What do you think?
Rate this book
The Totally Sweet 90s: From Clear Cola to Furby, and Grunge to "Whatever", the Toys, Tastes, and Trends That Defined a Decade
If you can tell the difference between the Petes in Pete & Pete, know every step to the Macarena by heart, and remember when The Real World was about more than just drunken hookups, The Totally Sweet '90s will be a welcome trip down memory lane.
With this hella cool guide, you'll reminisce about that glorious decade when Beanie Babies seemed like a smart economic investment and Kris Kross had you wearing your pants backward. Whether you contracted dysentery on the Oregon Trail or longed to attend Janet Reno's Dance Party, you'll get a kick out of seeing which toys, treats, and trends stayed around, and which flopped.
So throw your ponytail into a scrunchie, take a swig from your can of Surge, and join us on this ride through the unforgettable (and sometimes unforgivable) trends of the '90s.
With this hella cool guide, you'll reminisce about that glorious decade when Beanie Babies seemed like a smart economic investment and Kris Kross had you wearing your pants backward. Whether you contracted dysentery on the Oregon Trail or longed to attend Janet Reno's Dance Party, you'll get a kick out of seeing which toys, treats, and trends stayed around, and which flopped.
So throw your ponytail into a scrunchie, take a swig from your can of Surge, and join us on this ride through the unforgettable (and sometimes unforgivable) trends of the '90s.
245 pages, Paperback
First published June 4, 2013
20 people are currently reading
263 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
April 17, 2017
This is like a reminiscence of fads from the 1990s in sort of an encyclopedia format. It hits on many of the things that were popular in the 90s especially to kids or teens, such as Milli Vanilli, Blue's Clues, and the McRib. I was in High School in the nineties and had my son on '96, so many of the thing mentioned either spoke to me from my HS days, or from my son's baby and toddler days. It was written as a very fast read and quite humorous in spots. If anyone wants to take a trip down memory lane to the 1990s, this is a great, lighthearted, book to help you on your way.
September 21, 2020
A great trip down memory lane. Just wish it was longer!
April 4, 2017
I grew up in the 90s and one of the many who probably hung on as long as I could as I became a teenager in the hectic, fast changing 21st century. A part of me will always live in the 90s and I still enjoy buying movies, books, and toys for my daughter.
This book was a great trip down memory lane and I really enjoyed it. It was fun reading about stuff I remember and learning about things I did not know about or were too young to worry about like Ebola. The 90s may be deemed as unimportant or unworthy it was a big stepping stone to our modern lifestyle and hey the 90s had really cool stuff as well!
This book was a great trip down memory lane and I really enjoyed it. It was fun reading about stuff I remember and learning about things I did not know about or were too young to worry about like Ebola. The 90s may be deemed as unimportant or unworthy it was a big stepping stone to our modern lifestyle and hey the 90s had really cool stuff as well!
May 7, 2016
A look back at one of the most awesome decade's I've been alive in ;)
And although there will be alot of things you remember in here, if your a Brit like me, there is alot of stuff you won't. They should totally make a British version and include the following:
Funhouse
Noel's House Party - For Mr Blooby
[image error]
Blind Date (RIP Cilla)
Sega Mega Drive II
SMTV LIVE
My Kind of People
Encarta
Zoombinis
That screen saver dog you could feed.
CRIMPER'S!!!
Okay so these are mainly just TV shows I liked in the 90s!
We also had You've Been Framed(RIP Jeremy beadle) which is basically the same as America's Funniest Home Video's.
This brought back alot of memories for me, especially walking around shops with my mum, looking for a Furby the day before my Birthday. We finally found a shop that wasn't sold out and I played with it for a grand total of a day.
Trying to sneak out into the cloak room to feed the Tamagotchi(banned from school), I had hidden in my coat pocket. We also had playing 'keepsies' with Pogs banned also.
I also remember lying about my shiny Charizard card to one of the rougher looking kids at school and saying I had swapped it. I had a feeling if I took it out of my pocket, I wouldn't be getting it back(Pokémon street smart!).
I did like this book but I read another 90s book recently and the same ground was covered here, along with couple of extra things. So I didn't enjoy it as much as I would have, had I left more time between them. But would recommend anyone longing for some nostalgia.
And although there will be alot of things you remember in here, if your a Brit like me, there is alot of stuff you won't. They should totally make a British version and include the following:
Funhouse
Noel's House Party - For Mr Blooby
[image error]
Blind Date (RIP Cilla)
Sega Mega Drive II
SMTV LIVE
My Kind of People
Encarta
Zoombinis
That screen saver dog you could feed.
CRIMPER'S!!!
Okay so these are mainly just TV shows I liked in the 90s!
We also had You've Been Framed(RIP Jeremy beadle) which is basically the same as America's Funniest Home Video's.
This brought back alot of memories for me, especially walking around shops with my mum, looking for a Furby the day before my Birthday. We finally found a shop that wasn't sold out and I played with it for a grand total of a day.
Trying to sneak out into the cloak room to feed the Tamagotchi(banned from school), I had hidden in my coat pocket. We also had playing 'keepsies' with Pogs banned also.
I also remember lying about my shiny Charizard card to one of the rougher looking kids at school and saying I had swapped it. I had a feeling if I took it out of my pocket, I wouldn't be getting it back(Pokémon street smart!).
I did like this book but I read another 90s book recently and the same ground was covered here, along with couple of extra things. So I didn't enjoy it as much as I would have, had I left more time between them. But would recommend anyone longing for some nostalgia.
October 2, 2023
This book definitely helped to re live the decade I grew up in! It was fun to recall some of the popular things and even more fun that I forgot about some of them!
August 13, 2013
Do you like/remember the '90s? Are you the type of person who just reads Wikipedia for fun? Then this book is for you.
Presented in encyclopedia format, this book covers popular culture, including toys, forgotten snacks, and other bygone relics from the decade of excess.
It really is like someone printed out a bunch of '90s-related Wikipedia entries, and the tone is just right to make it a fun and breezy read.
Added bonus: you can grouse to yourself about what did/didn't make the cut into this tome of '90s nostalgia.
Presented in encyclopedia format, this book covers popular culture, including toys, forgotten snacks, and other bygone relics from the decade of excess.
It really is like someone printed out a bunch of '90s-related Wikipedia entries, and the tone is just right to make it a fun and breezy read.
Added bonus: you can grouse to yourself about what did/didn't make the cut into this tome of '90s nostalgia.
April 15, 2020
Eh, the authors stuck almost exclusively to the absolute front-most pop culture icons. There's a lot of decent topic here, but it comes off as just sort of enjoying a thing instead of talking about it. The Kindergarten Cop page just had to have weird Arnold quotes with lots of extra "a's", just couldn't resist. Sort of comes off as just crowbarring 90's buzzwords into everything to smack you over the head with the point.
Also, they openly insult Hey Dude, AND Salute your Shorts, AND Saved by the Bell.
They also say Kris Kross was replaced by Justin Bieber.
They also bash Mortal Kombat for something they couldn't control "way to promote good playground activities", as if arcades were classrooms. They even called the game "digital meth", who's being insensitive?
Also says the Mortal Kombat movies were "forgettable" (the first one certainly was not). And pipes up about how it led to the Grand Theft Auto games, where you are "allowed to kill prostitutes."
You know, that old pearl clutching line from people who haven't played the games, and don't realize there's no reward or point system for that, you're never asked to do it in any way, and you can kill everyone the same.
This "book" could have been covered with a sensible blog post.
Also, they openly insult Hey Dude, AND Salute your Shorts, AND Saved by the Bell.
They also say Kris Kross was replaced by Justin Bieber.
They also bash Mortal Kombat for something they couldn't control "way to promote good playground activities", as if arcades were classrooms. They even called the game "digital meth", who's being insensitive?
Also says the Mortal Kombat movies were "forgettable" (the first one certainly was not). And pipes up about how it led to the Grand Theft Auto games, where you are "allowed to kill prostitutes."
You know, that old pearl clutching line from people who haven't played the games, and don't realize there's no reward or point system for that, you're never asked to do it in any way, and you can kill everyone the same.
This "book" could have been covered with a sensible blog post.
December 29, 2021
Fun look back at the 90s, more listicle than essay. The book itself is dated, missing some relevant updates like jailbird Martha Stewart and the Friends resurgence. Love that Lisa Frank is so real life colorful. Not worth significant money as it’s a dip in and out.
July 14, 2017
A fun walk down memory lane.
May 26, 2021
A delightful trip down memory lane! My favourite part was the totally apt Seinfeld line in the part about Pretty Woman.
September 16, 2022
Nothing much of substance, but it was a fun trip down memory lane.
July 31, 2022
Sure, I agree, I wished the book was longer and full of color photos.
Nevertheless, it was a very enjoyable book! Perhaps I was just giddy reading about the awesome 90's (my favorite, being the decade of my youth), but I found this book spot on and quite funny (without trying too hard, being too snarky, or resorting to profanity). I nodded along and knowingly snickered to just about every entry. And I even laughed out loud a number of times (something I rarely do with books!)
Some funny highlights included:
SNL: "gift-wrapping one's genitals"
Sir Mix-A-Lot: "not exactly sure where Mix got the title 'Sir', but we're guessing he didn't get knighted by the queen"
Blue's Clues: "no one thought it odd that Steve heard the salt-shaker, side-table drawer, and pail and shovel talking to him? Or that it took him a half hour to solve a mystery that most preschoolers figured out in the first three minutes?"
Body Glitter: "envisioning that the sparkle would surely catch Nick Lachey's eye as he stared out into the nosebleed seats at a 98 Degrees concert"
Bubble Tape: "testing kids in the one area where they had no self-discipline--portion control"
King of the World: "water + boat = an uncontrollable urge to inappropriately call attention to ourselves by screaming lame dialogue from a movie"
Rollerblades: "Everyone we knew was able to stop only by stumbling headfirst in a patch of grass, or worse, straight into a tree"
Zubas: "Here is a man who does not care what he wears. And also might be legally blind"
Topsy Tail: "You could only stab yourself in the neck a few times before giving up"
Skip-It: "A toy based on a staple of the penal system has never been so much fun"
Nevertheless, it was a very enjoyable book! Perhaps I was just giddy reading about the awesome 90's (my favorite, being the decade of my youth), but I found this book spot on and quite funny (without trying too hard, being too snarky, or resorting to profanity). I nodded along and knowingly snickered to just about every entry. And I even laughed out loud a number of times (something I rarely do with books!)
Some funny highlights included:
SNL: "gift-wrapping one's genitals"
Sir Mix-A-Lot: "not exactly sure where Mix got the title 'Sir', but we're guessing he didn't get knighted by the queen"
Blue's Clues: "no one thought it odd that Steve heard the salt-shaker, side-table drawer, and pail and shovel talking to him? Or that it took him a half hour to solve a mystery that most preschoolers figured out in the first three minutes?"
Body Glitter: "envisioning that the sparkle would surely catch Nick Lachey's eye as he stared out into the nosebleed seats at a 98 Degrees concert"
Bubble Tape: "testing kids in the one area where they had no self-discipline--portion control"
King of the World: "water + boat = an uncontrollable urge to inappropriately call attention to ourselves by screaming lame dialogue from a movie"
Rollerblades: "Everyone we knew was able to stop only by stumbling headfirst in a patch of grass, or worse, straight into a tree"
Zubas: "Here is a man who does not care what he wears. And also might be legally blind"
Topsy Tail: "You could only stab yourself in the neck a few times before giving up"
Skip-It: "A toy based on a staple of the penal system has never been so much fun"
May 20, 2016
A pleasant stroll down memory lane. Skip-it. The Macarena. Lisa Frank. Slap bracelets. If you remember any of those things or have a nostalgia for the 90's, this book is for you. Perhaps it's because I'm feeling nostalgic or that the title caught my eye after reading 'Ready Player One' (which is filled with 80's references), but I was curious about this title.
The book is basically an encyclopedia of various people, TV shows/movies, toys, crazes, etc. of the 1990's. It's listed in alphabetical order and each entry gets about a page that briefly talks about the history. At the end of the entry we find out whether the item/concept/show still exists and a fun fact about them.
Unfortunately the book is mostly text (it really needed more pictures, ideally in color) and the writing is really pedestrian. I only kept reading because it was so short. The format isn't really the type that lends to continuous reading but the writing isn't impressive either.
There's not much more to say. I picked this up on a whim but you can easily find this sort of thing on Buzzfeed or similar sites.
It's a pleasant way to kill an hour or a few if you have to wait around but I wouldn't rush out to read it.
The book is basically an encyclopedia of various people, TV shows/movies, toys, crazes, etc. of the 1990's. It's listed in alphabetical order and each entry gets about a page that briefly talks about the history. At the end of the entry we find out whether the item/concept/show still exists and a fun fact about them.
Unfortunately the book is mostly text (it really needed more pictures, ideally in color) and the writing is really pedestrian. I only kept reading because it was so short. The format isn't really the type that lends to continuous reading but the writing isn't impressive either.
There's not much more to say. I picked this up on a whim but you can easily find this sort of thing on Buzzfeed or similar sites.
It's a pleasant way to kill an hour or a few if you have to wait around but I wouldn't rush out to read it.
February 13, 2021
My thoughts on this book are similar to the book by the same authors dealing with pop culture items from the 1970s and 1980s. Overall, it was was to reminisce and reading abou tmany of the items sparked fond memories of my experiences with the items.
However, I had quite a few issues with many of the write-ups. While this book doesn't have quite as many racist descriptions as the last (and even acknowledges racism inherent in some of the items, like the Power Rangers), it's still in there. Also, there is some ableism that struck me too (the authors question why Waldo of "Where's Waldo?" would use a cane despite appearing to be younger than 40). The descriptions are overly snarky to the point they feel like an attack and judgment on people who enjoyed some of the items. Then descriptions also vary widely when reference film and television. Some entries highlight a character while others highlight an actor. Very few entries provide the names of both the actor and character they played which I feel is inadequate.
This book also struggled to decide who to cater the memorable items to as entries ranged from Barney to Melrose Place. It's highly unlikely someone with fond memories of Barney also holds memories of watching Melrose Place.
But I apprecated the trip down memory lane and the status information of the items.
That said, this book was destined to be dated the minute it was released with the continued recycling of stories, products, and ideas. (Doritos 3D is making a come back now too).
It's a fun, quick read but not without its flaws.
However, I had quite a few issues with many of the write-ups. While this book doesn't have quite as many racist descriptions as the last (and even acknowledges racism inherent in some of the items, like the Power Rangers), it's still in there. Also, there is some ableism that struck me too (the authors question why Waldo of "Where's Waldo?" would use a cane despite appearing to be younger than 40). The descriptions are overly snarky to the point they feel like an attack and judgment on people who enjoyed some of the items. Then descriptions also vary widely when reference film and television. Some entries highlight a character while others highlight an actor. Very few entries provide the names of both the actor and character they played which I feel is inadequate.
This book also struggled to decide who to cater the memorable items to as entries ranged from Barney to Melrose Place. It's highly unlikely someone with fond memories of Barney also holds memories of watching Melrose Place.
But I apprecated the trip down memory lane and the status information of the items.
That said, this book was destined to be dated the minute it was released with the continued recycling of stories, products, and ideas. (Doritos 3D is making a come back now too).
It's a fun, quick read but not without its flaws.
March 20, 2025
A fun, nostalgic trip through 1990s pop culture. I was familiar with all but maybe one or two of the things and trends in this book. Each is only a page or so, and it makes a good ‘pick up whenever and read a few pages, then forget about it for a few months before continuing’ read, which is why it took me almost two years to finish. It’s organized from “Adam Sandler Songs on Saturday Night Live through Hacky Sack, Micro Machines, and Roller Shoes, to Zubaz, the bright zebra-pattern pants designed by weightlifters.
Adding a layer of history, there’s a “Status” section for each, but the book was published in 2013. So it’s like a second snapshot, and interesting to think of things that lingered but are now gone, and those that were rebooted in the 2020s, for better or worse.
A fun read for anyone of late Gen X or Xennial generations.
Adding a layer of history, there’s a “Status” section for each, but the book was published in 2013. So it’s like a second snapshot, and interesting to think of things that lingered but are now gone, and those that were rebooted in the 2020s, for better or worse.
A fun read for anyone of late Gen X or Xennial generations.
August 8, 2017
Hilarious at times, other times not (and, hey, man, Clerks 2 wasn't THAT bad). Some stuff in here I'd forgotten about. I was born in the early 80's so the 90's were definitely a big chunk of my memories... Wish there had been more photos; it's mostly text entries. Sure, we have Google now, but it would've been an added benefit. A lot of stuff I do remember wasn't even included. Worth paging through, but maybe not so much as a (brief) straight read.
And, oh man, those Keebler Magic Middles cookies. I remembered them, but not the name. :P
And, oh man, those Keebler Magic Middles cookies. I remembered them, but not the name. :P
July 5, 2019
Born in 1994, with a sister 9 years older than me, i actually had a bit of an extension of the '90s; given all the hand me downs and tv re-runs. Such great memories from that decade are highlighted in this book (90s nicktoons!, 3d doritos, etc) Some things were included as BIG 90s flops! The author then highlights some of those flops with witty puns that kind of make you chuckle. Complete with fun facts, this book was great.
August 1, 2017
It was fun to look back on stuff I grew up with in the 90s and laugh. The authors were definitely Gen-Xers so they talked about a few things that I didn't know about since I would have been too young (Early Gen-Yer). I think their humor was witty and funny, unlike the author in "Things 90s Kids Realize-Volume 1!" They had some pictures but I would have liked to see more. All in all, a good book!
August 9, 2020
This book was originally published in 2013, so some of the information in the 'Status' sections may be a little out of date. However, the bulk of the book is a fun pop culture recap for anyone who lived through the 90s, or anyone who knows somebody who did and who wants to know what the big deal was.
Did I like it? Yes.
Would I reread it? Probably.
Would I recommend it? Yes.
Did I like it? Yes.
Would I reread it? Probably.
Would I recommend it? Yes.
January 11, 2021
This was an enjoyable quick read. I bought this on impulse while out and finished it within an hour that same day. This is essentially a run-through of popular fans and culture in the 90s and while I wouldn’t recommend this as a must-read, it’s great for a throwback, going down memory lane and remembering forgotten parts of childhood.
January 14, 2023
I mean, I co-wrote this so of course it’s five stars. Seriously, though, it’s a light-hearted pop-culture encyclopedia of the 1970s and 1980s. If you loved those times, you’ll find something to love in here. We didn’t just dump out our own memories, we did our research to find out what really happened to these items, and offer substitutes where we can.
February 19, 2019
Nostalgia at its best!
February 22, 2019
So many memories
I found myself cringing at some of the items in this book and laughing at others. Itreally made me remember the good old days.
I found myself cringing at some of the items in this book and laughing at others. Itreally made me remember the good old days.
April 21, 2019
Great stroll down memory lane. Really want to read their precious book about the 70s and 80s.
June 8, 2021
A cute stroll down memory lane read. There are toys that I totally forgotten and 90's fashion that I am glad that I have forgotten. A good little read to fill that nostalgic 90's heart.
April 19, 2022
Good old nostalgia and a lot of fun facts I didn't previously know.
May 2, 2022
Very nostalgic & humorous quick read. Brought back memories.
Just, a little out dated since the book was written almost a decade ago but it was a fun, light read.
Just, a little out dated since the book was written almost a decade ago but it was a fun, light read.
November 24, 2022
Cringe-worthy, laugh-out-loud moments...a walk down the weird part of 90s memory lane.
February 13, 2023
Very cute book that brought me so many memories from Lisa Frank School Supplies to Tamagotchis. I miss the 90s!
August 20, 2018
A quick, fun, goofy read about 90's fads and products.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews