Somewhere along the way, the world convinced us that play was a distraction, that toys were trivial, that curiosity was childish.
But play is where creativity lives, and creativity is how we build everything that matters.
Toys Are Totems is a reminder that your spark never left — it’s just been waiting for you to look its way again.
When we remember how to play again, we remember how to dream, connect, and lead again.
Because when people remember how to play again… they start to win again.
It’ll be great… so long as you remember to play!
What are your thoughts on the concept of living a very long life? Life doesn’t and isn’t supposed to suck. So, don’t let it. Now, Go Play! Jim 01/08/2026
The Moment I Hid This Figure Was the Moment It Mattered More
JAN 8 — Permission to Play Collector Hook The moment I hid this figure was the moment it mattered more. Not when I bought it.Not when I displayed it.But when I decided it couldn’t be seen anymore. That’s when the shift happened. Totem Lens — The Survivor The figure was Robin — specifically the version…
I Didn’t Buy Into the Brand — I Built Myself Inside It
Before I knew what marketing was.Before I understood image, positioning, or identity.Before anyone ever said the word branding to me… There was KISS. “KISS — that’s the name! KISS — they may look insane!” And yeah… they did.And that was the point. Totem Lens — The Builder As I talk about in the book (see…
What If the Toys You Loved Were Trying to Tell You Something?
Toys Are Totems isn’t just a walk down memory lane — it’s a journey into your inner world, one action figure at a time. Part memoir, part myth, and all heart, this book helps you connect the dots between childhood play and adult purpose.
Inside, you’ll discover:
- Why your collection isn’t clutter — it’s code
- How childhood play was actually emotional ritual
- What your favorite figure still says about you
- How to decode your shelf and rediscover yourself
🔴 Read the Free Sample on Amazon
Which Toy Archetype Are You?
“The Creative Mind Plays with the Objects it Loves.”
Carl G. Jung
Download the Archetype Discovery Guide — a free tool based on the Totem Decoder Quiz from the book — and start translating your collection into clarity.
Optional bonus: Take the 4-question quiz to reveal your Collector Type:
- Narrative Collector
- Explorer Collector
- Builder Collector
- Heart Collector
What Readers Are Saying
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Distribution Points
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About the Author
Jim Bumgardner is a creative mentor, broadcaster, and lifelong toy believer. He’s also the founder of AMP Multi Media and the worlds of Embracing the Spark, Eerie Entertainment, and Jim’s Toy Box.
With Toys Are Totems, Jim has crafted a book that’s part memoir, part myth, and all message — a signal to anyone who ever felt weird for loving what they loved… and a reminder that spark never left.
toysaretotems.com 
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