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LEGO Build Yourself Happy: The Joy of LEGO play
Release your inner child and build yourself happy with LEGO® bricks.
Are you failing to find inner peace on a yoga mat? Does life feel like all work and no play?
Having fun and getting creative can boost your mood and your well-being. So if you're looking for ways to unwind and make time for yourself, then let this book guide you on a LEGO® brick road to happiness.
With more than 50 mindful LEGO building activities, discover how you can find balance, connect with friends and family, relax and improve your sleep habits.
©2019 The LEGO Group.
- GenresNonfictionSelf Help
160 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 3, 2019
17 people are currently reading
108 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
October 4, 2019
A Guide To Lego for Grown-Ups
I loved Lego when I was a child and so was really interested in the idea behind this book. Forget the cleverly pre-designed 'sets' which are often little more than 3D jigsaw puzzles with options, I loved the random collection of blocks and bits that lived in a big tin and were turned into houses, vehicles, animals and random structures which never really needed to be defined. I could zone out into my own imagination. And that is what this book is about. It is a book explaining how you can use Lego to promote mindfulness.
If you are a real fan of Lego - or have strong childhood nostalgia for it - then this book is probably a must-have. You can use it to both recapture that childhood delight and as a grown-up excuse for playing with your old Lego. I did enjoy some of the inspirational ideas at the back.
However, whilst I applaud the aim of the book I think it lacked a lot in the execution.
It starts from the assumption that we grown-ups don't ever play and have forgotten how to do so. Maybe some have. But if someone from the future had only this book to advise on the leisure activities of adults in our era, it would imply that we had none. Most of us don't need to rediscover play because we never stopped - we play video games, sports, word games, online social games, we play with pets and we have creative hobbies where we indulge in what is effectively creative play of the sort this book describes.
If you are new to mindfulness you might find some real value in this book to get some grasp of the basics. But some of the advice is so anodyne it sails close to being patronising. Things like: 'One key to getting a good night's sleep is to try to go to bed around the same time every night'.
I can recommend this book for anyone who feels drawn to Lego and is looking for a way to work some mindfulness into their life. But that is a pretty niche audience. If that is you, there is a bonus in that the book itself has a very sturdy hardback cover that will provide a solid base for your Lego creations too!
I loved Lego when I was a child and so was really interested in the idea behind this book. Forget the cleverly pre-designed 'sets' which are often little more than 3D jigsaw puzzles with options, I loved the random collection of blocks and bits that lived in a big tin and were turned into houses, vehicles, animals and random structures which never really needed to be defined. I could zone out into my own imagination. And that is what this book is about. It is a book explaining how you can use Lego to promote mindfulness.
If you are a real fan of Lego - or have strong childhood nostalgia for it - then this book is probably a must-have. You can use it to both recapture that childhood delight and as a grown-up excuse for playing with your old Lego. I did enjoy some of the inspirational ideas at the back.
However, whilst I applaud the aim of the book I think it lacked a lot in the execution.
It starts from the assumption that we grown-ups don't ever play and have forgotten how to do so. Maybe some have. But if someone from the future had only this book to advise on the leisure activities of adults in our era, it would imply that we had none. Most of us don't need to rediscover play because we never stopped - we play video games, sports, word games, online social games, we play with pets and we have creative hobbies where we indulge in what is effectively creative play of the sort this book describes.
If you are new to mindfulness you might find some real value in this book to get some grasp of the basics. But some of the advice is so anodyne it sails close to being patronising. Things like: 'One key to getting a good night's sleep is to try to go to bed around the same time every night'.
I can recommend this book for anyone who feels drawn to Lego and is looking for a way to work some mindfulness into their life. But that is a pretty niche audience. If that is you, there is a bonus in that the book itself has a very sturdy hardback cover that will provide a solid base for your Lego creations too!
June 3, 2024
This was cute and included a few unique activities to do with LEGO bricks, but playing with LEGO in bed to relax and keeping some in pockets for on-the-go was a bit farfetched for me. I will keep to my books for those times :)
Also, she talks about the color of bricks a lot, but the book wasn't in color- that was a major disappointment. Overall, the idea of building your happiness was cute.
Also, she talks about the color of bricks a lot, but the book wasn't in color- that was a major disappointment. Overall, the idea of building your happiness was cute.
January 14, 2024
Pretty interesting take on using Legos for mindfulness practice, a use case that is gaining steam among athletes/coaches/CEOs/etc.
February 8, 2021
As a fan of LEGO and Positive Psychology, I was excited to see this book and snapped it up as soon as I could.
I was a bit worried that it might be a bit trite and maybe a little too "GOOP-like" taking its inspiration from more spiritual aspects of new age meditative rituals and ideals (I say this respectfully, I'm just not their intended audience). However, as I persevered, I discovered a thoughtful set of suggestions that will allow most of us to get in touch with a calmer mindset.
Ultimately - you get what you give. You earnestly need to try and let go. Some of the suggestions, I didn't relate to personally, but could recognize the value of them just the same.
Seeing that LEGO is offering products like LEGO Botanicals (a floral arrangement and a bonsai tree) and the artsy mosaics, this book is a great companion piece. I'm also impressed with the #ByggeHygge movement that LEGO has suggested (not much on their site yet, but it hints at "more to come...")
I'd welcome more books exploring the role of LEGO as a tool for Positive Psychology. I'd especially love to see a book tying the LEGO experience to actual neuroscience (maybe that's a dissertation topic for an emerging student!)
I was a bit worried that it might be a bit trite and maybe a little too "GOOP-like" taking its inspiration from more spiritual aspects of new age meditative rituals and ideals (I say this respectfully, I'm just not their intended audience). However, as I persevered, I discovered a thoughtful set of suggestions that will allow most of us to get in touch with a calmer mindset.
Ultimately - you get what you give. You earnestly need to try and let go. Some of the suggestions, I didn't relate to personally, but could recognize the value of them just the same.
Seeing that LEGO is offering products like LEGO Botanicals (a floral arrangement and a bonsai tree) and the artsy mosaics, this book is a great companion piece. I'm also impressed with the #ByggeHygge movement that LEGO has suggested (not much on their site yet, but it hints at "more to come...")
I'd welcome more books exploring the role of LEGO as a tool for Positive Psychology. I'd especially love to see a book tying the LEGO experience to actual neuroscience (maybe that's a dissertation topic for an emerging student!)
March 8, 2020
I think this book would have been better as a blog or website. I don't think there was enough rich content to fill a whole book, as evidenced by the massive amounts of empty space on a lot of pages. It does hopefully spark the idea, that Lego are not just for kids. It is easy to be mindful when putting them together and blocking out all the demands of the day. I do not recommend taking them on vacation or have grown up Lego playdates, but bonding with your little ones who love Lego, is highly recommended by me. This is out at a good time, with the entertaining Lego Masters show in cable.
January 13, 2020
This is a quick, cute read for any audience, although I wish its premise was a bit clearer in the beginning. The book starts as a Lego commercial (which I don't mind, I'm already a fan) but a few chapters in it becomes clearer that it's a guidebook to meditation through play. There are a handful of good ideas I will try to help unplug from the relentless demands of middle class, professional life.
January 23, 2020
Suggestions on how to use Lego to improve your mental well being using mindfulness techniques. These are ideas that take a small number of bricks and no particular skill. The author keeps repeating that the models don’t have to be any good. Not aimed at the AFOL - adult fan of Lego. Some interesting ideas. My favourite is the phone blocker. Take a Lego brick that looks like it’s been working too hard and place it on your phone for a rest. You can’t use your phone without disturbing the brick.
November 9, 2019
I loved this book, it was a joy to read. So many hints and tips for playing with your LEGO bricks that don’t just involve building things, for example you can lay bricks side by side sorted by colour. I love that she kept emphasising that you don’t need to be great at building and that it doesn’t matter what it looks like or someone else couldn’t tell that you’ve built a horse hehe! It’s the process that’s important. It’s about using the bricks to bring, peace, calm and happiness into your life.
The book sections are:
Get into the Zone
Build to relax
Build for joy
Builds to help you sleep
Connecting pieces, connecting friends
Be a child again
The life-changing magic of tidying your LEGO bricks
Keep calm and carry LEGO bricks
A little extra inspiration
Although this books isn’t aimed a kids, much of these exercise found in the book kids could totally do.
Right, I’m off to get my LEGO out.
The book sections are:
Get into the Zone
Build to relax
Build for joy
Builds to help you sleep
Connecting pieces, connecting friends
Be a child again
The life-changing magic of tidying your LEGO bricks
Keep calm and carry LEGO bricks
A little extra inspiration
Although this books isn’t aimed a kids, much of these exercise found in the book kids could totally do.
Right, I’m off to get my LEGO out.
January 13, 2020
Author Abbie Headon offers ways people can carve out some me-time and embrace creativity by using LEGO in this quick-read book. I like the way the book is written - great tips and suggestions for finding the joy in LEGO, but also with a great sense of humour.
January 26, 2020
This was a fun book about bringing the joy of LEGO play into adult life. There are many great ideas for bringing a bit of your childhood back to counteract the stresses of having so many responsibilities.
July 6, 2020
It did what it said and did it fine. Nothing stand out. I was reading more for research than for a deep interest, so I did a decent amount of skimming. Not a waste of time, but nothing really profound either.
August 28, 2020
A lovely book about mindfulness, LEGO*, and the importance of the inner child, with sweet illustrations.
*Yes, it was all capitalised all the time. At least they left the trademark logo off. And I think I found a page without a single mention of the brand, which must've been an oversight.
*Yes, it was all capitalised all the time. At least they left the trademark logo off. And I think I found a page without a single mention of the brand, which must've been an oversight.
May 21, 2020
I’ve finished only less than halfway of this book. Her writing style was bleh
August 24, 2020
I absolutely loved this little book. It’s a joy to read. Light, funny and interesting. My love of Lego has been reignited and I’m ready to fly. 🥰
Read
October 25, 2020Relaxation and mindfulness through Lego building is an idea I endorse wholeheartedly, but I dunno, I think this would have made a better article than a full book.
February 28, 2024
had the thought "trees died for this!" while reading -- it's like a listicle turned into a whole book
August 23, 2024
Has good self help tips, just left more to be desired with it. It made me check out the lego website though
August 24, 2023
There are many wonderful books abounding on the market now that remind us all that "doing nothing" and being creative are mandatory for humans to remain healthy- mentally, physically, and emotionally.
This book offers one or two pages of ideas, and evidence for bringing back (or keeping) the toys of childhood so many of us had, Lego, to foster imagination, relaxation, and innovation. These skills enable us to keep a positive attitude when facing a challenge, increases learning, and boosts trust and empathy.
The author's humor keeps the mood playful. Some adults can't help but make everything serious, even play. To that end, the author offers a great set of exercises to begin creating ** without** worrying about the result. So that one can remember all the joy and freedom of play, and "intentional imperfection" alone, or in a group of friends and family. Then to incorporate into the sleep routine, even the cleaning tasks to make LEGO the reminder of what is great and wonderful in the world. The simplest way told do so is keep one brick that easily fits in the hand, and keep it in the pocket for that constant momento whenever pocket meets hand.
The best part is knowing that at LEGO corporate meetings, there are always bowls of elements as try know it inspires creativity. We can hope everywhere will learn this potential.
This book offers one or two pages of ideas, and evidence for bringing back (or keeping) the toys of childhood so many of us had, Lego, to foster imagination, relaxation, and innovation. These skills enable us to keep a positive attitude when facing a challenge, increases learning, and boosts trust and empathy.
The author's humor keeps the mood playful. Some adults can't help but make everything serious, even play. To that end, the author offers a great set of exercises to begin creating ** without** worrying about the result. So that one can remember all the joy and freedom of play, and "intentional imperfection" alone, or in a group of friends and family. Then to incorporate into the sleep routine, even the cleaning tasks to make LEGO the reminder of what is great and wonderful in the world. The simplest way told do so is keep one brick that easily fits in the hand, and keep it in the pocket for that constant momento whenever pocket meets hand.
The best part is knowing that at LEGO corporate meetings, there are always bowls of elements as try know it inspires creativity. We can hope everywhere will learn this potential.
October 9, 2021
Excellent way to bring the joy of LEGO back into your life
Annie Headon has written a wonderful "self help" style book about the joys and usefulness of playing with LEGO blocks as an adult. From using "LEGO time" as a form of meditation, or as a way to boost our creativity and problem solving skills. Even as a way to help us connect (pin intended) with our friends and family through building with blocks.
A quick, enjoyable read that definitely gives the reader a new way (or new ways) of thinking about the joys of Lego.
Annie Headon has written a wonderful "self help" style book about the joys and usefulness of playing with LEGO blocks as an adult. From using "LEGO time" as a form of meditation, or as a way to boost our creativity and problem solving skills. Even as a way to help us connect (pin intended) with our friends and family through building with blocks.
A quick, enjoyable read that definitely gives the reader a new way (or new ways) of thinking about the joys of Lego.
February 21, 2020
I really enjoyed the book and it had lots of ways to bring Lego and happiness in through play.
May 31, 2020
This book was a fun read! It made me feel at ease when I was reading it. The author writes extremely well.
June 17, 2020
Was ok
I have used more Lego builds as illustrations. It was mostly words and a repetitive use of an illustrated block.
I have used more Lego builds as illustrations. It was mostly words and a repetitive use of an illustrated block.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews