Cubed: The Puzzle of Us All

Cubed is a memoir and manifesto about the life and career of Erno Rubik, the inventor of the Cube puzzle toy. It explores Rubik's relationship with his creation and argues that rediscovering our playfulness and inner curiosity holds the key to creative thinking.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 16 September 2021
Publisher: Orion Publishing Co

More than just a memoir, Cubed is a manifesto for a whole way of thinking. Written with infectious enthusiasm and deep insight, it tells the story of Erno Rubik's life and the indomitable career of the Cube, the world's most popular puzzle toy.

Born in Budapest in 1942, Rubik was a child with a natural aptitude for puzzles. From an early age, he became obsessed with solving them, seeing them as challenges that captured his imagination, creativity, and perseverance.

As a teenager, Rubik developed his own puzzle, the Cube. It was a simple yet ingenious design that consisted of six colored squares that could be twisted and turned in any direction to form a solid cube. At first, Rubik struggled to sell his invention. But he refused to give up, and with the help of his friend and business partner, Peter Schiffer, he began to promote the Cube to toy stores and distributors around the world.

To Rubik's surprise, the Cube quickly became a sensation. People of all ages and backgrounds were drawn to its simple yet addictive nature. Within a few years, millions of Cubes had been sold, and Rubik had become a household name.

But the success of the Cube was not just a matter of popularity. It also had a profound impact on the way people thought about puzzles and creativity. Rubik believed that the Cube was a metaphor for life itself, a challenge that required patience, perseverance, and creative thinking to solve.

In Cubed, Rubik shares the story of the unexpected and unprecedented rise of the Cube for the very first time. He explores the factors that contributed to its success, from its simple yet elegant design to its ability to tap into people's innate desire for play and exploration.

Rubik also makes a case for why rediscovering our playfulness and inner curiosity holds the key to creative thinking. In a world that is often dominated by technology and productivity, he argues that we need to take time out of our busy lives to engage in activities that bring us joy and challenge us intellectually.

Cubed is a fascinating and inspiring read, filled with anecdotes and insights that will resonate with anyone who has ever been captivated by a puzzle or sought to unlock their own creativity. Whether you're a lifelong puzzle enthusiast or someone who has never considered the power of play, this book will inspire you to think differently and embrace the joy of discovery.

In conclusion, Cubed is more than just a memoir. It is a manifesto for a whole way of thinking, a call to rediscover our playfulness and inner curiosity and to embrace the challenges that life presents us with. Written with infectious enthusiasm and deep insight, it is a must-read for anyone who seeks to unlock their own creativity and live a more fulfilling life.

Weight: 188g
Dimension: 129 x 198 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781474613125