The Secret Life of LEGO® Bricks

By Daniel Konstanski

A celebration of the LEGO® brick, exclusively for fans

Non fiction
205% funded
3665 supporters
Published

Publication date: Winter 2022

book cover
Rewards for this book are not available.
the LEGO Group &

Sold out!

$20 
107 pledges

Digital

A device-friendly, black and white eBook edition of the book, and your name inside the eBook and print edition.

PLUS:

  • Your name in the supporter list
$65  + shipping
1099 pledges

Hardback

One hardback book with your name in the supporter list.
$75  + shipping
1210 pledges

Signed Hardback

One hardback, featuring author Daniel Konstanski's signature, and your name in the book.
$75  + shipping
48 pledges

A4 Artwork Print

A high-quality A4 print of a page of interior artwork or the official book cover art (to be finalised after crowdfunding is complete).

PLUS:

  • One hardback book
  • One name in the supporter list
$90  + shipping
67 pledges

A2 Artwork Print

A high-quality A2 print of a page of interior artwork or the official book cover art (to be finalised after crowdfunding is complete)

PLUS:

  • One hardback book
  • One name in the supporter list
$100  + shipping

LEGO® Wooden Elephant Art Print


Limited to 100 First-edition LEGO® Originals art print of the famous LEGO Wooden Elephant, watercolour artwork from c.1937 in a LEGO branded presentation sleeve

This print has previously only been available to LEGO VIP members.

PLUS:

  • One hardback book, featuring author Daniel Konstanski's signature
  • One name in the supporter list
  • Art Print dimensions: 25.5 x 31.6cm (10.03 x 12.44 inches)
$100  + shipping

LEGO® Wooden Duck Art Print


Limited to 100 First-edition LEGO® Originals art print of the famous wooden duck in a LEGO branded presentation sleeve. This technical drawing is based on the 1930s design for the Wooden Duck and dates from 1958.

This print has previously only been available to LEGO VIP members.

PLUS:

  • One hardback book, featuring author Daniel Konstanski's signature
  • Your name in the supporter list
  • Art Print Dimensions: 25.5 x 31.6 cm (10.03 x 12.44 inches)
$100  + shipping

LEGO® British Patent Art Print


Limited to 100 First-edition LEGO® Originals art print of a page from the British Patent Application for LEGO Elements, dating from 1968, in a LEGO branded presentation sleeve.

This print has previously only been available to LEGO VIP members.

PLUS:

  • One hardback book, featuring author Daniel Konstanski's signature
  • One name in the supporter list
  • Dimensions of Art Print: 25.5 x 31.6 cm (10.03 x 12.44 inches)
$100  + shipping

LEGO® French Patent Art Print


Limited to 100 LEGO® Originals art print of a page from the French Patent Application for LEGO DUPLO® Brick, dating from 1968, in a LEGO branded presentation sleeve.

This print has previously only been available to LEGO VIP members.

PLUS:

  • One hardback book, featuring author Daniel Konstanski's signature
  • One name in the supporter list
  • Art Print Dimensions: 25.5 x 31.6 cm (10.03 x 12.44 inches)
$100  + shipping

LEGO® Spanish Patent Art Print


Limited to 100 First-edition LEGO® Originals art print of a page from the Spanish Patent Application for LEGO Elements, dating from 1958, in a LEGO branded presentation sleeve.

This print has previously only been available to LEGO VIP members.

PLUS:

  • One hardback book, featuring author Daniel Konstanski's signature
  • One name in the supporter list
  • Art Print Dimensions: 25.5 x 31.6 cm (10.03 x 12.44 inches)
$115  + shipping
209 pledges

Double Hardback

Two copies of the hardback, shipped together. Plus two names in the supporter list
$315  + shipping

Exclusive LEGO® House Dinosaur set signed by LEGO designer Nina Koopmann


Limited to 20 Only available from LEGO® House in Billund, Denmark, 40366 LEGO House Dinosaurs is a miniature version of the three gigantic dinosaurs in the Masterpiece Gallery. We have 20 of these sets signed by LEGO designer Nina Koopman, who designed the set itself.

PLUS:

  • One hardback book
  • One name in the supporter list
  • Exclusive LEGO set signed by the designer
  • Limited to one order per household
$315  + shipping

Exclusive LEGO® House set, signed by LEGO designer Rok Zgalin Kobe


Limited to 20 Only available from LEGO® House in Billund, Denmark, 21037 LEGO House is a LEGO Architecture-style model of the LEGO House itself. We have 20 of these sets signed by LEGO designer Rok Zgalin Kobe, who designed the set itself.

PLUS:

  • One hardback book
  • One name in the supporter list
  • Exclusive LEGO set signed by the designer
  • Limited to one order per household
$315  + shipping

Exclusive LEGO® The Wooden Duck set, signed by LEGO designers Stuart Harris and Jme Wheeler


Limited to 20 Only available from LEGO® House in Billund, Denmark, 40501 The Wooden Duck recreates in LEGO bricks one of the most iconic toys in LEGO history: the classic wooden duck produced from the 1930s to the 1950s. We have 20 of these sets signed by LEGO designers Stuart Harris and Jme Wheeler, who designed the set itself.

PLUS:

  • One hardback book
  • One name in the supporter list
  • Exclusive LEGO set signed by the designer
  • Limited to one order per household
$315  + shipping

Exclusive LEGO® The Tree of Creativity set, signed by LEGO designers Stuart Harris and Steen Sig Andersen


Limited to 20 Only available from LEGO® House in Billund, Denmark, and soon to be retired, 4000026 Tree of Creativity is a miniature version of the LEGO House’s central model, a 15.6 metre tall LEGO tree that reaches from the ground floor to the building's top floor. We have 20 of these sets signed by LEGO designers Stuart Harris and Steen Sig Anderson, who designed the model itself.

PLUS:

  • One hardback book
  • One name in the supporter list
  • Exclusive LEGO set signed by the designer
  • Limited to one order per household
$375  + shipping

Retired LEGO® Marvel Set


ONLY ONE AVAILABLE LEGO® Marvel Super Heroes The SHIELD Helicarrier. Set 76042 was retired in December 2017 but we have one available – specially retrieved from the 'LEGO basement' (with the possibility of a few slight marks on the box to prove it!).

PLUS:

  • One hardback book, featuring the signature of author Daniel Konstanski
  • One name in the supporter list
  • One retired LEGO Marvel Super Heroes The SHIELD Helicarrier set
$375  + shipping

Retired LEGO® Star Wars Set


ONLY ONE AVAILABLE LEGO® Star Wars Ewok Village. Set 10236 was retired in February 2017 but we have one available – specially retrieved from the 'LEGO basement' (with the possibility of a few slight marks on the box to prove it!).

PLUS:

  • One hardback book, featuring the signature of author Daniel Konstanski
  • One name in the supporter list
  • One retired LEGO Star Wars Ewok Village set
$375  + shipping

Retired LEGO® Creator Expert Big Ben Set


ONLY ONE AVAILABLE LEGO® Creator Expert Big Ben. Set 10253 was retired in February 2019 but we have one available – specially retrieved from the 'LEGO basement' (with the possibility of a few slight marks on the box to prove it!).

PLUS:

  • One hardback book, featuring the signature of author Daniel Konstanski
  • One name in the supporter list
  • One retired LEGO Creator Expert Big Ben set
$375  + shipping

Retired LEGO® Lord of the Rings Set


ONLY ONE AVAILABLE LEGO® The Lord of the Rings The Tower of OrthancTM. Set 10237 was retired in August 2015 but we have one available – specially retrieved from the 'LEGO basement' (with the possibility of a few slight marks on the box to prove it!).

PLUS:

  • One hardback book, featuring the signature of author Daniel Konstanski
  • One name in the supporter list
  • One retired LEGO The Lord of the Rings The Tower of OrthancTM set
$375  + shipping

Retired LEGO® Creator Expert Parisian Restaurant


ONLY ONE AVAILABLE LEGO® Creator Expert Parisian Restaurant. Set 10243 was retired in December 2019 but we have one available – specially retrieved from the 'LEGO basement' (with the possibility of a few slight marks on the box to prove it!).

PLUS:

  • One hardback book, featuring the signature of author Daniel Konstanski
  • One name in the supporter list
  • One retired LEGO Creator Expert Parisian Restaurant set
$375  + shipping

Retired LEGO® Creator Expert Mini Modulars


ONLY ONE AVAILABLE LEGO® Creator Expert Mini Modulars. Set 10230 was retired in December 2013 but we have one available – specially retrieved from the 'LEGO basement' (with the possibility of a few slight marks on the box to prove it!).

PLUS:

  • One hardback book, featuring the signature of author Daniel Konstanski
  • One name in the supporter list
  • One retired LEGO Creator Expert Mini Modulars set
$1,750  + shipping

Unique LEGO® House VIP Tour - 2022


Only 1 pair of tickets available


Two days at the LEGO® House in Billund, Denmark including a unique VIP tour for two people, specially created by the team at LEGO House (one pair of tickets available to be taken on specific dates, limited to one per household – see details below).

Tour to be taken on 1-2 April 2022.

VIP Playful Tour: day 1 begins when you are met at the LEGO House information desk and taken on your very own exclusive tour around the LEGO House to explore the architecture and hear how 'starchitect' Bjarke Ingels constructed the house. You will experience some of the giant LEGO models up close and listen to anecdotes such as: how the giant LEGO dinosaurs get their roar and why the world’s biggest LEGO brick is now located in Billund.

VIP lunch at the MINI CHEF restaurant where you play to get your food. Build your meal with four LEGO bricks and scan the order at your table for the minifigure chefs in the kitchen to prepare your meal. Pick up your food from the unscrupulous serving robots Robert and Roberta, who occasionally have a screw or two loose but always manage the orders. Eat your lunch at a specially reserved table specially decorated for your VIP visit.

Exclusive meet and greet with Stuart Harris, LEGO House Master Builder*

Exclusive 1 hour LEGO build session, hosted and facilitated by Stuart Harris, LEGO House Master Builder*

Official farewell and handover of tickets for the following day, for you to explore the LEGO House again at your leisure.

One pair of tickets is available for purchase; the trip does not include the cost of accommodation or transport to or from Billund, Denmark.

*or another LEGO designer, if Stuart is not available

T&Cs:

• The rewards for the VIP tours are limited to one per household; Unbound reserves the right to cancel your purchase in the event of multiple purchases of the VIP Tour.

• The price of a LEGO House VIP Tour for two people includes a VIP Playful tour at LEGO House (90 min), VIP Lunch at the MINI CHEF restaurant, exclusive meet and greet and a one-to-one building session with a LEGO Designer, tickets to return to the LEGO House the following day.

• All communication on the LEGO House VIP Visit will be in English.

• LEGO fans taking part in the LEGO House VIP must be at least 10 years old. Children and teenagers between 10 and 17 years must be accompanied by an adult participant. This reward is limited to two people, and any attendees age 10-17 years old would count as the second person.

• Unbound will share the contact details of the purchaser of the LEGO House VIP Tour with LEGO House. LEGO House will contact the purchasers directly.

• In the event that restrictions around Covid to/from the purchaser’s country of origin prevent travel on the specified dates, LEGO House will be in contact to discuss an alternative.

For LEGO House VIP Tour FAQs click here.

PLUS:

  • One hardback book per person, featuring the signature of author Daniel Konstanski
  • Two names in the supporter list

Frequently Asked Questions

How long will it take for my book to get dispatched?

For books in stock we usually dispatch orders within a few working days. You will receive a dispatch email when your order is on the way.

Where can I get my book delivered to?

We have temporarily stopped taking orders for published books going to EU destinations due to BREXIT restrictions, but we deliver to most other countries worldwide. Enter your delivery address during checkout and we'll display the shipping cost when we know where to send your book. If your country does not appear on the list we are not currently taking orders to that destination.

If I buy an ebook, when will I receive this?

Ebook files are sent via email after checkout, or you can download them from your Unbound account.

Where can I buy a copy if there's none available through the Unbound website?

The book should be available to order from most bookshops, or you can support your local bookshop online by ordering from bookshop.org.

Where can I get my book delivered to?

We deliver to most countries worldwide. Enter your delivery address during checkout and the shipping cost is displayed once we know where to send your book. Click here for more information on shipping costs.

What is crowdfunding?

Crowdfunding is a way for individuals to support an idea that they believe in, helping to turn that idea into a reality and receive special rewards in return. In our case, the rewards almost always include books!

How do supporter names work?

Every person who pre-orders the LEGO book gets their name included in a supporter section inside the book as a thank you. If you want to add a different name, this can be changed in your account after you have completed your pre-order. Click here here for more information on how to change your chosen name.

When will I get my book?

Delivery of the books will be in Spring 2022. The book hasn’t been written yet, but we’ll keep you updated on its progress along the way.

Will I be able to buy this book in shops?

The book and associated rewards are exclusively available through Unbound, they will not be available to buy in shops. Once the supporter list has closed we will know how many copies we are printing and these will be the only copies of this book in the world. The book only gets made if the crowdfunding target is reached, so choose your reward quickly to avoid missing out.

Can I upgrade my reward level?

Yes, absolutely. If you’ve already pre-ordered, you can upgrade to a higher price reward. For more information about how to upgrade your reward level, click here.

Still have a question? Visit our Help Centre to find out more.

LEGO® fans have long wanted to learn the inside story of beloved LEGO bricks from inside the LEGO Group: to have long-standing questions answered and see the veil pulled back on how LEGO elements and products came to market  – or didn’t  –  through the LEGO brick’s 70 year history. Such an authoritative telling of the story has never been possible  –  until now.

LEGO bricks are design icons and marvels of engineering. Despite remaining virtually unchanged for over 50 years, the brick remains the foundation of the LEGO System in Play, in which each brick connects to every other brick, allowing the construction of almost anything you can imagine. LEGO minifigures may be the friendly smiling faces of the LEGO world, but bricks  –  in all their different shapes and forms  –  are its very foundation.

We all know the sets  –  many of which will feature in this book  –  but how much do we really know about the bricks of which those sets are made? From the first hollow bricks to the invention of the tubes that made complex building possible, each brick innovation has enabled ever more realistic and complex feats of building.

In broad terms, the LEGO story is a familiar one: Ole Kirk Kristiansen releases Automatic Binding Bricks after World War II, his son Godtfred Kirk invents the System In Play after a fateful boat ride, the first play themes  –  Town, Space and Castle  –  are invented, followed by the decades of LEGO® Pirates, LEGO® Aquazone, BIONICLE®, and many others, and into the era of licensed themes and blockbuster movies.

But there is so much more: the story becomes even richer when told through the bricks themselves, from the charmingly blocky houses and castles of the early days, often built by Dagny Holm Jensen, the progenitor of today’s professional Master Builders, to the complex shapes and sideways building techniques of today  –  and themes and bricks which never even made it to market.

Developed from first inception by an AFOL book group  –  and voted for by a public competition on LEGO Ideas  –  this unique book sets out to explore this rich history in unparalleled detail. It is a LEGO history like no other, thanks to the LEGO Group granting unprecedented access. Author Daniel Konstanski will establish the entire path of how and why new LEGO bricks are made. Because this book is officially sanctioned by the company, he has been permitted to speak to all the relevant people involved at each step: from the so-called “rock stars”  –  the set designers  –  through the element designers, design masters, graphic designers, to elements testers and approvers, plastics technicians, and many more.

This book is the one fans have always wanted: a behind the scenes look into the story of the beloved LEGO brick and the company which makes it, and it will include a wealth of new visual material from the LEGO Archive in Billund. It truly is a book for AFOLs, by AFOLs  –  made with the full support and involvement of the LEGO Group.

  • A full colour, high quality hardback with printed endpapers
  • 279 x 229mm portrait with head and tail bands
  • At least 350-400 colour and black and white photographs
  • Approximately 368-400 pages, and 60-70,000 words
  • Tons of amazing and exclusive pledge levels!

*Book designs, cover and other images are for illustrative purposes and may differ from final design.

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About the LEGO Group

The LEGO Group’s mission is to inspire and develop the builders of tomorrow through the power of play. The LEGO System in Play, with its foundation in LEGO bricks, allows children and fans to build and rebuild anything they can imagine. The LEGO Group was founded in Billund, Denmark in 1932 by Ole Kirk Kristiansen, its name derived from the two Danish words LEg GOdt, which mean “Play Well”. Today, the LEGO Group remains a family-owned company headquartered in Billund. However, its products are now sold in more than 140 countries worldwide.

LEGO and the LEGO logo are trademarks of the LEGO Group. ©2020 The LEGO Group.

the LEGO Group