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1,000 Unforgettable Senior Moments: Of Which We Could Remember Only 246
No, you’re not losing your mind. And you’re definitely not alone. There’s Jimmy Carter, forgetting the nuclear launch codes in a suit at the dry cleaners. Rod Stewart fumbling for the name of the intense first love who inspired “Maggie Mae.” G. K. Chesterton writing a long letter to his mother announcing the good news about his engagement—while his mother is in the room with him. Marilyn Monroe blowing the same line through 52 takes during the filming of Some Like It Hot .
Celebrating history’s greatest mental lapses, is a perfect impulse book in the fine gift format of Famous Last Words . Not just outlandishly funny, it’s also a book of great comfort—after all, having a senior moment puts you in the company of Einstein, Lincoln, Beethoven, Newton, Toscanini, and a whole assortment of presidents, poets, philosophers, popes, and Nobel Prize–winners. Talk about gaffes. Here are best men forgetting to show up at the wedding. Judges staggered by the incompetence of their previous decisions. Senators frozen in front of TV cameras. Olympic officials gazing absently while bewildered runners continue through the finish line. Bono losing the only copy of his lyrics to a new album. Forget to pick up your copy today!
Celebrating history’s greatest mental lapses, is a perfect impulse book in the fine gift format of Famous Last Words . Not just outlandishly funny, it’s also a book of great comfort—after all, having a senior moment puts you in the company of Einstein, Lincoln, Beethoven, Newton, Toscanini, and a whole assortment of presidents, poets, philosophers, popes, and Nobel Prize–winners. Talk about gaffes. Here are best men forgetting to show up at the wedding. Judges staggered by the incompetence of their previous decisions. Senators frozen in front of TV cameras. Olympic officials gazing absently while bewildered runners continue through the finish line. Bono losing the only copy of his lyrics to a new album. Forget to pick up your copy today!
- GenresNonfictionHumorHistory
166 pages, Hardcover
First published May 3, 2006
10 people are currently reading
124 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
March 17, 2022
A little humor in a crazy time. A collection of paragraph long examples of real life forgetfulness. Refreshing for those of us who don't remember everything!
November 26, 2016
I expected something really different from this book. Thinking that this was a book on real senior moments I was a bit confused at first when I started reading it. Pretty much the author just found a bunch of those weird, stupid stories of people picked out ones of people being forgetful (or idiotic your choice) then called it a senior moment which is unfair to seniors. Some of these I can understand why they would be considered humorous but others were not close to funny.
July 5, 2017
I already know that my sense of humor is off and sometimes I wonder how it has come to be so. This humor that I enjoy the most is what I call sophisticated humor since there needs to be a bit of some smarts and no potty humor to make me laugh.
And although there was no potty humor in this particular book I still couldn't find anything humorous about any of these episodes but instead felt compassion, empathy and a sense of curiosity as to what some of these greatest minds were caught up in that they were no longer present in our time.
Basically from what I understand, though, is the stories are taken from real life episodes and given to the reader to show them that we are just as human plus vulnerable as they are. In a sense there is also an underlying mockery that even the greatest and the best of us are unable to escape this politically incorrect term while we shouldn't judge ourselves too hard based upon what we may or may not remember.
And although there was no potty humor in this particular book I still couldn't find anything humorous about any of these episodes but instead felt compassion, empathy and a sense of curiosity as to what some of these greatest minds were caught up in that they were no longer present in our time.
Basically from what I understand, though, is the stories are taken from real life episodes and given to the reader to show them that we are just as human plus vulnerable as they are. In a sense there is also an underlying mockery that even the greatest and the best of us are unable to escape this politically incorrect term while we shouldn't judge ourselves too hard based upon what we may or may not remember.
February 26, 2024
This is definitely ageism. These are not “senior moments”. They are forgetful moments by some of the most respected and admired people in our country: presidents, professors, scientists, and not when they are old but just during moments of unawareness and moments of ignorance.
Candidates for both the Republicans and the Democrats spelled their party as Repbulican and Repucican and respectively Democart or Democrate.
Beethoven often forgot to bathe or change his clothes. He ended up being thrown in jail because he was thought homeless.
President Eisenhower created the H.E.W in 1953, but he couldn’t remember what the letters stood for and called it Health, Education and Whatnot.
Dallas City Council Roland Tucker was an advocate of crime prevention. He was going to make it illegal for people to leave their keys in unattended cars. But he himself left his keys in the ignition, not to mention leaving his research on preventing crime on the seat. The car was then stolen.
These are again not moments that happen because people are old. There are many reasons for these individual stories, but many of them are related to younger people and have nothing to do with age.
Candidates for both the Republicans and the Democrats spelled their party as Repbulican and Repucican and respectively Democart or Democrate.
Beethoven often forgot to bathe or change his clothes. He ended up being thrown in jail because he was thought homeless.
President Eisenhower created the H.E.W in 1953, but he couldn’t remember what the letters stood for and called it Health, Education and Whatnot.
Dallas City Council Roland Tucker was an advocate of crime prevention. He was going to make it illegal for people to leave their keys in unattended cars. But he himself left his keys in the ignition, not to mention leaving his research on preventing crime on the seat. The car was then stolen.
These are again not moments that happen because people are old. There are many reasons for these individual stories, but many of them are related to younger people and have nothing to do with age.
April 12, 2024
Unfortunately, when I was looking to read all of Thomas L. Friedman books, I incorrectly received this book. The good news is it was a quick and entertaining read. He even listed a Despicable Donald quote:
When Donald Trump spoke dispraisingly of Hillary Clinton’s running mate, he must have forgotten everything he learned in fifth grade geography. He insisted in a televised speech, her running mate, Tim Kaine, who by the way did a terrible job in New Jersey… He was not very popular in New Jersey, and he still isn’t. Kaine, however, was the highly popular governor of Virginia, not New Jersey. It was Chris Christie, a fervent backer of Donald Trump, who was the not very popular governor of New Jersey.
Even the celebrated cellist Yo-Yo Ma, who has memorized hundreds of musical compositions has been laid low by senior moments, none more nearly disastrous than when he left his $2.5 million cello in a taxi after a Carnegie Hall concert. When it was recovered, he was asked how he could have forgotten something so precious.“Practice,” he replied.
Good read indeed
When Donald Trump spoke dispraisingly of Hillary Clinton’s running mate, he must have forgotten everything he learned in fifth grade geography. He insisted in a televised speech, her running mate, Tim Kaine, who by the way did a terrible job in New Jersey… He was not very popular in New Jersey, and he still isn’t. Kaine, however, was the highly popular governor of Virginia, not New Jersey. It was Chris Christie, a fervent backer of Donald Trump, who was the not very popular governor of New Jersey.
Even the celebrated cellist Yo-Yo Ma, who has memorized hundreds of musical compositions has been laid low by senior moments, none more nearly disastrous than when he left his $2.5 million cello in a taxi after a Carnegie Hall concert. When it was recovered, he was asked how he could have forgotten something so precious.“Practice,” he replied.
Good read indeed
August 21, 2022
My husband and I did a shared reading of 1000 Unforgettable Senior Moments by Tom Friedman. It was a cute book with lots of very forgettable situations. The book was funny and food for thought. The daily reading took us several months, reading a few pages each day. Our copy was thin and could probably be a quick read. Tom Friedman has a whole series of senior moment books. It would be interesting to see how many of the moments overlap.
October 1, 2022
If you ever think your memory lapses seem bad, don't fret. Even the celebrities, notable figures and those in higher positions have moments of forgetfulness. This book highlights some memorable moments from the past and near present. I was left wondering if some people still had a job after their error had been discovered and was amazed at how forgetful G. K Chesterton could be. This book provided little bits of laughter in bite-size paragraphs.
August 11, 2018
Too funny. Terrific compilation of absentminded (usually senior) events showing that everyone has them. Now I don't feel so bad when I go into the kitchen and forget why I am there! Great for a laugh or two.
February 10, 2019
Easy and fun read about people who have made major blunders when they forgot stuff and they were NOT all seniors by any means. Makes one more carefree about one's own forgetfulness and see the humor in those moments.
August 2, 2017
Reading these slips from famous people made me realize that I am not the only one with the problem, and that mine is not bad, comparatively.
June 28, 2018
Very funny and entertaining!
July 7, 2018
I laughed at this book. It was divided by 3 pages each page. Great book and it made me realize that people have troubles with memory.
January 24, 2019
good to know others have bad memory moments
March 3, 2025
I liked it even the parts that scared me! I will try to forget those!
August 5, 2013
got this for my birthday (hmmm, there may be a message in there). breezy, funny read. Probably most fun if devoured a bit at a time on the subway or what have you.
At the risk of being overly analytical about something supposed to be lighthearted, some of the apparent clusters:
(a) absent-minded genius (e.g., Isaac Newton's maid finds him in the kitchen looking baffled while boiling his watch and holding an egg in his hand)
(b) failure to recognize own work (e.g., 18th century Scottish writer John Campbell becoming engrossed in a book he found at a bookstore, buying it and reading half of it before realizing it was one he wrote)
(c) dysfunctional strategies (e.g., WC Fields opened 700 bank accounts b/c feared being stuck in a strange city without money but outthought himself by opening them under aliases, most of which he then lost track of)
(d) embarrassing in-person mix-ups (e.g., math guy meets a colleague at conference, finds out where he's from, says "oh, you must know my good friend X" and of course it turns out he's telling this to X)
(e) actor forgetting lines, and trying to cope with that situation.
Possibly because they used some theater/TV anecdote books as sources, there are a lot of entries in category (e), which I must say I don't find very funny. Reminded me of my reaction to "outtakes" or "bloopers" on TV. Seeing one in real time (e.g., live local news anchor messes up a word, or the a/v doesn't work or something) is somewhat amusing, but those compilation things they show occasionally of actors forgetting lines and then cracking up, many times in a row, get old.
With that exception most of the incidents in this book are good for a smile (of recognition, in my case).
At the risk of being overly analytical about something supposed to be lighthearted, some of the apparent clusters:
(a) absent-minded genius (e.g., Isaac Newton's maid finds him in the kitchen looking baffled while boiling his watch and holding an egg in his hand)
(b) failure to recognize own work (e.g., 18th century Scottish writer John Campbell becoming engrossed in a book he found at a bookstore, buying it and reading half of it before realizing it was one he wrote)
(c) dysfunctional strategies (e.g., WC Fields opened 700 bank accounts b/c feared being stuck in a strange city without money but outthought himself by opening them under aliases, most of which he then lost track of)
(d) embarrassing in-person mix-ups (e.g., math guy meets a colleague at conference, finds out where he's from, says "oh, you must know my good friend X" and of course it turns out he's telling this to X)
(e) actor forgetting lines, and trying to cope with that situation.
Possibly because they used some theater/TV anecdote books as sources, there are a lot of entries in category (e), which I must say I don't find very funny. Reminded me of my reaction to "outtakes" or "bloopers" on TV. Seeing one in real time (e.g., live local news anchor messes up a word, or the a/v doesn't work or something) is somewhat amusing, but those compilation things they show occasionally of actors forgetting lines and then cracking up, many times in a row, get old.
With that exception most of the incidents in this book are good for a smile (of recognition, in my case).
May 8, 2022
O carte amuzantă în care incluse momente de uitucenie, gafe. Și noi avem așa momente. Știam că sunt singur acasă, dar am strigat pe cineva din familie, haha! Memoria, o chestie tare interesantă!
Las câteva exemple:
1. Președintele a lăsat codurile de lansare a nuclearelor în costumul său la curățătorie.
2. Scriitorul a pus sucul de portocale afară și pisoiul în frigider.
3. Generalul rus și-a pus uniforma militară și a plecat de acasă, numai că fără chiloți.
4. G. K. Chesterton îi scria mamei o scrisoare în care îi dădea vești despre logodna sa, dar faza e că mama lui era în aceeași cameră cu dânsul.
5. O echipă de astrofizicieni au crezut că au descoperit o dovadă a existenței extratereștrilor, ca mai apoi să-și dea seama că semnalele veneau de la microunde.
6. Reagan încurcă numele șefilor pe care-i primește la Casa Albă.
7. Cavalerul de onoare a uitat să vină la nuntă.
8. Irwin Edman se duce la un coleg acasă în vizită și în toiul nopții colegul cască de somn. Edman nu a înțeles aluzia și colegul îl roagă să plece, pentru că are o prelegere dimineața. Iar Edman credea că e la dânsul acasă.
Las câteva exemple:
1. Președintele a lăsat codurile de lansare a nuclearelor în costumul său la curățătorie.
2. Scriitorul a pus sucul de portocale afară și pisoiul în frigider.
3. Generalul rus și-a pus uniforma militară și a plecat de acasă, numai că fără chiloți.
4. G. K. Chesterton îi scria mamei o scrisoare în care îi dădea vești despre logodna sa, dar faza e că mama lui era în aceeași cameră cu dânsul.
5. O echipă de astrofizicieni au crezut că au descoperit o dovadă a existenței extratereștrilor, ca mai apoi să-și dea seama că semnalele veneau de la microunde.
6. Reagan încurcă numele șefilor pe care-i primește la Casa Albă.
7. Cavalerul de onoare a uitat să vină la nuntă.
8. Irwin Edman se duce la un coleg acasă în vizită și în toiul nopții colegul cască de somn. Edman nu a înțeles aluzia și colegul îl roagă să plece, pentru că are o prelegere dimineața. Iar Edman credea că e la dânsul acasă.
October 26, 2014
I wouldn't say that the senior moments found in these pages were unforgettable, but they sure as heck were entertaining. This book was chock full of the kind of little anecdotes I love, and I got enough of a kick out of some that I tried to share the stories with acquaintances, who clearly were not as interested by them as I was. Oh, well. I enjoyed the book, but it keeps its ambitions low, as it should.
October 17, 2013
I didn't enjoy this book nearly as much as I hoped I would. It was very repetative in terms of peopke they used for senior moment examples and I am quite dissapointed about that. It delt with many presidents, authors, etc. however, it should've been called the G.K Chesterson book of senior moments. I wish it was better and maybe more modern, but nevertheless it was another read.
January 6, 2014
I've been reading this on and off for a few days. This is a collection of short stories of absentmindedness throughout history. Some of them were really funny, but after a while it became repetitive and I just wanted to be done with the book!
August 25, 2015
I haven't laughed so much for a while. Nicely packaged in short vignettes, these little stories are told with a smart, yet forgiving voice. The author realizes that this could happen to anyone and therein lies the accessibility of it.
March 10, 2012
A quick, fun read, although by page seven, my head was already in my hands in shared embarrassment over having made all too similar faux pas. Fortunately, my memory's not too good anymore...
June 30, 2013
Funny but not memorable.
March 29, 2013
Read it a while ago. Nothing memorable but all jolly fun. or maybe I just forgot...
April 16, 2013
This book kind of made me thankful that I was not blessed with being genius.
April 10, 2014
Lots of anecdotes about famous and not-so-famous people forgetting stuff.
May 15, 2012
Bought at WPL for .25
May 30, 2013
made me feel better about the dumb stuff I forget.
August 25, 2015
It was cute
February 17, 2016
funny storys of people who forget or have lapses of memory
July 4, 2016
I've apparently reached the delightful age where people buy me books like this. MIldly amusing
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews