Playmakers, reviewed: The race to give every child a toy
Summary
The New Yorker book review analyzes Playmakers by Michael Kimmel, tracing how Jewish immigrant entrepreneurs helped create the American toy industry, from the Teddy bear to Barbie. It places toys within broader social changes, including mass production, marketing, and debates over gender and racial representation, showing how play became a major business and cultural force. The piece uses rich historical detail to illustrate entrepreneurship, innovation, and the evolving meaning of childhood in America.