Barbieland

“A book about scheming doll people, which I loved.” –Amanda Hess, author of Second Life“A rollicking tale of how Mattel spied, copied and stole its way to market dominance, then fought with military intensity to compel us to buy more and more.” –The New York Times“Fun, unauthorized, and meticulously researched … highly recommended.” –Library Journal“Toy mania. Journalist Hitt makes a lively book debut with a dive into the creation, marketing, and meaning of the iconic Barbie doll.” –Kirkus“A brisk, playful, ambitious journey into the messy world of toys. I would read anything by Tarpley Hitt.” –Kerry Howley, author of Bottoms Up and the Devil Laughs“A lively, highly informative investigation of the kings and queens of the toy world.” –Jill Abramson, author of Merchants of Truth“A must-read take on Barbie’s backstory that gives us all the good weirdness we need. Barbieland marks the arrival of a brilliant new voice on the American nonfiction scene.” –John Jeremiah Sullivan, Pushcart Prize-winning author of Pulphead“Barbie’s story embodies all the contradictions of women’s lives–and the perils of our corporate and financial order. Barbieland is eye-opening, provocative, surprising, and always, always fun.” –Helaine Olen, bestselling author of Pound Foolish“Gutsy in its reporting, sharp and ambitious in its analysis, and funny as hell.” –Molly Young, author of Privacy“More than the story of a toy, Barbieland is the story of the twentieth century. As fun as it is informative–you’ll never look at a doll the same way.” –Malcolm Harris, bestselling author of Palo Alto

Tarpley Hitt is a journalist in New York, New York, where she is an editor at and contributor to The Drift magazine. She has previously reported on culture and money for The Daily Beast and Gawker, and her work has also appeared in The New York Times, Bookforum, The Paris Review, The Guardian, Air Mail, Deseret Magazine, and Miami New Times.