Forbidden Lego

Forbidden LEGO presents building instructions for LEGO projects that were deemed too dangerous, noisy, or messy for official LEGO sets. The book was written by two former LEGO employees who share insider knowledge of the company's design and testing processes. The projects range from high-velocity shooters to chain reactions, each accompanied by detailed parts lists and step-by-step construction guides. Safety warnings and age recommendations precede each build, acknowledging the potential risks while explaining proper usage and precautions. The authors include background stories about LEGO's product development and internal policies regarding toy safety standards. Technical discussions cover physics concepts, mechanical principles, and engineering considerations that inform each design. The book challenges conventional assumptions about educational toys and supervised play, raising questions about risk assessment and creative freedom in children's activities. It stands as both a building guide and a commentary on corporate responsibility versus experimental learning.

Readers appreciate the book's rebellious spirit and detailed building instructions for projects like ping pong ball launchers and paper plane launchers. Many note it teaches engineering concepts through engaging, non-traditional builds. Parents and LEGO fans value the safety warnings and parts lists, though some mention the projects require specialized or hard-to-find pieces. Multiple reviewers highlight that the book respects LEGO's reasons for not making these designs official sets while still showing how to build them. Common criticisms include the limited number of projects (only 7 total) and that some builds are too complex for younger builders. Ratings across platforms: Amazon: 4.5/5 (224 reviews) Goodreads: 4.1/5 (89 ratings) "Perfect for teenage builders who've outgrown standard LEGO sets" - Amazon reviewer "Instructions could be clearer, had to rebuild sections multiple times" - Goodreads review "Worth it just for the rubber band gun design" - Amazon reviewer

The LEGO Engineer's Notebook by ::Christopher Deck:: Instructions for complex LEGO machines and mechanisms with focus on technical builds and mechanical principles.

Incredible LEGO Technic by ::Pawel Sariel Kmiec:: Construction guide for LEGO vehicles and machines with emphasis on advanced building techniques and functional mechanisms.

The Unofficial LEGO Builder's Guide by ::Allan Bedford:: Reference manual for LEGO construction methods, including structural integrity, scale, and advanced building techniques.

Making Mechanical Marvels in Wood by ::Raymond Levy:: Step-by-step instructions for creating wooden mechanical toys and automata using basic tools and materials.

507 Mechanical Movements by ::Henry T. Brown:: Compilation of mechanical devices, mechanisms, and movements for builders and inventors to incorporate into their projects.

🔧 Several projects in the book were rejected by LEGO's official design team due to safety concerns or being too complex for children, giving readers access to builds that never made it to store shelves. 🚀 The book includes instructions for building a paper plane launcher capable of shooting planes up to 50 feet through the air using LEGO pneumatic systems. ⚡ Both authors were former LEGO employees who worked as product designers, giving them insider knowledge of the company's design standards and limitations. 🛠️ The projects deliberately break typical LEGO building "rules," such as stressing pieces beyond their intended limits and using rubber bands in unconventional ways. 📦 The book sparked controversy upon release because it encouraged builders to use LEGO pieces in ways that could potentially damage them, going against the company's standard of ensuring pieces remain intact and reusable.