Toy Monster: The Big, Bad World of Mattel - Softcover

Oppenheimer, Jerry

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0470548584 ISBN 13: 9780470548585

Publisher: Wiley, 2010

Synopsis

An eye-popping, unauthorized expos? of the House of BarbieFrom Boise to Beijing, Mattel's toys dominate the universe. Its no-fun-and-games marketing muscle reaches some 140 countries, and its iconic products have been a part of our culture for generations. Now, in this intriguing and entertaining expos?, New York Times bestselling author Jerry Oppenheimer places the world's largest toy company under a journalistic microscope, uncovering the dark side of toy land, and exploring Mattel's oddball corporate culture and eccentric, often bizarre, cast of characters.Based on exclusive interviews and an exhaustive review of public and private records, Toy Monster exposes Mattel's take-no-prisoners, shark-infested corporate style. Throughout this scrupulously reported, unauthorized portrait, you'll discover how dangerous toys are actually nothing new to Mattel, and why its fearsomely litigious approach within the brutal toy business has helped their products dominate potential rivals such as Bratz. * Introduces you to the larger-than-life personalities that have shaped Mattel's eccentric world * Offers an inside look- from an experienced author-at the scandals that have been a part of this iconic company * Jerry Oppenheimer is also the author of Madoff with the Money, an in-depth look at Bernie Madoff the man and his billion dollar scamEngaging and accessible, Toy Monster shows you why today's toy business isn't always fun and games.

About this title

Product Description:

Toy Monster An eye-popping, unauthorized expos? of the House of Barbie From Boise to Beijing, Mattel's toys dominate the universe. Its no-fun-and-games marketing muscle reaches some 140 countries, and its iconic products have been a part of our culture for generations.

Review:

"Jerry Oppenheimer, best known for mordant biographies like "Just Desserts" (about Martha Stewart) or "State of a Union" (on Bill and Hillary Clinton′s marriage), has now trained his sights on the world′s biggest toy company –– its egos, scandals and flawed products. In his toyland, nothing is cute." ( The Wall Street Journal)

Oppenheimer (Just Desserts) takes a tour of Mattel s seamier side, highlighting its dubious corporate practices and kooky cast in this scathing portrait to be published to coincide with Barbie s 50th anniversary. Drawing on personal interviews and public sources, Oppenheimer paints a bleak picture of the peculiar practices of the adults running the toy company including the playboy Jack Ryan, known as the Father of Barbie and rumored to be sexually obsessed with his creation, and Mattel cofounder and white–collar criminal Ruth Handler, who took credit for Barbie s invention. The author chronicles the Doll Wars the fierce competition and eventual litigation between Mattel and the creators of the rival Bratz line, as well as 2007 s Black Friday the 13th, when potentially deadly magnets and lead paint in the company s most popular toys led to two massive recalls. Executive scapegoats and backpedaling resulted in public lashing from the media and intense public mistrust. Fast–paced and engaging, this exposé will absorb readers until the last page and will forever change the way they think about the company. (Mar.) (Publishers Weekly, January 26, 2009)

"...a thorough investigation of the world′s biggest toy manufacturer...the history of Barbie′s creation...is out in the open." (The Times (Saturday Review), February 28th 2009)

"Oppenheimer lifts the lid on a disturbing business culture." (Manchester Evening News, March 7th 2009)

"...a fascinating insight into the American corporate dream and the characters who made it come true." (Irish Examiner, March 21st 2009)

...the author supplies a grab–bag of colourful and often tangential anecdotes... (The Times, September 2009).

About this edition

• Publisher: Wiley
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 0470548584
• ISBN 13: 9780470548585
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 280