Author: Robin Gerber
Publisher: Epic Ink
ISBN:978-0-7603-6577-9

“Since her debut in 1959, Barbie has been breaking boundaries and highlighting major moments in art, fashion, and culture,” the inside jacket announces in Robin Gerber’s book, Barbie Forever: Her Inspiration, History, and Legacy.

This oversized one-hundred-and-seventy-six-page hardbound targets those interested in the Barbie doll that has been around for sixty years and is still sold successfully worldwide. The large coffee table book begins with a foreword by Ibtihaj Muhammad and introduction, followed by eight chapters, and ending with a bibliography, acknowledgments, author’s biography, image credits, and historic timeline.

With full color, large photographs of design models of the iconic Barbie, the eight sections cover how the doll has been inspiring fans since 1959, her profitable marketing strategies, breaking toy boundaries, the evolution of her female shape, creation of her lifestyle, how she affects fashion and art, global attributes, and the magic she has provided to many doll owners.

Being in my early sixties, I enjoyed seeing a couple of the old Barbies that I grew up with and still own, so I was familiar reviewing this book. I found the history of Mattel Creations, Ruth and Elliot Handler’s designing Barbie, and Charlotte Johnson’s fashion clothing interesting.

Those who never owned a Barbie doll or do not care about the iconic figure that has enamored girls for decades and will probably continue to do so will not appreciate this book. However, it does show the progression of culture, events, and fashion that the well-known doll captured. Some may not care for a doll proportioned with unrealistic body measurements.

With so much historical content in the book, I wish an index was included so one could look up a topic.

If you love the iconic Barbie doll and are looking for a beautiful tabletop book, this would make an excellent choice. It would be an ideal gift for the Barbie collector too.

Thanks to the author, Bookpleasures, and Epic Ink for this complimentary book that I am under no obligation to review.