Complete & Utter Failure: A Celebration of Also-Rans, Runners-Up, Never-Weres

by Neil Steinberg

Steinberg joyfully explores the many fascinating facets of failure, from pointless failure to product failure to institutionalized failure. Filled with surprising arcana, this literate and witty book encourages readers not to fear failure, but to embrace it!

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Business, Humor

258 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1994

About the author

Neil Steinberg is a columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times, where he has been on staff since 1987.

Reviews

[Fred · Rating 5 out of 5]

excursions into human folly measured lovingly against the author's own. this is some subversive shit.

[Wenzel Roessler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad book, worth reading. There are times when the authors commentary on his life growing up feels a bit self-serving. Other times, like in conjunction with climbing Mount Everest, it works extremely well.

[Rick · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun read

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The writing was funny at first, but quickly turned too snarky for me. I almost stopped reading, but I'm glad I didn't. Very interesting examples of failures, and the whys of what happened.

[Eucryphia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so ^%$#^%$ awesome in so many ways, and it seems to be out of print these days, which is inescusable. Covering topics from failed products and foods (the anatomically correct Jesus doll/toaster eggs), to the Mallory Irvine Everest expedition (tragic/doomed), and ultimately and gloriously: The National Spelling Bee (horrendous/funny as all hell). Any of my friends who have not read this need to immediately rectify that situation. That means you. Now. Chop chop.

[Lenny Husen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book and I wish it were still in print. I am increasing my earlier rating from 4 to 5 stars because this book had such an impact on me. And I just loved the author, as a person. Wherever he is, I hope he is happy.

[Tom Conwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this in 1995 and laughed out loud multiple times. I wrote a letter to Neil Steinberg telling him how much I liked the book, and because the return address was mangled in the mail, he looked me up in the phone book and CALLED ME! I'm a fan forever.

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an amusing read about a history of people that attempted and failed at things. Sadly, it's been quite a while since I finished it and have since forgotten much about the book.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are looking for new and inventive ways to muck things up, here's a book to get the creative bozocity flowing.

[Deidre Le Maistre]

Got through it but not my style