has stated, "Books offered me the possibility of gaining knowledge of the world, nature and people." Rubik has stated that he has a special interest in science fiction. Rubik is fond of outdoor activities such as walking through nature, playing sports, and sailing on Lake Balaton. Rubik is also an avid gardener and has stated that "collecting succulents is my favourite pastime." Prizes and awards 1978 – Budapest International Trade Fair, Prize for the Cube 1980 – Toy of the Year: Federal Republic of Germany, United Kingdom, France, USA 1981 – Toy of the Year: Finland, Sweden, Italy 1982 – Toy of the Year: United Kingdom (second time) 1982 – The Museum of Modern Art, New York selected Rubik's Cube into its permanent collection 1983 – Hungarian State Prize for demonstrating and teaching 3D structures and for the various solutions that inspired scientific researches in several ways 1988 – Juvenile Prize from the State Office of Youth and Sport 1995 – Dénes Gabor Prize from the Novofer Foundation as an acknowledgement of achievements in the field of innovation 1996 – Ányos Jedlik Prize from the Hungarian Patent Office 1997 – Prize for the Reputation of Hungary (1997) 2007 – Kossuth Prize the most prestigious cultural award in Hungary 2008 – Moholy-Nagy Prize – from the Moholy-Nagy University of Arts and Design 2009 – EU Ambassador of the Year of Creativity and Innovation 2010 – USA Science and Engineering Festival Award (Outstanding Contribution to Science Education) 2010 – The Hungarian Order of Merit Commanders Cross with the Star 2010 – Prima Primissima Prize 2012 – My Country Awards 2014 – Hungarian Order of Saint Stephen (The highest Hungarian state honour) 2014 – Honorary Citizen of Budapest Publications Editor and co-author of A bűvös kocka ("The Magic Cube"), Műszaki Kiadó, Budapest, 1981. Co-author of The Rubik's Cube Compendium (written by David Singmaster, Ernő Rubik, Gerzson Kéri, György Marx, Tamás Varga and Tamás Vekerdy), Oxford University Press, 1987. Author of Cubed – The Puzzle of Us All, Flatiron Books/Orion Publishing Group /Hachette UK/Libri, 2020. References External links An interview with Ernő Rubik His biography at Hungary.hu His first print interview in ten years An exclusive video interview about the new Rubik's 360 1944 births Living people Academic staff of the Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design Hungarian architects Hungarian inventors Recreational mathematicians Puzzle designers Rubik's Cube Toy inventors