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White Elephant Technology: 50 Crazy Inventions That Should Never Have Been Built, And What We Can Learn From Them
What exactly is White Elephant Technology?
White Elephant Technology is any unusual invention past or present that fails in the marketplace despite its innovative nature. From jeeps that fly to tanks that shouldn't; from a wave-powered boat that took over three months to reach its destination to a jet-powered train that shook itself apart, White Elephant Technology showcases each inventor's talent for creating something nobody asked for. Importantly, none of these inventions are speculative. Each one was built, field tested and worked more or less as planned (except when it killed its creator).
Although success is highly prized, failure has a lot to teach us, especially when you realise it's the rule and not the exception. Still, no one has undertaken a survey of failed inventions despite history being littered with them … until now. White Elephant Technology corrects this oversight in an entertaining, respectful and occasionally humorous manner, proving that failure is not only as fascinating as success but is also the purest expression of the human condition.
White Elephant Technology is any unusual invention past or present that fails in the marketplace despite its innovative nature. From jeeps that fly to tanks that shouldn't; from a wave-powered boat that took over three months to reach its destination to a jet-powered train that shook itself apart, White Elephant Technology showcases each inventor's talent for creating something nobody asked for. Importantly, none of these inventions are speculative. Each one was built, field tested and worked more or less as planned (except when it killed its creator).
Although success is highly prized, failure has a lot to teach us, especially when you realise it's the rule and not the exception. Still, no one has undertaken a survey of failed inventions despite history being littered with them … until now. White Elephant Technology corrects this oversight in an entertaining, respectful and occasionally humorous manner, proving that failure is not only as fascinating as success but is also the purest expression of the human condition.
283 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 17, 2023
12 people want to read
About the author
John J. Geoghegan
8 books3 followersMr. Geoghegan is author of the memoir, "Hear Today, Gone Tomorrow: A True Story of Love, Hearing Loss, Heartbreak and Redemption," which recounts what happens when a seemingly successful husband, father and business exec suddenly loses his hearing over night.
Mr. Geoghegan is also author of “Operation Storm: Japan’s Top Secret Submarines and Its Plan to Change the Course of WWII,” (Crown, 2013), which "The Wall Street Journal" called, "a fascinating, meticulously researched and deft account."
"Operation Storm" grew out of a cover story Mr. Geoghegan wrote about Japan's I-400 subs for "Aviation History" magazine. His article also served as the basis for the PBS documentary, "Japanese SuperSub," on which Mr. Geoghegan served as Technical Consultant and writer. "Japanese SuperSub" was produced by PBS-TV, National Geographic International, and Britain’s Channel Five, and continues to be rebroadcast in the U.S., Great Britain, Europe and Japan. The "New York Times called" it, “consistently...fascinating history.”
Additionally, Mr. Geoghegan specializes in reporting on unusual inventions that fail in the marketplace despite their innovative nature. His articles about White Elephant Technology (WETech) have appeared in the "New York Times" Science section, WIRED, "Smithsonian Air & Space," "Popular Science," "Sail," and the "San Francisco Chronicle" Sunday Magazine among other publications.
Mr. Geoghegan began his career as a Special Correspondent for the "New York Times," and worked for "Connecticut" magazine where he wrote about Connecticut's defense and aerospace industries.
Currently, Mr. Geoghegan is Director of The SILOE Research Institute's Archival Division in Marin County, California.
Mr. Geoghegan is also author of “Operation Storm: Japan’s Top Secret Submarines and Its Plan to Change the Course of WWII,” (Crown, 2013), which "The Wall Street Journal" called, "a fascinating, meticulously researched and deft account."
"Operation Storm" grew out of a cover story Mr. Geoghegan wrote about Japan's I-400 subs for "Aviation History" magazine. His article also served as the basis for the PBS documentary, "Japanese SuperSub," on which Mr. Geoghegan served as Technical Consultant and writer. "Japanese SuperSub" was produced by PBS-TV, National Geographic International, and Britain’s Channel Five, and continues to be rebroadcast in the U.S., Great Britain, Europe and Japan. The "New York Times called" it, “consistently...fascinating history.”
Additionally, Mr. Geoghegan specializes in reporting on unusual inventions that fail in the marketplace despite their innovative nature. His articles about White Elephant Technology (WETech) have appeared in the "New York Times" Science section, WIRED, "Smithsonian Air & Space," "Popular Science," "Sail," and the "San Francisco Chronicle" Sunday Magazine among other publications.
Mr. Geoghegan began his career as a Special Correspondent for the "New York Times," and worked for "Connecticut" magazine where he wrote about Connecticut's defense and aerospace industries.
Currently, Mr. Geoghegan is Director of The SILOE Research Institute's Archival Division in Marin County, California.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
July 24, 2024
I enjoyed the collection which is well described. Some are crazy, some repetitive, and some (I think) are not fully developed yet
Displaying 1 of 1 review