Cubed

From the inventor of the Rubik’s Cube, “an idiosyncratic and gripping memoir” and an inspiring meditation on curiosity, puzzles, and the value of play (Observer).

Erno Rubik was a child when he first became obsessed with puzzles of all kinds. To Rubik, puzzles aren’t just games—they’re creativity machines, bringing out our curiosity, concentration, sense of play, and eagerness to find solutions. He encourages us to find, and embrace, the puzzles that surround us in our everyday lives.

In Cubed, the reclusive architect and designer covers more than just his journey to inventing his eponymous cube, one of the bestselling toys of all time and a global symbol of intelligence and ingenuity. He makes a case for always being an amateur—something he considers himself to be. He discusses the inevitability of problems during any act of invention. He reveals what it was like to experience the astonishing worldwide success of an object he made purely for his own play. And he offers what he thinks it means to be a true creator (hint: anyone can do it). Steeped in the wisdom and also the humility of a born inventor, Cubed offers a unique look at the imperfect science of creation.

“Rubik’s book is more than just a memoir. It’s a manifesto for a whole way of thinking, for the need to retain your childhood playfulness into adulthood if you wish to create anything of worth.” —Daily Mail