Author Robin Gerber shares the story of Ruth Handler, the fiercely determined woman who created Barbie.

Everybody knows Barbie, but what about the woman who created her?

Ruth Handler, creator of the beloved toy, played an integral role in founding and leading the company Mattel to its multi-billion dollar success.

Robin Gerber is a best-selling author and historian who has been writing about extraordinary female leaders since 1975.

In her 2009 book Barbie and Ruth: ​​The Story of the World's Most Famous Doll and the Woman Who Created Her, Gerber explores the inspiration that led Handler to create Barbie, how she launched Mattel with her husband, and how her expertise with toys led her to develop prosthetics in her later years.