I enjoyed this romp through the playtime of the past. I owned and loved some of these toys--other toys showcased happened after my childhood ended and I knew little of them. I have had a keen interest in toy history and I met the creators of GI Joe at Walt Disney World in 2004 during a GI Joe collector's convention held at the Contemporary Resort. The stories in "the Toys That Made Us" differed from what I had learned--but that's how history works; different sources will come up with different takes. I have a "biography" of Barbie--I had sisters and sometimes GI Joe got lonely and went dating. Lego--who doesn't do Legos? Neither Star Trek nor Star Wars has faded--despite the best attempts of the movie industry!Toys that have some cultural connection will endure. Barbie has endured because little girls grow up--and Barbie was part of growing up. Barbie demonstrated that girls could do anything--even though Barbie has been slammed as a "loose woman" (it's her lineage to Lilli) and there's reluctance for parents to relinquish their children to the cold cruel world.For Star Trek and Star Wars the movies fed the market for toys and the toys fed a demand for more movies. Ask Mickey Mouse about market synergy--and mentioning Disney is appropriate because Disney theme parks featured Star Wars rides and attractions and Disney makes Star Wars movies now. There was a Star Trek theme park in Las Vegas in the past.Toys are dreams made real.