Press releases

The Cult of LEGO: A Must-Have Coffee Table Book for LEGO Fans of All Ages--Coming Soon from No Starch Press

Press release: August 18, 2011

The Cult of LEGO

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San Francisco, CA, August 18, 2011—LEGO is arguably the most popular toy in the world. But for some people, it's a way of life, even long after they've grown.

In The Cult of LEGO (No Starch Press, November 2011, full color, hardcover, 304 pp., $39.95, ISBN 9781593273910), Wired's GeekDad blogger John Baichtal and BrickJournal founder Joe Meno take readers on a magnificent, illustrated tour of the LEGO community, its people, and their creations.

The Cult of LEGO introduces us to fans and builders from all walks of life. People like professional LEGO artist Nathan Sawaya; enigmatic Dutch painter Ego Leonard (who maintains that he is, in fact, a LEGO minifig); Angus MacLane, a Pixar animator who builds CubeDudes, instantly recognizable likenesses of fictional characters; Brick Testament creator Brendan Powell Smith, who uses LEGO to illustrate biblical stories; and Henry Lim, whose work includes a series of models recreating M.C. Escher lithographs and a full-scale, functioning LEGO harpsichord.

Readers will marvel at spectacular LEGO creations like:

  • A life-sized Stegosaurus and an 80,000-brick T. Rex skeleton
  • Detailed microscale versions of landmarks like the Acropolis and Yankee Stadium
  • A 22-foot long, 350-pound re-creation of the World War II battleship Yamato
  • A robotic, giant chess set that can replay historical matches or take on an opponent
  • A three-level, remote-controlled Jawa Sandcrawler, complete with moving conveyor belt

Whether readers are card-carrying AFOLs (Adult Fans of LEGO), kids with a passion for building, or grown-ups reminiscing about childhood days spent surrounded by bricks and partially built masterpieces, The Cult of LEGO is sure to impress and inspire.

For more information, to request a review copy, or to schedule an interview with the authors, contact Travis Peterson at No Starch Press (nostarchpr@oreilly.com, +1.415.863.9900 x108), or visit www.nostarch.com.

Sample pages from The Cult of LEGO:

book spread book spread
book spread book spread
About the Authors

John Baichtal is a contributor to MAKE magazine and Wired's GeekDad blog. He has written for legendary tabletop magazines Dragon and Dungeon, as well as Kobold Quarterly and 2600: The Hacker Quarterly.

Joe Meno is the founder of BrickJournal, the print and online LEGO fan magazine. He has organized and run LEGO fan events, acted as an advisor on LEGO projects, and helped design LEGO sets.

Advance Praise for The Cult of LEGO:

"I defy you to read and admire this book and not want to doodle with some bricks by the time you're done."
—Gareth Branwyn, editor in chief, MAKE: Online

"This fascinating look at the world of devoted LEGO fans deserves a place on the bookshelf of anyone who's ever played with LEGO bricks."
—Chris Anderson, editor in chief, Wired

"A crazy fun read, from cover to cover, this book deserves a special spot on the bookshelf of any self-respecting nerd."
—Jake McKee, former global community manager, the LEGO Group

"An excellent book and a must-have for any LEGO enthusiast out there. The pictures are awesome!"
—Ulrik Pilegaard, author of Forbidden LEGO

"We're all members of the Cult of LEGO—the only membership requirement is clicking two pieces of plastic together and wanting to click more. Now we have a book that justifies our obsession."
—James Floyd Kelly, blogger for GeekDad.com and TheNXTStep.com

Additional Resources
Sample Page Spreads: The Minifig Turns 30, Minifig Facts, CubeDudes, Cabinet of Curiosities
High-resolution Cover Image
Table of Contents
Detailed Table of Contents (PDF)
Index (PDF)
No Starch Press Catalog Page

The Cult of LEGO The Cult of LEGO
Publisher: No Starch Press
by John Baichtal and Joe Meno
ISBN 9781593273910, $39.95 USD  
November 2011, 304 pp.
order@oreilly.com
1-800-998-9938
1-707-827-7000

Request Review copy

Available in fine bookstores everywhere in November, from http://www.oreilly.com/nostarch, or directly from No Starch Press (http://www.nostarch.com, orders@nostarch.com, 1-800-420-7240).

This unofficial book is not endorsed or authorized by the LEGO Group.

About No Starch Press
Founded in 1994, No Starch Press is one of the few remaining independent computer book publishers. We publish the finest in geek entertainment—unique books on technology, with a focus on open source, security, hacking, programming, alternative operating systems, LEGO, science, and math. Our titles have personality, our authors are passionate, and our books tackle topics that people care about. Visit http://www.nostarch.com for a complete catalog.

About O’Reilly

O’Reilly Media spreads the knowledge of innovators through its books, online services, magazines, and conferences. Since 1978, O’Reilly Media has been a chronicler and catalyst of cutting-edge development, homing in on the technology trends that really matter and spurring their adoption by amplifying “faint signals” from the alpha geeks who are creating the future. An active participant in the technology community, the company has a long history of advocacy, meme-making, and evangelism.

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