Toy Monster: The Big, Bad World of Mattel

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.

Now, in this intriguing and entertaining expose, New York Times bestselling author Jerry Oppenheimer places the world's largest toy company under a journalistic microscope, uncovering the dark side of toyland, 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 to dominate potential rivals, such as Bratz.

Engaging and accessible, Toy Monster shows you why today's toy business isn't always fun and games.

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Toy Monster: The Big, Bad World of Mattel

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.

Now, in this intriguing and entertaining expose, New York Times bestselling author Jerry Oppenheimer places the world's largest toy company under a journalistic microscope, uncovering the dark side of toyland, 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 to dominate potential rivals, such as Bratz.

Engaging and accessible, Toy Monster shows you why today's toy business isn't always fun and games.

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Toy Monster: The Big, Bad World of Mattel

Toy Monster: The Big, Bad World of Mattel

Toy Monster: The Big, Bad World of Mattel

Toy Monster: The Big, Bad World of Mattel

Audio CD(MP3 on CD - Unabridged)

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Overview

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.

Now, in this intriguing and entertaining expose, New York Times bestselling author Jerry Oppenheimer places the world's largest toy company under a journalistic microscope, uncovering the dark side of toyland, 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 to dominate potential rivals, such as Bratz.

Engaging and accessible, Toy Monster shows you why today's toy business isn't always fun and games.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781511384667
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Publication date: 11/08/2016
Edition description: Unabridged
Product dimensions: 5.30(w) x 6.70(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

JERRY OPPENHEIMER has written eight biographies of major American icons, from Martha Stewart and Barbara Walters to the Clintons and Kennedys, and has worked in all facets of journalism, from national investigative re-porting in Washington, D.C., to producing TV news and documentaries. He's quoted in magazines such as Vanity Fair, and is a frequent guest on national TV interview and syndicated magazine shows, including Good Morning America, Entertainment Tonight, Extra, Anderson Cooper 360°, Nancy Grace, BBC News, Fox News, and more.

Table of Contents

Part One: The Barbie War and the Handler-Ryan Era 1

Chapter 1: Barbie’s Untold Heritage 3

Chapter 2: A Shocking Cover-Up 13

Chapter 3: From Weapons of Mass Destruction to Barbie, and the Knocking Off of a German Doll 19

Chapter 4: Putting the “Matt” in Mattel, and How the Toymaker Became a Hotbed of Aggressive Hotheads 37

Chapter 5: Real-Life Barbie Dolls 51

Chapter 6: Horrific Scandal, Controversy, and Indictments 65

Chapter 7: A Civil War and a Hollywood Romance 81

Chapter 8: A Bloody Tragic Ending 89

Part Two: A Drama Princess and the Barad Era 103

Chapter 9: “Miss Italian America” 105

Chapter 10: From “He-Man” to Home Depot 121

Chapter 11: A Fearsome and Firing Diva and the Great Whistleblower Debacle 135

Chapter 12: The Princess Diana Fiasco, Praying for Success, and Demi Plays Barad 147

Chapter 13: Another Whistleblower in the Ranks, Toyland’s Worst Acquisition, and the End of a Reign 161

Part Three: Toy Terror, the Bratz Attack, and the Eckert Era 181

Chapter 14: The Processed Cheese Savior 183

Chapter 15: Barbie’s Aging, Eckert’s Making Excuses, and the Bratz Pack is Booming 193

Chapter 16: Toy Terror 2007 201

Chapter 17: An Outrageous Apology 213

Chapter 18: “Like Something Out of The Exorcist” 227

Chapter 19: Keep It Out of the News! 235

Chapter 20: Don’t Diss Barbie, and the Toy Trial of the Century: Bratz vs. Barbie 247

Author’s Note on Sources 265

Selected Bibliography 267

Acknowledgments 269

Index 273

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