Book Reviews
ArsGeek.com
The Brickopedia is, quite frankly, the centerpiece of this book for me (even though it’s at the end, allow me my creative license). It was here that I truly reveled in my Lego thrall. Pouring through a brick by brick description of the various types of Legos, from the simple 1×1 to the Pine Tree (Large) this is what kept me up late.
This book also has something of an ‘oh wow!’ factor. I know that if I leave out on my table I can judge who my real (Lego) friend sare by how quickly they run for and grab this book. In fact, it’s already on my list to get for several friends who’ll get lots of use out of it.
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Ink19.com
If you're a fresh-minted AFOL with no previous Lego experience, or a precocious youngster wishing to absorb some formalized knowledge of the system, Lego Builder's Guide fills in the gap. Starting with some basic Lego taxonomy, history and building basics, the book quickly moves on to such topics as building in miniature, putting together mega-sized Lego bricks from smaller ones, and some basic specializations like mosaics and sculptures.
Besides these fundamentals, Lego Builder's Guide offers some solid engineering knowledge, with methodologies for conceptualizing models and executing them. And moving beyond the bricks themselves, it offers good advice on building your collection of pieces, sorting and storing them, and even making your own tools to aid in construction.
Filled with illustrations, short demonstrative diagrams, and photographs of examples, Lego Builder's Guide is a straightforward and clear guide, offering plenty of useful advice for the beginner and even a couple of gems for the most jaded and knowledgeable brickmaster.
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BZPower.com
It's all in black and white. I have friends who don't see black and white movies, and have never seen the best movie ever made (Casablanca) - and it's their loss. So don't let the lack of flashy, glossy pages turn you off. This isn't the kind of book that sits on a shelf looking pretty, eager to entice you into purchasing it for a few quick flip-throughs and then be left on a shelf to rot. This is the kind of book that gets used and dog-eared. I've tried to build some of the samples shown in the book from memory, but (since I'm fossilized) I need frequent reminders, and have had to go back and thumb through its B&W pages.
Far from being boring lists of instructions, Bedford uses the examples to detail why a particular part or method of construction is used, and encourages the reader to continually come up with alternate ways of doing things. I've been slapping bricks together for longer than most of my dear readers have been alive, and I learned more than a few new (to me) construction techniques.
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Bamcat.com
One the most unique features of the book is the Brickopedia that includes descriptions of about 300 LEGO elements accompanied by 3D image, catalogue number, notes, and year released. It is one of those gems that can pull childhood builders back into building as an adult as you go over the familiar pieces and remember what you used to create with them.
I would recommend this book to almost anyone, especially if you are an old-school LEGO fan, have children who play with LEGO, or are a mature adult who wants to build something with LEGO but is too embarrassed to ask! I must warn you though - this book will inspire you to build something after picking it up.
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Blog Critics.org
This book is full of methods, tips, and usable techniques that just about anyone can apply to their own projects. If that wasn't enough, the book also contains helpful information on such topics as design, engineering, architecture and color. And all of this information is organized in easy-to-follow chunks, with accurate illustrations, and straightforward and understandable writing.
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Book News.com
Going beyond simply supplying instructions for building particular models, this useful guide provides information, tips, and techniques that empower readers to make their own fantastic creations.
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PowerToLearn.com
This guide is full of the techniques that will help you and your kids build those and just about anything else. This isn't a book for little ones, but tweens, teens and parent-child teams, who have the urge to build, will be able to easily to follow the directions and diagrams. It even gives tips on how to store your LEGOS so that you can get to elements you need, when you need them.
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Operation Gadget.com
For several years I've thought about building a scale replica of Houston Field House in LEGO building blocks. I've often read that building a scale model using LEGOs is difficult, but I think I've found a very useful book that would help me along the way.
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Round Table Reviews.com
THE UNOFFICIAL LEGO BUILDER’S GUIDE is Bedford ’s way of contributing to both the LEGO lovers already in existence as well as those to come. Bedford ’s book is an in-depth look at the greatest function of the LEGO system, namely building LEGO models. While there have been project books written over the years which detail a couple of finished models, Bedford ’s book is like an encyclopedia of LEGO and possible models to be built. Indeed, at the end of the book Bedford has included what he terms a “Brickopedia” that catalogues the various pieces and parts of the LEGO system, diagrams included.
This book was written with the reader in mind in numerous ways, not the least of which is the binding used, which allows the book to lay flat wherever you open it. Chapter headings include: “Back to Basics: Tips and Techniques,” “Technic: Not as Technical as It May Seem,” “ Microscale Building : More Than Meets the Eye,” and “Beyond Just Bricks: Other Things to Do Besides Building” along with nine other chapters and two appendices. The author has painstakingly included picture after picture throughout the text, adding interest and ease of understanding to the words.
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Reader Emails
From George:
Thanks for reintroducing me to the beauty and versatility of the LEGO system! (I discovered your book while looking for Christmas gifts on the LEGO web site. I bought a copy for myself and let my wife wrap it!) You've given me a whole new appreciation of LEGO's creative potential as well as its high quality and precision engineering. The Brickopedia and the chapter on microscale building were real eye-openers. I'm finally getting past the mindset that the simple red-and-white-brick LEGO I knew as a kid (back in the mid-1960s) was the best. Boy, have I got a LOT of catching up to do! I can't wait!
From Tracey:
Michael has spent the last 4 evenings in his lego bin...so far he's built:
- miniature robot
- frog
- miniature freighter ship (idea from your book)
- replica of soms Star Wars fight scene
- this morning Sarah and Mike build Homer Simpson and used the sphere from
your book as his belly!!!
The X-box has virtually been forgotten since he got your book.
THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
From Beth:
Let me start by saying I'm 45 yrs old! I just received my book today from Amazon.com!!! I'm soooo happy and I'm only on chapter one!!! I have so many lego sets but I can only go by the instructions that came with the sets and I really want to be able to build without intructions! But with the help of your book I have learned two new things to do from you and I feel like there is hope after all!!! Thanks for writing this book!!!!
From Jason Burik:
I just got done reading your book. Outstanding work.
Even though I've been building with LEGO blocks for over 20 years (and now have my own business making LEGO models) I still learned some new things by reading your book.
If you get a chance check out my LEGO Website: www.burikmodeldesign.com
From Patty:
I bought this book as a Christmas gift for my 13 year old son (it was on his wishlist) and do not regret it. The ideas and instructions are easy to follow and every page creates more and more interest. I am a LegoLand California passholder and speaking with actual Lego MasterBuilders this is the BEST book on the market(it should have been written years ago). Why didn't the Lego people write such a informative book? We may never know the answer..... but Allan did, and for that we are extemely greatful. If you Love Legos, this book is an absolute MUST to have -- go on, buy it..... what are you waiting for??
From Jim:
I just finished your book the Unofficial Lego Builders Guide and I have to admit it was much better than I had anticipated. I thouroghly enjoyed it. Your approach to design and construction is very well documented and in many ways reminds me of how Lego used to do it.
From Victoria:
I am a mommy to twin boys who are four years old. I thought that if I was going to help develop of love of building with my boys, I should know a thing or two about Legos. Would you believe that this mommy read your book (and I mean EVERY word) from cover to cover over a period of about three days??? It was so simple and easy and I loved getting the right terminology (1x1, 2xN, slopes, tiles, decorative pieces, etc.) and a much better feel for what exists in the Lego world.
From Ann:
I have thoroughly enjoyed this book, not only for myself, but for my 7-year-old girl. I love the depth of it and the simplicity of it. I liked the trade size, because I could take it with me to continue reading. It was great to get more info and still have some pics to view.
As a former bookseller, I relish good reference books. This is one of them.
From Phelan:
I think that The Unofficial LEGO Bulider`s Guide is a excellent book
because I am a Big fan of LEGO I like to build lego models a lot. Your book
is the ultimate reference to me it has help me build a pyramid which is
hollow inside of it this lego model is now one of my best and biggest
LEGO model I have ever built. I wouldn't have ever thought about building
this model if it wasn't for the book you wrote I wouldn`t have built this
model. I give your book a ten out of one.
From Kara:
My ten-year-old LEGO-fanatic son and I just love this book. I've read almost the entire thing out loud to him, half a chapter each night for his bedtime story, because it fascinates BOTH of us!
The information in this book is presented in a friendly way that never talks down to the reader, yet is not overly technical and dry. It's FUN to read. The author's enthusiasm for LEGO shines through on every page. As a homeschooling mom, I feel that it's quite educational, too -- my son is learning about ratio, proportion, planning ahead, logic, design, etc, etc.
This is not merely a book of instructions, although it does contain several interesting models to build, including a sphere, that demonstrate some important building principles. It's a richly informative book that will inspire you and your kids to come up with your own new and unique models. We're recommending it to every LEGO fan we know.
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