's besides. He figured if he was going to be writing about these people, he needed a common language, and started doing more research online, and gaining more practical experience building himself. In the process of learning more about AFOLs, Bender travels to LEGO conventions and displays, and even makes a pilgrimage to Billund, Denmark, home of the bricks. HE scores interviews with LEGO Master Builders, rabid fans, and model designers, and discovers that many of them are a lot like him. And me.
Bender's interviews and statistics accrue into a large mass of information both trivial and fascinating about LEGO. The history of the company, starting with small wooden toys and growing to become one of the longest-lasting and largest toy companies in the world. Some of the facts I loved were the ratio of female to male minifigs (1: 18), and the number of LEGO piece per human on the planet (62). I enjoyed seeing the author's growth as a LEGO builder—he takes pictures of his creations as he progresses from building a “camel” over and over to cars to airplanes to a zombie-hunting school bus. Playing with LEGO isn't something that you're just born with, and unlike riding a bicycle, there's a creativity that comes with building that can indeed be forgotten.
Alongside the LEGO story is a much more intimate story, the story of Jonathan and his wife, Kate. They're having difficulty conceiving, and having children's toys in a childless house is like a cruel reminder of what they can't have. Having many friends who have been in the same situation, I winced at some of the struggles Jonathan and Kate went through, and admired his skill at including such a personal story in a book about toys. I was also a little jealous at how he's able to convert Kate into being an Adult Fan of LEGO—a builder—herself. Very sneaky, and well done, sir.
There's a lot of humor and some self-deprecation in this book, but Bender never takes the easy shot of making fun of these grownups who are obsessed with toys. He's able to delineate the difference between overgrown children or childishness and these people who have found a fountain of creativity in these toys. Just because they're playing with toys doesn't mean they're not adults, and Bender even finds the seedier side of the Adult Fans of LEGO with a chapter that explores some rather disturbing builds.
Bender does a good job of explaining the sometimes thick jargon that comes with LEGO, but it could still come across as fannish and obsessive for non-fans. The humanity that he brings to the book elevates it above just being a book about LEGO, and would probably keep non-fans reading.
If you used to love LEGO, but you've grown out of it, this book is one that will show you what else is happening out there. If you're an Adult Fan of LEGO yourself, you'll kick yourself for not writing this. I enjoyed every page of this book. It's well-written, entertaining and informative, and more moving than I expected. You should read LEGO: A Love Story.
Jonathan Bender is a journalist who played with LEGO as a kid, and then, like most of us, packed them all up when he reached his teenage years and pretty much forgot about them. He got married, and then, around the time he turned thirty, was researching Adult Fans of LEGO for an assignment, and got sucked back in. It started innocently enough, with Bender pulling his old bricks out of storage and picking up his brother-in-law's besides. He figured if he was going to be writing about these people, he needed a common language, and started doing more research online, and gaining more practical experience building himself. In the process of learning more about AFOLs, Bender travels to LEGO conventions and displays, and even makes a pilgrimage to Billund, Denmark, home of the bricks. HE scores interviews with LEGO Master Builders, rabid fans, and model designers, and discovers that many of them are a lot like him. And me.
Bender's interviews and statistics accrue into a large mass of information both trivial and fascinating about LEGO. The history of the company, starting with small wooden toys and growing to become one of the longest-lasting and largest toy companies in the world. Some of the facts I loved were the ratio of female to male minifigs (1: 18), and the number of LEGO piece per human on the planet (62). I enjoyed seeing the author's growth as a LEGO builder—he takes pictures of his creations as he progresses from building a “camel” over and over to cars to airplanes to a zombie-hunting school bus. Playing with LEGO isn't something that you're just born with, and unlike riding a bicycle, there's a creativity that comes with building that can indeed be forgotten.
Alongside the LEGO story is a much more intimate story, the story of Jonathan and his wife, Kate. They're having difficulty conceiving, and having children's toys in a childless house is like a cruel reminder of what they can't have. Having many friends who have been in the same situation, I winced at some of the struggles Jonathan and Kate went through, and admired his skill at including such a personal story in a book about toys. I was also a little jealous at how he's able to convert Kate into being an Adult Fan of LEGO—a builder—herself. Very sneaky, and well done, sir.
There's a lot of humor and some self-deprecation in this book, but Bender never takes the easy shot of making fun of these grownups who are obsessed with toys. He's able to delineate the difference between overgrown children or childishness and these people who have found a fountain of creativity in these toys. Just because they're playing with toys doesn't mean they're not adults, and Bender even finds the seedier side of the Adult Fans of LEGO with a chapter that explores some rather disturbing builds.
Bender does a good job of explaining the sometimes thick jargon that comes with LEGO, but it could still come across as fannish and obsessive for non-fans. The humanity that he brings to the book elevates it above just being a book about LEGO, and would probably keep non-fans reading.
If you used to love LEGO, but you've grown out of it, this book is one that will show you what else is happening out there. If you're an Adult Fan of LEGO yourself, you'll kick yourself for not writing this. I enjoyed every page of this book. It's well-written, entertaining and informative, and more moving than I expected. You should read LEGO: A Love Story.
July 22, 2022
An entertaining autobiographical read, giving a more in-depth look into a particular time period of the Lego AFOL community (late 00s), but doing it through the eyes of a relative new-comer. Be warned though: this isn't a story from Lego's 80s/90s "classic" days like many AFOLs would love to hear about, nor about all the cool new stuff going on over the last 6-8 years; if you're ok with that though, and like memoir stuff generally, it's a fun enough story.
There's one other thing in its favor I'll mention. A ton of the books published about Lego are commissioned by Lego themselves, and thus--who would have guessed?--are extremely complimentary of Lego and hesitant to criticize them. Saying that this leaves the reader feeling like the books are artificial or plastic or whatever is a joke that's a little on-the-nose, but... that's not far off. At the very least, the books are definitely trying to establish a mythology about the Lego Group in the 20th century*. A lot of the appeal for many people is just going to be the nostalgia and charm of the product generally. This book, on the other hand, feels more real and more open to just being honest with what is observed.
*which I think is probably fair and accurate in most ways, but I'd love to read a deeper dive into Lego as a business from 1965-1995, similar to how the book Brick by Brick covered things during the disastrous 1995-2005 period (when they made a lot of mistakes, were quite inept at times, and almost went bankrupt / had to sell the family business to an external corporation)
There's one other thing in its favor I'll mention. A ton of the books published about Lego are commissioned by Lego themselves, and thus--who would have guessed?--are extremely complimentary of Lego and hesitant to criticize them. Saying that this leaves the reader feeling like the books are artificial or plastic or whatever is a joke that's a little on-the-nose, but... that's not far off. At the very least, the books are definitely trying to establish a mythology about the Lego Group in the 20th century*. A lot of the appeal for many people is just going to be the nostalgia and charm of the product generally. This book, on the other hand, feels more real and more open to just being honest with what is observed.
*which I think is probably fair and accurate in most ways, but I'd love to read a deeper dive into Lego as a business from 1965-1995, similar to how the book Brick by Brick covered things during the disastrous 1995-2005 period (when they made a lot of mistakes, were quite inept at times, and almost went bankrupt / had to sell the family business to an external corporation)
March 27, 2014
At the age of 40, I had never owned a Lego brick, so I am not the typical AFOL (adult fan of Lego) by any means. I have recently been drawn to the little things and have more than a passing interest in them (I believe "sudden crazy obsession" may have come from my wife's mouth once or twice. I'm intrigued by their history, their uses, building by set or by MOC ("my own creation"). And when I am obsessed with (errr... interested in...) something, I seek out books about them. I found myself starting with this one because the narrative also started with someone who was coming to Lego somewhat fresh. (Bender had Lego blocks as a child, but never as an adult...)
Anyone that knows me (or looks at my reading lists here on goodreads) knows that I am a person of extremes. I go "full literary" and act (read) like an adult, but I also fill much of my time with comics and novels about the things I loved as a kid. So, to say that I understand what an AFOL goes through coming back to Lego is, I think, a fair thing to say.
Maybe it has just been a long time since I have "let my geek flag wave," but the disdain and shame that Bender felt coming back to toys as an adult was interesting to me. I guess I've been lucky to have been surrounded in my life quite often with friends who were both savagely intelligent and had a toy room at their home (usually there weren't children in the equation).
That reluctance makes for an interesting journey, though, into the world of Lego.
This isn't a life changing book. If you're already a full-blown Lego fan, there are probably much better choices out there. But if you are just intrigued by the little bricks or if you know someone who is an AFOL and you would like to know more about how they may have gotten there or what they do, then this book is for you.
My current interest lies in the creative aspect of Lego, the way that collectors often build their own narrative as they incorporate sets into their collections. (I suppose, as a writer, that it makes sense that is what I would be drawn to about the toy...) This book doesn't really go into that at all. If anyone out there has a recommendation of books I should look into that dives into that realm more deeply, I'm definitely interested.
Anyone that knows me (or looks at my reading lists here on goodreads) knows that I am a person of extremes. I go "full literary" and act (read) like an adult, but I also fill much of my time with comics and novels about the things I loved as a kid. So, to say that I understand what an AFOL goes through coming back to Lego is, I think, a fair thing to say.
Maybe it has just been a long time since I have "let my geek flag wave," but the disdain and shame that Bender felt coming back to toys as an adult was interesting to me. I guess I've been lucky to have been surrounded in my life quite often with friends who were both savagely intelligent and had a toy room at their home (usually there weren't children in the equation).
That reluctance makes for an interesting journey, though, into the world of Lego.
This isn't a life changing book. If you're already a full-blown Lego fan, there are probably much better choices out there. But if you are just intrigued by the little bricks or if you know someone who is an AFOL and you would like to know more about how they may have gotten there or what they do, then this book is for you.
My current interest lies in the creative aspect of Lego, the way that collectors often build their own narrative as they incorporate sets into their collections. (I suppose, as a writer, that it makes sense that is what I would be drawn to about the toy...) This book doesn't really go into that at all. If anyone out there has a recommendation of books I should look into that dives into that realm more deeply, I'm definitely interested.
October 7, 2015
Holy cow, was this a wondrous find for me! Talk about reliving your childhood dreams of building! The premise behind this book does for the reader exactly what it did for the author: it makes you want to pull out your old Lego sets and start creating again!
There is more to Lego than stacking bricks together and this book has it all. The author visits where Lego bricks are made, travels to conventions and the Toy and Plastic Brick Museum, and talks with other Adult Fans of Lego (AFOLs), all while documenting his own journey into the rediscovery of being an AFOL himself and taking his readers along for the ride. I always thought of myself as a casual builder who was somewhat interested in the toy, but this book had me turning pages faster than I have ever turned pages and left me wondering if I am really a serious fan at heart. I suddenly wanted to start building with any set I could get my hands on, so beware! Collecting Lego sets is an expensive passtime, as this book clearly states in the examples of AFOLs that the author visits with.
There is a secondary story wrapped up in all of this Lego learning, which is about the author himself. It is partly his rediscovery of building and his acceptance of allowing himself to become part of the Lego fandom and partly his desire to bring his renewed love of bricks to a future child. This format made reading even more enjoyable. There were times I actually felt as if I were experiencing the pressure of my first building contest at a convention or seeing a museum piece for the first time. The storytelling gave the fact finding aspect a purpose within the work of exploration and by the end I felt as if I had actually parted with a friend. You may not be an AFOL when you start reading this book, but you will be a lot closer to it once you finish.
There is more to Lego than stacking bricks together and this book has it all. The author visits where Lego bricks are made, travels to conventions and the Toy and Plastic Brick Museum, and talks with other Adult Fans of Lego (AFOLs), all while documenting his own journey into the rediscovery of being an AFOL himself and taking his readers along for the ride. I always thought of myself as a casual builder who was somewhat interested in the toy, but this book had me turning pages faster than I have ever turned pages and left me wondering if I am really a serious fan at heart. I suddenly wanted to start building with any set I could get my hands on, so beware! Collecting Lego sets is an expensive passtime, as this book clearly states in the examples of AFOLs that the author visits with.
There is a secondary story wrapped up in all of this Lego learning, which is about the author himself. It is partly his rediscovery of building and his acceptance of allowing himself to become part of the Lego fandom and partly his desire to bring his renewed love of bricks to a future child. This format made reading even more enjoyable. There were times I actually felt as if I were experiencing the pressure of my first building contest at a convention or seeing a museum piece for the first time. The storytelling gave the fact finding aspect a purpose within the work of exploration and by the end I felt as if I had actually parted with a friend. You may not be an AFOL when you start reading this book, but you will be a lot closer to it once you finish.
November 27, 2016
In Lego: A Love Story, Jonathan Bender takes an insider's look at the phenomenon of adult fans of Lego (AFOL). Part journal, part investigative reporting, Lego: A Love Story follows Bender's return to the iconic building bricks so many of us enjoyed as children while at the same time offering a history of the product and company as well as a fascinating look at what goes on in this very dedicated community. From Lego conventions to internet groups to sites that meticulously catalog, value and resell individual bricks (never Legos, mind you), Bender covers every aspect of this unique community, and does so in a completely accessible manner.
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. I played with Lego as a kid, but can't see myself in the AFOL role. I have my own obsessions and geek credentials though, so I can relate to Bender's passion for his hobby. His enthusiasm, not to mention some wry and self-deprecating comments, add a personal touch that makes Lego: A Love Story more enjoyable than an outsider's dispassionate take on the phenomenon. I think he dropped the ball a bit with the pregnancy subtext, waiting so long to bring up the infertility aspect that it seemed awkward. Still, as a relatively new father I can certainly relate to the desire to have a shared interest with your child.
Lego: A Love Story is an enjoyable and fascinating book that should appeal to anyone who has ever built a Lego set at some point, and/or anyone who has a passion for a particular hobby. There are some universal themes that you'll recognize here, and you'll definitely learn more than you thought possible about Lego.
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. I played with Lego as a kid, but can't see myself in the AFOL role. I have my own obsessions and geek credentials though, so I can relate to Bender's passion for his hobby. His enthusiasm, not to mention some wry and self-deprecating comments, add a personal touch that makes Lego: A Love Story more enjoyable than an outsider's dispassionate take on the phenomenon. I think he dropped the ball a bit with the pregnancy subtext, waiting so long to bring up the infertility aspect that it seemed awkward. Still, as a relatively new father I can certainly relate to the desire to have a shared interest with your child.
Lego: A Love Story is an enjoyable and fascinating book that should appeal to anyone who has ever built a Lego set at some point, and/or anyone who has a passion for a particular hobby. There are some universal themes that you'll recognize here, and you'll definitely learn more than you thought possible about Lego.
September 29, 2010
Writer Jonathan Bender's journey into the world of Adult Fans of LEGO (AFOLs) takes him across the U.S. to conventions, a museum, LEGOland California, and the North American headquarters of LEGO itself, not to mention over to Denmark for a visit to the world headquarters where he's treated to a behind-the-scenes tour that apparently would cost us normal folks $1700. As a disclaimer, I'll start by saying that I probably enjoyed this book because of the various connections I shared with the writer -- like him, I've just turned 30, am expecting a child, love LEGO, have a wife who won't play Monopoly with me any more, and grew up in Connecticut (in the town right next to the home of LEGO's North American headquarters, actually, and it's one of my schoolmates whose father worked at LEGO who taught me that "LEGOs" is not a word, which is a most unfortunate pet peeve to have, since so many people use it). I suspect that those connections allowed me to overlook the book's flaws -- it's overly repetitive, for example, both in themes and in its habit of repeating definitions and explanations. I would have liked more pictures, as his descriptions sometimes just didn't feel adequate. The exploration of the AFOL subculture is fascinating, although I felt the book could have been better structured and he could have dug deeper a few times. All in all, it was a decent book, but one which will only appeal to a limited number of people, and, unfortunately, I don't think I know any of those people.
February 5, 2017
"Seeing the tower after all those years made me realize that still do love LEGO." ~ Jonathan Bender
I have never found a book that truly describes my inner kid. Jonathan Bender truly has a way of weaving a story together that brings back so many memories. All builders who continue to, or used to build with LEGO will find this book very easy to relate to. In a way, Bender's writing style takes the form of a diary where the reader accompanies him on a journey from his former self as a kid, to the LEGO building adult fanatic he became. The plot: become a LEGO builder once again. The story travels across a plain of humorous, serious, informative, and inspiring events that Bender experienced as he sought after the legendary relic that amplifies the imagination.
By the time I turned 13, I had lost all interest in LEGO and had my LEGO bins moved to the garage for storage. It was a period of time that Bender describes as the Dark Ages. The term "Dark Ages" references the period of time where most kids stop playing with LEGO... not to be confused with the Anglo-Saxon invasion of England, or the Battle of Hastings. Fortunately, I came out of the Dark Ages and now build frequently. Jonathan Bender's story connected with me in a way that I will always remember. As a 17 year old boy, I will forever use the word "play" instead of "hang" as a result. I would most certainly recommend this book to any human ever that has built with LEGO. A five-star book indeed.
Now if you'll excuse me, I have a new LEGO Star Wars Imperial Shuttle that I must build.
I have never found a book that truly describes my inner kid. Jonathan Bender truly has a way of weaving a story together that brings back so many memories. All builders who continue to, or used to build with LEGO will find this book very easy to relate to. In a way, Bender's writing style takes the form of a diary where the reader accompanies him on a journey from his former self as a kid, to the LEGO building adult fanatic he became. The plot: become a LEGO builder once again. The story travels across a plain of humorous, serious, informative, and inspiring events that Bender experienced as he sought after the legendary relic that amplifies the imagination.
By the time I turned 13, I had lost all interest in LEGO and had my LEGO bins moved to the garage for storage. It was a period of time that Bender describes as the Dark Ages. The term "Dark Ages" references the period of time where most kids stop playing with LEGO... not to be confused with the Anglo-Saxon invasion of England, or the Battle of Hastings. Fortunately, I came out of the Dark Ages and now build frequently. Jonathan Bender's story connected with me in a way that I will always remember. As a 17 year old boy, I will forever use the word "play" instead of "hang" as a result. I would most certainly recommend this book to any human ever that has built with LEGO. A five-star book indeed.
Now if you'll excuse me, I have a new LEGO Star Wars Imperial Shuttle that I must build.
April 23, 2012
Another audiobook finished courtesy of my recent slew of weekends driving to Boston- and a non-fiction piece, no less! I definitely found myself zoning out throughout various parts of the book, but this is overall an informative glimpse into both the history of Lego(never Legos, the reader/listener learns quickly) and modern Lego culture. The author's personal Lego history provides many poignant anecdotes that color the story in a most pleasing manner.
Bender also weaves in his personal trials such as his wife's repeated attempts to get pregnant, and it's very evident how Lego bricks are a stress reliever, therapy, and an escape for him, but also a social tool and a true love. His wife builds with him, and Bender draws parallels between their individual personalities and communication styles and their complementary building styles.
The author's occasionally self-deprecating tone and lack of self-confidence in his building abilities, especially creative free-building ones, definitely resonated with me on a personal level, and I found myself mentally encouraging him on several occasions.
Overall, a solid book, evoking lots of childhood memories and even awe at Lego's business model, which seems to basically boil down to brick perfection and compatibility. I'm motivated to go dig out the boxes in my parents' basement, and eternally grateful for a mother who kept such childhood treasures.
Bender also weaves in his personal trials such as his wife's repeated attempts to get pregnant, and it's very evident how Lego bricks are a stress reliever, therapy, and an escape for him, but also a social tool and a true love. His wife builds with him, and Bender draws parallels between their individual personalities and communication styles and their complementary building styles.
The author's occasionally self-deprecating tone and lack of self-confidence in his building abilities, especially creative free-building ones, definitely resonated with me on a personal level, and I found myself mentally encouraging him on several occasions.
Overall, a solid book, evoking lots of childhood memories and even awe at Lego's business model, which seems to basically boil down to brick perfection and compatibility. I'm motivated to go dig out the boxes in my parents' basement, and eternally grateful for a mother who kept such childhood treasures.
November 28, 2014
As an adult, I've spent an inordinate amount of time staring at LEGO sets, trying to convince myself to pay the exorbitant prices attached to the more complicated sets. So I was thrilled to find this book - a much cheaper alternative to live out some of my LEGO fantasies.
Unfortunately, I just couldn't get behind this author. He's a journalist, so maybe the leap to novelist was just too much of a stretch. There was a lot of repetition in this book (seriously, we get it, you have very sweaty palms) and there was a very forced feeling subplot of trying to get pregnant.
I fell asleep twice while reading this book. During the day. In perfect health. It just got so extremely dry and repetitive at times. LEGO fact, LEGO anecdote, LEGO firsthand experience, absurd attempt to try to connect this quest with pending pregnancy, rinse, repeat.
I was hoping for something more along the lines of Word Freak, but we got next to no detail about the people he meets other than a cursory physical description. I feel certain that people who devote this much time and energy to LEGO would have some interesting, identifying personality traits. Yet, whenever he describes a situation with more than two or three people, I had to abandon any pretense of keeping track of who was who.
In sum, an informative read, but so poorly executed it took all the joy out of a book about playing with toys.
Unfortunately, I just couldn't get behind this author. He's a journalist, so maybe the leap to novelist was just too much of a stretch. There was a lot of repetition in this book (seriously, we get it, you have very sweaty palms) and there was a very forced feeling subplot of trying to get pregnant.
I fell asleep twice while reading this book. During the day. In perfect health. It just got so extremely dry and repetitive at times. LEGO fact, LEGO anecdote, LEGO firsthand experience, absurd attempt to try to connect this quest with pending pregnancy, rinse, repeat.
I was hoping for something more along the lines of Word Freak, but we got next to no detail about the people he meets other than a cursory physical description. I feel certain that people who devote this much time and energy to LEGO would have some interesting, identifying personality traits. Yet, whenever he describes a situation with more than two or three people, I had to abandon any pretense of keeping track of who was who.
In sum, an informative read, but so poorly executed it took all the joy out of a book about playing with toys.
February 11, 2013
This is a very unusual combination of autobiography, documentary, and anecdote. Personally, I found it really enjoyable, but it would be hard to recommend to someone who couldn't empathise with Johnathan's situation, i.e. a white male born in the 70's or 80's coming back to Lego in early adult life, married, and trying for (or just had) some kids.
I literally tick all those boxes, so for me, it felt like Johnathan was speaking to me in conversation, with his easy going style of writing.
That said, whilst this is a relatively light read, Johnathan does an excellent job of pacing the book between his personal story, and the dryer history of The Lego Group (and everything in between) and adds just the right level of humour that keeps the book entertaining, whilst evading any sort of classification which might not be the right flavour for particular readers.
If you have any interest in the subject matter of the book (lego and it's meaning and context in family and raising children), I strongly suspect you'll enjoy it, but if you are only passing by, it may not hit the right notes for you.
Well done Johnathan, and thanks for the read. And... I hope your little one is going well. :)
I literally tick all those boxes, so for me, it felt like Johnathan was speaking to me in conversation, with his easy going style of writing.
That said, whilst this is a relatively light read, Johnathan does an excellent job of pacing the book between his personal story, and the dryer history of The Lego Group (and everything in between) and adds just the right level of humour that keeps the book entertaining, whilst evading any sort of classification which might not be the right flavour for particular readers.
If you have any interest in the subject matter of the book (lego and it's meaning and context in family and raising children), I strongly suspect you'll enjoy it, but if you are only passing by, it may not hit the right notes for you.
Well done Johnathan, and thanks for the read. And... I hope your little one is going well. :)
May 16, 2014
I read this book a few years ago as an admitted adult fan of LEGO. We call ourselves I learned AFOLs.
When I went to write my own women's fiction/contemporary romance novel, I thought it would be fun to put elements in the story that related to the 6-year-old child Dylan in my novel (LETTING GO: The Maryland Shores).
I made the hero in the book a fan himself. Shows a fun side to his serious character.
I loved learning the lingo of AFOLs, the convention updates, the creations Bender built and his interaction with his wife, who was sometimes annoyed by the habit. If you've ever collected LEGO bricks -- you do not make that word plural I learned also -- then you understand how it can turn others' heads. ;-)
After reading the book, we took our three older grandkids one August to Dulles Expo Center for the BrickFair in Northern Virginia. Quite an interesting event. I'd never seen as many bricks -- not even in Orlando.
And, with my characters traveling to that city, had to include a trip to Downtown Disney's LEGO store.
One thing I'd love to see someone write about LEGO hobby or use is the therapeutic or educational settings where these colorful treasures help promote understanding, change, and fun. Maybe another Bender book someday?
When I went to write my own women's fiction/contemporary romance novel, I thought it would be fun to put elements in the story that related to the 6-year-old child Dylan in my novel (LETTING GO: The Maryland Shores).
I made the hero in the book a fan himself. Shows a fun side to his serious character.
I loved learning the lingo of AFOLs, the convention updates, the creations Bender built and his interaction with his wife, who was sometimes annoyed by the habit. If you've ever collected LEGO bricks -- you do not make that word plural I learned also -- then you understand how it can turn others' heads. ;-)
After reading the book, we took our three older grandkids one August to Dulles Expo Center for the BrickFair in Northern Virginia. Quite an interesting event. I'd never seen as many bricks -- not even in Orlando.
And, with my characters traveling to that city, had to include a trip to Downtown Disney's LEGO store.
One thing I'd love to see someone write about LEGO hobby or use is the therapeutic or educational settings where these colorful treasures help promote understanding, change, and fun. Maybe another Bender book someday?
November 10, 2013
Lego: A Love Story is journalist Jonathan Bender’s account of the year he spent rekindling his childhood love of LEGO and exploring the world of Adult Fans of Lego (AFOL). Full of vignettes from several LEGO conventions and public displays, the book also touches on his personal struggles as he and his wife try to start a family.
I am having a hard time articulating my tepid response to this book. On the good side, the book moves along, I did finish it, and I skid out of at least half the non-fiction I start. But at the same time, I don’t think I would have been interested if my older son at 11 wasn’t still in the height of his childhood love of LEGO (We just got a hand-me-down 1st generation LEGO Mindstorm set and he is in heaven, even though it came without motors and we’re still not 100% sure that it is functional – If you have kids who are moving on from LEGO – please remember to remove the batteries for storage!!).
Nathan Sawaya’s LEGO creation on the cover is spectacular as were the color photos in the middle. It’s a shame that the photos at the beginning of each chapter couldn’t be in color as well.
I am having a hard time articulating my tepid response to this book. On the good side, the book moves along, I did finish it, and I skid out of at least half the non-fiction I start. But at the same time, I don’t think I would have been interested if my older son at 11 wasn’t still in the height of his childhood love of LEGO (We just got a hand-me-down 1st generation LEGO Mindstorm set and he is in heaven, even though it came without motors and we’re still not 100% sure that it is functional – If you have kids who are moving on from LEGO – please remember to remove the batteries for storage!!).
Nathan Sawaya’s LEGO creation on the cover is spectacular as were the color photos in the middle. It’s a shame that the photos at the beginning of each chapter couldn’t be in color as well.
February 23, 2015
This is a story about rekindled interest in Legos by a man in his thirties. He discovers that he is not alone - there is a large community of AFOLs (adult fans of lego). AFOL generally played with Lego when they were young and then entered into the 'dark ages' where they lost interest. Later in life, they refound their joy of building, often reinspired when they bought Legos for their children. This story provides a history of Lego along with introducing the world of AFOLs. The story is best, of course, if you have some experience with Lego or if you want to share the enjoyment of someone who has discovered a hobby that brings some happiness into life.
It describes what goes on at Lego conventions, Lego headquarters in Denmark and the interaction between master builders and the Lego company.
The advent of 'high tech' into Lego via their robotics and Mindstorms products provides the possibility for the toy Lego into machines that can physically solve the Rubiks cube or even make a 3D printer...
With the Lego movie song on the Oscar's last night, this is a good time to become an AFOL.
This is a fun read about a fun hobby...
It describes what goes on at Lego conventions, Lego headquarters in Denmark and the interaction between master builders and the Lego company.
The advent of 'high tech' into Lego via their robotics and Mindstorms products provides the possibility for the toy Lego into machines that can physically solve the Rubiks cube or even make a 3D printer...
With the Lego movie song on the Oscar's last night, this is a good time to become an AFOL.
This is a fun read about a fun hobby...
June 14, 2012
I should disclose that I am ambivalent about LEGO. I have no real experience playing with them and I don't have a particular interest in picking up bricks and starting now, so perhaps that colored my perception of the book. I was looking forward to learning more about the company's history and the motivating factor behind AFOLs (Adult Fans of LEGO). And while the author did deliver this at times, it still felt like the book was more about the author's initial lackluster affection for LEGO.
The side story about the couple's infertility seemed a bit gimmicky to me. I felt that the author struggled to fill all 270 pages and so many of his chapters and stories seemed superfluous, especially those related to beginning a family. I often found myself bored and looking forward to the end of the book.
But if you are a big fan of LEGO, you might enjoy this book as the author may seem less like an intrusive character and more like a friend taking you on a LEGO-inspired journey. But I can't really recommend it beyond that.
The side story about the couple's infertility seemed a bit gimmicky to me. I felt that the author struggled to fill all 270 pages and so many of his chapters and stories seemed superfluous, especially those related to beginning a family. I often found myself bored and looking forward to the end of the book.
But if you are a big fan of LEGO, you might enjoy this book as the author may seem less like an intrusive character and more like a friend taking you on a LEGO-inspired journey. But I can't really recommend it beyond that.
September 9, 2011
A book about LEGO? Sounds just quirky enough to make for a good read even though I am not an adult builder.
I am a sucker for business books taken from a unique angle. LEGO: A love story is not a business book at all, but you do get a look at the business structure from the perspective of an obsessed builder, or AFOL (Adult Fan of LEGO).
He builds and justifies.. builds and justifies... until he is comfortable admitting that he just loves LEGO, plain and simple.
The author, Jonathan bender, spent some time doing improvisation so it is no surprise that their are occasional glimpses at some clever wordplay which does break up what is actually a very simple tome
I didn't finish this book with any sort of inspiration, nor did I cultivate any desire to go hunt down the latest LEGO set at Wal-Mart. But it was a quick, somewhat interesting look into the fan mindset of Lego Building Blocks.
I am a sucker for business books taken from a unique angle. LEGO: A love story is not a business book at all, but you do get a look at the business structure from the perspective of an obsessed builder, or AFOL (Adult Fan of LEGO).
He builds and justifies.. builds and justifies... until he is comfortable admitting that he just loves LEGO, plain and simple.
The author, Jonathan bender, spent some time doing improvisation so it is no surprise that their are occasional glimpses at some clever wordplay which does break up what is actually a very simple tome
I didn't finish this book with any sort of inspiration, nor did I cultivate any desire to go hunt down the latest LEGO set at Wal-Mart. But it was a quick, somewhat interesting look into the fan mindset of Lego Building Blocks.
September 16, 2012
I mostly liked this book. As an adult LEGO geek, it was great to live vicariously through the author as he was able to gain access to an area of the LEGO world few of us ever actually attain. Bender reveals a lot of resources and insider information about where to find the nearly unattainable LEGO fig that you just HAVE to have, and groups for fellow adult fans of LEGO (AFOLs) such as myself.
Where he falls down, however, is when he keeps mentioning how he really wishes he had a child to share all of his LEGO-love with. I really could have done without that, as it really didn't seem pertinent to the rest of what was going on with the book. As a sort of written-in-the-margins sort of running story, it was distracting to me.
I gave this book 3 out of 5 stars because of the side story. Without that, it would have easily been a 5 just for the insider information alone.
Where he falls down, however, is when he keeps mentioning how he really wishes he had a child to share all of his LEGO-love with. I really could have done without that, as it really didn't seem pertinent to the rest of what was going on with the book. As a sort of written-in-the-margins sort of running story, it was distracting to me.
I gave this book 3 out of 5 stars because of the side story. Without that, it would have easily been a 5 just for the insider information alone.
September 16, 2010
The early going here was pretty tedious - it starts out reading like one of those self-indulgent "I'm 30 and I'm trying to discover myself by writing about an obsession" books... but as the book develops & we come to know Jonathan & his wife, Kate - and his obsession with Lego grows, the book becomes more involving.
I'm not sure who the audience for this will be, though - it's a little too "inside baseball" about Lego & AFOL (adult fans of Lego) to appeal to someone uninterested in the builiding toys (I admit I'm a huge fan)... but it's also the story of an outsider to that world, which doesn't have the detail that insiders want. Please note: I'm not saying it's a bad book - just that I think that the appropriate audience is pretty narrow.
I'm not sure who the audience for this will be, though - it's a little too "inside baseball" about Lego & AFOL (adult fans of Lego) to appeal to someone uninterested in the builiding toys (I admit I'm a huge fan)... but it's also the story of an outsider to that world, which doesn't have the detail that insiders want. Please note: I'm not saying it's a bad book - just that I think that the appropriate audience is pretty narrow.
October 24, 2014
I recently pulled out my old Legos from childhood to play with my young daughter, so this book caught my eye. It was a light read and it grabbed my interest from the start.
The basic premise is that a journalist stumbles upon some old Legos that have been collecting dust in a closet since childhood. He delves into the world of Adult Fans of Lego (AFOL), attending conferences, getting behind the scene tours of the Lego HQ, and going to Lego Land, among other things. He finds that over the course of writing the book, both he and his wife become AFOLs themselves.
I didn't like how intertwined the story was with his personal life, but I suppose that added to the readability. A fun one for hearing all about the world of Lego.
The basic premise is that a journalist stumbles upon some old Legos that have been collecting dust in a closet since childhood. He delves into the world of Adult Fans of Lego (AFOL), attending conferences, getting behind the scene tours of the Lego HQ, and going to Lego Land, among other things. He finds that over the course of writing the book, both he and his wife become AFOLs themselves.
I didn't like how intertwined the story was with his personal life, but I suppose that added to the readability. A fun one for hearing all about the world of Lego.
August 14, 2010
It might be easy to dismiss this book just from checking out the cover and dust jacket description as nothing more than fanboy garbage. Thankfully, I wasn't that quick to dismiss it. What Bender has crafted is part personal memoir, part corporate biography, and part sociological study of AFOLs (Adult Fans Of LEGO).
The end result is a fun read that does a great job of incorporating history and sociology with an unending sense of wonderment rediscovered. Totally worth the read not just for LEGO fans but for collectors of any sort or people who owe a big debt of thanks for years of childhood joy to a little plastic brick and its endless possibilities.
The end result is a fun read that does a great job of incorporating history and sociology with an unending sense of wonderment rediscovered. Totally worth the read not just for LEGO fans but for collectors of any sort or people who owe a big debt of thanks for years of childhood joy to a little plastic brick and its endless possibilities.
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