Let’s Call Her Barbie by Renée Rosen @reneerosen_ @abigailrenoaudio @prhaudio @prhaudio.bsky.social #LetsCallHerBarbie

the setup…
Ruth Handler was always a force to reckon with, even as a teen when she helped her older sister with business sales. As a co-founder of Mattel along with husband Eliot and Harold (Matt) Matson who they bought out in the 1940s, she was actually the one who managed the company. In 1956, Ruth approached the board with her idea to create an adult doll, one that would give little girls an alternative to the baby dolls that only promoted marriage and motherhood. The doll would be a fashionista with an array of career choices. Ruth fought hard for her vision and after Jack Ryan, their brilliant engineer, was sold on the idea, the rest was history, especially after she convinced renowned designer Charlotte Johnson to join the company.

the heart of the story…
This is more than Barbie’s origin story, which in itself is fascinating and illuminating. At the heart of everything is Ruth Handler who in the 1950s was more than just a trailblazer, she was an anomaly in a male dominated business world who led Mattel to soaring heights. It started with Barbie but there were other toys introduced that are still legacies today (hot wheels!). It wasn’t all bright lights as Ruth made sacrifices that haunted her, particularly her relationship with her daughter. Also, while Jack was an industry maven, their relationship later fractured with devastating results.

the narration…
Abigail Reno delivered an outstanding performance. It’s my first experience and I was solidly impressed by her storytelling skills. She made this story come alive.

the bottom line…
I had a Barbie growing up and remember the blanket parties my friends and I had outside with the dolls and the clothes. I even had a Barbie dream house! As an adult, I felt the condemnation of the doll as a bad role model for girls so learning what the actual vision was for Barbie was a revelation. I watched the movie last year and have a new appreciation for the “ghost” of Ruth Handler who was given the props she deserved. This is a tribute to the woman who deserves every accolade for not only changing the toy business landscape but also the hopes and dreams of little girls who didn’t know they needed her vision.

Book Info

• Release Date: January 21, 2025
• Narrator: Abigail Reno
• Audio Length: 12 hours, 51 minutes
• Publisher: Penguin Audio

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