You can read the interview
April 21, 2000

Not that anyone admits to such things, but those who can remember the Spice Girl's video for "Viva Forever" were graced with a cameo appearance by the 1980's most famous inert celebrity -- the Rubik's Cube. Despite being a glorified hula-hoop for the mind, its imprint on the collective psyche remains strong, while other superstars from the decade of greed -- Alf, Mr. T and Steve Guttenburg -- can't get arrested in Hollywood.

All but forgotten from the puzzle fad are the "How to Solve the Cube" books which prevented millions of people from going insane. Many were anonymous rush jobs designed to make a quick buck before the gravy train derailed, but "You Can Do The Cube" was brimming with personality since it was written by thirteen year-old "schoolboy cubemaster" Patrik Bossert. I found myself wondering what had happened to Patrik. Had he become an alcoholic paparazzi punching brat-packer?

I managed to interview Patrik in August of 1998 via e-mail and discovered that fame has been quite kind. Now married with two children, 30-year-old Patrik is the Technical Director of WSP Business Technology Ltd. Luckily, he hasn't forgotten his roots and was kind enough to elaborate on cube sex appeal, drinking too much beer and American merchandising absurdities.

Did you write all of the Cube book yourself? I ask only because you were 13 at the time.
Yes. Entirely by myself, including the diagrams. I got my dad to check it, and he pointed out a couple of edge-piece 'tricks' I had failed to cover, but I filled in the blanks.

How many copies did the book end up selling?
It sold 1.5 million world-wide. It was top of the US and UK best seller lists in 1981.

Did you get much money from it, considering the low price of the book?
The cover price was 85p. I received a small royalty and was taxed heavily, so, you might say for a schoolboy I earned more than I could ever have dreamt of but for a businessman it would be small change.

How did your schoolmates react to your book?
Mostly supportive. A bit of piss-take was inevitable, but it was a good (local comprehensive) school so the possible bullying scenario you hear kids who are a bit "different" being subjected to never came about. I bought the school its first three computers (Acorn BBC/Bs) which went down very well with both staff and pupils. I tended to hang out with a slightly geeky set of friends in those days.

Did it make you popular with the ladies?
Cubes . . . sexy? Nope . . . not at all. A good haircut, new wardrobe and a complete change in lifestyle at 16 or 17 sorted that one though.

Yours was one of the only cube books with a person on the cover. Do you think this helped your book's success?
Penguin specifically played on the "schoolboy whizz-kid" image to market the book, so yes it did help. They even straightened out my bowl haircut for me. How nice!

Who is that guy on the cover with you? Do you still keep in contact with him?
He's called Jake Wherry. I sold the solution at school in a photocopy form for 50p a shot, and it was Jake who bought one and showed it to his dad, who happened to be a talent scout for Penguin Books. It was by way of a thank you for the introduction that I included him on the cover. I haven't seen him in about 15 years or so.

Did you ever get a chance to meet Erno Rubik?
Yes, on many occasions, both during radio and TV interviews and socially. He is a charming man -- very modest and an engineer of the very best kind. I have an original "Ideal" cube autographed by him, which as close as I can get to a genuine family heirloom.

Did you do any in-store appearances? Any book signings?
Lots. I toured the UK, and was invited to judge all sorts of competitions, endorse new puzzles, and do the full media circuit stuff. Publishing was pretty set in its ways back then. A book signing tour was obligatory.

How did you handle the attention at such a young age? What was your parent's reaction to the book?
I took it as it came, as I didn't know any different. Penguin helped keep it manageable. My parents were proud and amazed, and did what they could to help. Most of the time that meant my mum getting in the way of television crews or accidentally appearing "in shot" with a pot of tea (we had a 10-man crew from CNN in our conservatory one day. It was a huge squash and my mum was trying to feed them her home-made biscuits), but they must have found it fun too.

Any other comments on the book?
The publicity was unreal -- I have loads of clippings, and I must have done over 100 interviews in three months. I also made an award-winning video, "You too can do the cube" for Thorn EMI / Goldcrest, which was a weird thing. The producer and director fell out big time because they were sleeping with the same secretary/assistant, and I ended up suing the makers for non-payment of royalties. That opened my eyes to what the video media industry is really like.

What are your hobbies and interests?
Mountain biking, finding fun things to do with my children - two boys aged 16 months and almost four. I used to play guitar (15 years, many bands, and an indy-chart single) but I have no time for that any more.

Have you given your children a cube?
Yes. Harry (the eldest) is still working on it.

I saw a cube in Hamley's (the largest toy store in London). Do you think the cube will ever be as popular as it once was?
It is very "in vogue" with all the 80s stuff at the moment. The cube image is being used on magazine covers, posters, and even one of the Spice Girl videos. It is more of an icon than anything else. The future is on the net. Kids aren't into brain teaser puzzles they can carry around with them, unless they are wired to the Internet or have Internet "cool" factor about them.

When was the last time someone contacted you regarding the Cube book?
I get letters from time to time. I received hundreds in the years following the release of the book. Many letters were addressed to "Patrick Bossert, London." That is the best address I have ever had in my life. I bet it doesn't work these days.

Did being a young, semi-celebrity shape you in any way?
It broadened my mind to what you can achieve if you have good ideas and know how to use the media. Politicians and corporates market themselves using PR companies to give the right "spin" and create a brand image. Engineers are useless at it, and wonder why engineering has such a poor image or why they don't do well. I love engineering -- I am a scientist to the core -- but I have learnt how to run a business and use the media to my advantage.

America is famous for the instant celebrity, and the instantly forgotten celebrity. Do you think things would have been different if you had lived in America?
I thank my lucky stars I didn't go through the same experience in America. I love the country and have many friends there, BUT, the American media is full-on and stops at nothing. I turned down several trips and loads of merchandising deals with US companies, which included having my book (including a picture of me) printed on bathroom tissue, amongst other things. I could have made more out of those than out of the book royalties, but I'm pleased with the decisions I made, even though such frivolities would have been long-forgotten by now. Fame is transient at the best of times, regardless of the country.

Can you still solve the cube?
Yep. It takes me several minutes because I've forgotten all but the most basic sets of moves. Too many beers in the last 17 years I think.