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  • The LEGO Story: How a Little Toy Sparked the World's Imagination

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The LEGO Story: How a Little Toy Sparked the World's Imagination

4.6 out of 5 stars (397)

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An International Bestseller

“Absolutely essential reading for every LEGO fan.” —Blocks

The definitive history of LEGO, based on unprecedented access to the company’s archives and rare interviews with the founding family who still owns the company

"This book tells the story of how my family built the LEGO brand." —Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen, former President/CEO of the LEGO Group and 3rd generation owner

It’s estimated that each year between eighty and ninety million children around the globe are given a box of LEGO, while up to ten million adults buy sets for themselves. Yet LEGO is much more than a dizzying number of plastic bricks that can be put together and combined in countless ways. LEGO is also a vision of the significance of what play can mean for humanity.

This book tells the extraordinary story of a global company and a Danish family who for ninety years have defended children’s right to play—and who believe grown-ups, too, should make the time to nurture their inner child. The LEGO Story is built on Jens Andersen’s unique access to LEGO’s own archives, as well as on Andersen’s extensive conversations with Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen, former president and CEO of the LEGO group and grandson of its founder, Ole Kirk Christiansen.

A riveting cultural history of changing generations’ views of childhood and the importance of play, The LEGO Story is also a fascinating business case study of how innovation and creativity helped leaders transform LEGO from a small carpentry business specializing in wooden toys into the world’s largest producer of play materials and one of the most beloved brands in the world. Richly illustrated with never-before-seen photos from the family’s private archive, this is the ultimate book for fans of LEGO, revealing everything you ever wanted to know about the brand.

Based on rare interviews and unprecedented archival access, this is the story of a company built on one family’s belief in the power of play.

  • A Family Business Saga: Built on extensive conversations with Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen, grandson of the founder, this is an intimate look at three generations of innovation and perseverance behind one of the world’s most beloved brands.
  • From Wooden Toys to Plastic Bricks: Follow the ninety-year journey from Ole Kirk Christiansen’s small carpentry business to the global toy company that produces billions of plastic bricks a year.
  • The History of Play: Discover a riveting cultural history that explores how views of childhood and the importance of creative play have evolved over nearly a century.
  • Unprecedented Archival Access: Go behind the scenes with a richly illustrated history, featuring never-before-seen photos from the founding family’s private archive.

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Review

"In this extraordinary inside look at LEGO, Jens Andersen tells the fascinating story of how a Danish family transformed a small carpentry business into the world’s largest producer of play materials. ... The LEGO Story is a richly illustrated, inside look into how innovation and creativity helped redefine the meaning of play – and established LEGO as one of the world’s most beloved brands." — J.P. Morgan NextList citation

The LEGO Story is absolutely essential reading for every LEGO fan. If you know nothing about the company and founding family’s history, then this is the perfect starting point. If you already know a lot of it, then this is packed with new information that you haven’t heard before. Whatever you do though, make sure you finish any urgent build projects before you start reading – this pacey, enjoyable book is really hard to put down.” — Blocks

“This compelling cultural history of the Danish company that revolutionized toys for children and adults draws from the author’s unique access to Lego’s archives and interviews with its former president.” — New York Times Book Review

"How did stackable plastic blocks made by a Danish toy company become as ubiquitous in America as Tylenol and Kleenex? The Lego Story starts with the Christiansen family’s Great Depression–era decision to switch from carpentry to toys in order to stay afloat and brings us to the present." — Vulture, "6 Books You Should Read This Month"

"LEGO owner Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen spills all in [this] authorized biography. ... Charting 90 years of LEGO history, complete with archival photographs, The LEGO Story goes beyond the life and times of Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen to detail how his grandfather Ole Kirk first started the LEGO Group in 1932. Along the way, Andersen recounts how the Kristiansen family transformed the company from a small carpentry business into a world-leading toy manufacturer." — Brick Fanatics

"This book tells the story of how my family built the LEGO brand." — Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen, former President/CEO of the LEGO Group and 3rd generation owner

“A welcome gift for the LEGO lover in the family and a revealing work of business history.” — Kirkus Reviews

“Charming. … Andersen does a great job showing the company’s lasting power through 90 years of change, and the archival photos are a treat. This will delight business history buffs.”  — Publishers Weekly

“Those interested in LEGO history will find this book comprehensive and will enjoy interviews, photos, and the evolution of a toy legend.” — Booklist

From the Back Cover

?Absolutely essential reading for every LEGO fan.? ?BlocksThe definitive history of LEGO, based on unprecedented access to the company's archives and rare interviews with the founding family that still owns the company"This book tells the story of how my family built the LEGO brand." ?Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen, former President/CEO of the LEGO Group and 3rd generation ownerIt's estimated that each year between eighty and ninety million children around the globe are given a box of LEGO, while up to ten million adults buy sets for themselves. Yet LEGO is much more than a dizzying number of plastic bricks that can be put together and combined in countless ways. LEGO is also a vision of the significance of what play can mean for humanity.This book tells the extraordinary story of a global company and a Danish family who for ninety years have defended children's right to play?and who believe grown-ups, too, should make the time to nurture their inner child. The LEGO Story is built on Jens Andersen's unique access to LEGO's own archives, as well as on Andersen's extensive conversations with Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen, former president and CEO of the LEGO group and grandson of its founder, Ole Kirk Christiansen.A riveting cultural history of changing generations' views of childhood and the importance of play, The LEGO Story also a fascinating case study of how innovation and creativity helped leaders transform LEGO from a small carpentry business into the world's largest producer of play materials and one of the most beloved brands in the world. Richly illustrated with never-before-seen photos from the family's private archive, this is the ultimate book for fans of LEGO, revealing everything you ever wanted to know about the brand.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Mariner Books
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ 8 Dec. 2022
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ 1st
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 432 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0063258021
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0063258020
  • Item weight ‏ : ‎ 294 g
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 15.24 x 2.44 x 22.86 cm
  • Best Sellers Rank: 171,066 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • Customer reviews:
    4.6 out of 5 stars (397)

About the author

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Jens Andersen
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I was born in Copenhagen 1955 and graduated with a PhD in Nordic literature from University of Copenhagen 1993. Since 1990 I have written more than ten biographies. Mostly on famous Scandinavian authors like Hans Christian Andersen (2003), Astrid Lindgren (2014) and Tove Ditlevsen (1997 and 2022). I have also portrayed HRH Queen Margrethe II (2012) and her son HRH Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark (2017). I see the biography genre as a modern way of telling true stories about real people - alive or dead - within real historical framework with both a novelistic and academic touch.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
397 global ratings

Top reviews from the United Kingdom

  • 5 out of 5 stars
    Legos history and beginnings
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 24 January 2023
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    Lego today is a well known and a famous commodity world wide. Not only does Lego cater for children, but more recently also for the 18+adult market. Where does Lego come from? How did it all start out, come to be? I think its important to know the challenges, sufferings, set backs the original owners experienced. If it was not for them, Lego would never have existed today.

    This book gives an excellent explanation of how the plastic toy we all love so much, came into existence. Photographs from the original archives are included to give us a better understanding.

    As an AFOL, I am happy to have read this book. Everytime I now build my Lego, I give thanks to those early pioneers for their sacrifices, patience and endurance.

    In conclusion: I can highly recommend The Lego Story book. Well worth buying and reading. Lego today, is now owned and managed by the 4th generation of the family. I would like to express all my gratitude and heartfelt thanks to them for having continued and built upon the original foundations their forefathers had left for them.

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  • 5 out of 5 stars
    Enjoyable read for any adult LEGO fan
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 16 January 2023
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    Only half way through this book but it’s and excellent read. Really delves into the history of The LEGO Group from its foundations to modern day. I particularly like the archival photos and the interviews with the owners which are interspersed between the main narrative, which makes for an interesting read. Highly recommend for any adult fan of LEGO who wants to learn about the history behind the famous plastic toy.

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  • 5 out of 5 stars
    If you are interested in Lego history buy this
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 22 April 2023
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    I had learnt a little about the history of Lego through an article and wanted to discover more. This was an interesting read full of detail about the journey of Lego. It was interesting to read about the advancements made by the different generations.

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  • 5 out of 5 stars
    A must if you like Lego
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 25 April 2023
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    Excellent ,well written and interesting

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  • 5 out of 5 stars
    Great story of the best toy maker
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 15 February 2023
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    Awesome read !

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  • 5 out of 5 stars
    Brilliant
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 1 December 2022
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    A very good read

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Top reviews from other countries

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  • 5 out of 5 stars
    Een complete en pakkende geschiedenis..!
    Reviewed in the Netherlands on 11 March 2023
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    Voor wie goed Engels kan lezen, van lezen houdt, en net zo geïnteresseerd is in Lego als fenomeen, als in het veelzijdige plastic bouwblokje dat het is, is dit een perfect boek. Zelfs liefhebbers van moderne geschiedenis met een zwak voor Lego vinden veel in dit boek; het zegt iets over hoe de West-Europese samenleving zich vanaf begin vorige eeuw ontwikkelde en de wisselwerking met Lego daarin. Bovendien is het boek goed vertaald, waarmee ik bedoel dat het leest alsof het in het Engels geschreven is. Ik ben pas halverwege maar kan nu al zeggen dat het boek tevens een inspiratie is op het gebied van doorzettingsvermogen, inventiviteit, originaliteit en optimisme. Wat het boek compleet maakt is dat het niet - zoals Lego-endorsed Dorling Kindersley boeken (hoe interessant die verder ook zijn) wél doen - een kritiekloze Lego-reclame is. De schrijver zelf is kritisch, maar ook de uit de mond van de derde generatie 'Lego-familie' opgetekende stukken getuigen van introspectie. Een goed geschreven, well-researched, compleet en inspiratievol boek, en ook nog in precies de juiste mate gelardeerd met interessante afbeeldingen. Het is netjes ingebonden en voorzien van een leuke stofomslag. Mijn enige kritiekpunt behelst de kwaliteit van het papier, het drukwerk en de afbeeldingen, die echt maar precies voldoende zijn, maar ook niet meer dan dat. Het is zeker geen 'duur' boek. Maar het is dan ook geen duur boek..!

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  • 5 out of 5 stars
    A lot more than you expect.
    Reviewed in the United States on 2 October 2025
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    After reading it, got it for our son-in-law, robotics & mechanical teacher, and huge LEGO fan. Our daughter, a CPA, is going to find the business side fascinating.

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  • 5 out of 5 stars
    Great read for any LEGO fan.
    Reviewed in the United Arab Emirates on 4 April 2024
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    This is the story of the LEGO family and their decision to bring an outsider in to turn it around. It's a great read for any LEGO fan or anyone interested in business.

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  • 4 out of 5 stars
    Interessante...
    Reviewed in Spain on 19 December 2024
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    Ia ser uma oferta, mas embora interessante, com a detalhada história da Lego, não se adequava ao que pretendia oferecer, ou seja, mais imagens das produções da Lego e menos um livro descritivo... Devolvi, com alguma pena, mas ...

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  • 5 out of 5 stars
    Great book.
    Reviewed in Canada on 19 August 2023
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    Great book, thoroughly enjoyed it. A very interesting read on the history of the Lego company and product line from it's very beginnings to the modern day. A must read for Lego aficionados.

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