
- 192 pages
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
About this book
Not many of us make it into the dictionary as an adjective. But then again, Rube Goldberg was no ordinary noun. He was a cartoonist, humorist, sculptor, author, engineer, and inventor, and in a 72-year career he wrote and illustrated nearly 50, 000 cartoons. Goldberg (1883–1970) was the most famous cartoonist of his time, best known for his comical inventions, which were syndicated in daily newspapers throughout the world. Author Jennifer George celebrates all aspects of her grandfather's career, from his very first published drawings in his high school newspaper and college yearbook to his iconic inventions, his comic strips and advertising work, and his later sculpture and Pulitzer Prize–winning political cartoons. Also included are essays by noted comics historians, rare photographs, letters, memorabilia, and patents, many reproduced here for the first time. Brilliantly designed and packaged to capture the inventiveness of Rube Goldberg's work, The Art of Rube Goldberg is a coffee table book the whole family can enjoy. From Merriam-Webster's Dictionary: Rube Gold·berg. adjective \rüb-?g?l(d)-?b?rg\: accomplishing by complex means what seemingly could be done simply; also: characterized by such complex means. also: Rube Gold·berg·i·an "Goldberg's cartoons touch the edge of modern art." —Adam Gopnik, from his introduction
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Information

strings of a marionette: The reader may add his or her own personal touch by moving the tab at a variable rate—slowing
down momentarily to enhance the more subtle movements, or speeding up for dramatic effect. Readers may be
interested to know that movable-book pioneer Lothar Meggendorfer was also a puppeteer.
RUBE GOLDBERG’S SIDE SHOW, 1939
Popyrus Studio, Inc., www.popyrus.com
COVER CONCEPT: Charles Kochman
COVER DESIGN: Sara Corbett
COVER COLORING: Frank M. Young
PRODUCTION: Alison Gervais
RIVETS: Tor Lokvig
PRINTER: Toppan Excel
Top:“Try Our Patent Back-Scratcher” (1921).
Middle right: Detail from Boob McNutt (May 23, 1926).
Bottom left: Detail from “Christmas Greetings from All
Our Little Boobs” (December 25, 1923).
BACK ENDPAPER:
Detail from Boob McNutt (September 17, 1933).







PETER MARESCA, PAUL TUMEY, and BRIAN WALKER
Additional photography by GEOFF SPEAR

Editorial Assistant: CLARISSA WONG
Art Director: CHAD W. BECKERMAN
Designer: SARA CORBETT
Design Assistance: DANIELLE YOUNG, ROBYN NG
LAURA CRESENTI,and BILLY GRAY
Managing Editor: DAVID BLATTY
Production Manager: ALISON GERVAIS
Drawings to Life
ISBN: 978-1-4197-0852-7
eISBN: 978-1-61312-559-5
Jennifer George, John George, Geoffrey George, Laurie
George, Giampaolo Tai, Paul Tumey, Carl Linich, and
the Bancroft Library at the University of California,
Berkeley, except for the following:
(bottom right), 81 (bottom left) • Robert Beerbohm:
128 (top row, second from left) • Hake’s Americana &
Collectibles, www.hakes.com: 118 (bottom right) •
Heritage Auctions, www.HA.com: 111, 190 (top) • Lowell
High School Alumni Association: 32 (top right and bottom
right) • Peter Maresca: 65 (top left), 72, 74 (bottom), and
75 • Anelle Miller and Richard J. Berenson at the Society
of Illustrators: 128 (second row, second from left), 144
(top left and bottom right), 180, 186 (top left) • Rube
Goldberg, Inc., designed by Kathleen Felix: 190 (bottom) •
Brian Walker: 51 (left) • Neal Walker: 45 (top).
were photographed by Geoff Spear on April 3, 2013, and
April 10, 2013.
from various sources, including published articles,
interviews, books, unpublished manuscripts and
memoirs, and archival audio tapes.
Introduction copyright © 2013 Adam Gopnik
Preface, “The White Rose Heiress,” and “The Weekly
Meeting of the Tuesday Ladies’ Club”
copyright © 2013 Jennifer George
Cover engineering and “Bringing Rube Goldberg’s
Invention Drawings to ...
Table of contents
- Art of Rube Goldberg