LEGO Heroes book is now available to buy

Written by former Brick Fanatics editor, LEGO Heroes is available to buy now, sharing stories of real-world LEGO uses for incredible purposes.

Graham Hancock, former Brick Fanatics editor and long-term friend of the site, has published his first LEGO book with Chronicle Books. It dives into twelve incredible stories of people around the world using LEGO bricks in ways outside of their usual possibilities, ranging from prosthetics, to Braille bricks, wheelchair ramps, playable guitars, and street art.

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We caught up with Graham to learn more about the book and what inspired him to write it.

“We’ve all seen big, impressive LEGO models, but there is another type of story that are even more intriguing than huge builds – occasions where people are using LEGO bricks in ways you would never expect, where LEGO bricks intersect with ‘real life’ to have some kind of positive impact,” explains Graham. “I was talking to Chronicle Books about what we could work on together and we realised that this would be a completely fresh spin on a LEGO book.

“There have been some wonderful books showcasing beautiful models, some great books looking at sets that the LEGO Group has released, but never one looking at the impact people are having on the world using the LEGO System as a jumping-off point. It’s not just a great book for AFOLs, but also for people who are LEGO-curious. You don’t need any deep LEGO knowledge to enjoy these stories.”

As with many things, the pandemic added an extra challenge to reporting on these stories, with lockdowns meaning that Graham couldn’t travel directly to the people and activities he was covering. Nonetheless, he still managed to meet and speak to various fascinating people around the world.

“I was really pleased to get Jan Vormann to tell me his story,” Graham says. “He is an artist who has been to some of the oldest cities in the world and added a splash of LEGO brick colour to cracks and gaps in walls.

“I have been pursuing an interview with him for years and have never managed to get hold of him, but he very kindly spent some time talking me through his project. That’s a great example of quite a simple concept having a big impact – how can you see LEGO bricks in a wall and not smile?”

Whether you’re a long-term fan or a casual LEGO builder, the inspiring stories of how people are putting LEGO elements to work are sure to impress you.

“I have been working on Blocks magazine and other LEGO projects for eight years now and I am still constantly surprised by the inventive ways people use LEGO bricks,” comments Graham. “The book has a balance of stories : some are more art-based, some are very science-focused, some are more about helping the community – and each one is unique.

“In the case of the turtle who was helped by the vets at Maryland Zoo to walk again using a LEGO wheelchair, it’s a very literal use of the bricks, but it tells us something about how they have to think about helping different types of animals in creative ways.

“In the case of Tolgahan Çogulu, he is using the thinking behind the LEGO System, the way all of the bricks connect together, to design a guitar that can be customised to play music from different cultures and traditions. Those two examples couldn’t be more different and that demonstrates how people will always be able to surprise you with LEGO bricks.”

LEGO Heroes: LEGO Builders Changing Our World–One Brick at a Time is available to buy now directly from Chronicle Books or from other major retailers, such as Amazon, WHSmiths, and more.

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