Obsolete: An Encyclopedia of Once-Common Things Passing Us By

by Anna Jane Grossman, James Gulliver Hancock (Illustrator)

Thanks to advancing technology and shifting mores, the amount of change we experience in our lifetimes is truly exceptional. Objects and practices that are commonplace can very quickly become outmoded. In this witty and informative collection of short essays, journalist and social commentator Anna Jane Grossman takes a thoughtful look at what everyday apparatuses, ideas, and behaviors are quickly disappearing―or else have already left the building.
Obsolete contains essays and entries on more than 100 alphabetized fading subjects, including Blind Dates, Mix Tapes, Getting Lost, Porn Magazines, Looking Old, Operators, Camera Film, Hitchhiking, Body Hair, Writing Letters, Basketball Players in Short Shorts, Privacy, Cash, and, yes, Books. This ode to obsolescence also includes 25 quirky pen-and-ink line illustrations to further help us remember exactly what we’re missing.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Humor, Reference, Book Club

192 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2009

About the author

Anna Jane Grossman is a writer and animal trainer in New York City.

Grossman is a graduate of the Karen Pryor Academy of Animal Training and Behavior, and of New York University. She also graduated high school, grade school, and kindergarten, and once took some karate lessons.

Grossman has written extensively on the subject of animals (both human and non-human) for The New York Times, Gizmodo.com, Motherboard, ReadyMade, The Boston Globe and Bark magazine. She blogs about pets on her site, TheDogs.

Formerly a staff reporter at both The New York Observer and The New York Post, Grossman’s writing has appeared in The Washington Post Magazine, ELLE, Salon, Marie Claire, Fortune, and New York, among other places. She is also the author of the book Obsolete,

Grossman was an associate producer for the Animal Planet series on two seasons of Too Cute: Puppies and Kittens, and received an Emmy nomination certificate for a short stint she had writing quiz questions for Discovery’s Cash Cab. It currently is on display on her fridge. Another thing in the silly-but-impressive category: her work teaching dogs to use touchscreen devices has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, on NPR, and in TV news programs around the world.

Reviews

[Daniel Bamler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ein Buch über die Dinge und Verhaltensweisen, die nicht mehr so aktiv in unserer Welt genutzt werden oder einen Platz im täglichen Leben haben. Ein humorvoller Lesegang durch ein geschriebenes Museum zeitgenössischer Gebrauchserinnerungen. Meist aus der Sicht US amerikanischer Erfahrung und Bewertung, ist es zudem besonders spannend gewesen zu vergleichen, wie ich diese Dinge im Deutschland meiner Kindheit und Jugend erlebt habe oder wie sie sich mittlerweile weiterentwickelt haben, seitdem das Buch veröffentlicht wurde. Was ist vielleicht sogar wieder.in Mode gekommen oder wird von anderen Menschen noch idealistisch gepflegt oder welche Objekte gibt es tatsächlich noch zu kaufen? Beispielsweise Rolodex'. Warum sind die Dinge obsolet geworden? War es ihr Design, eine Verbesserung, ein Ersatz? Wurden sie von der Zeit und der Entwicklung überholt oder sind sie einfach nur kulturell aus der Mode geraten, vielleicht vergessen?

[Krystelle · Rating 1 out of 5]

Bit of a confusing one. We still have a lot of these things, and I’m talking A LOT. I don’t know if it’s because this book is America centric or what, but there was very little in here that we don’t still have down here. I thought it was trying so hard to be funny but was just ending up unsuccessful which was very frustrating- so not one for me!

[Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

The tone of this book was didn't feel consistent, sometimes it felt a little snarky, and other times I felt the author was trying to be scholarly.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Do you remember silent butlers? Are you acquainted with Mrs. McCave? Do you believe that “handwriting allows the student to see his own spirit in action”? If so, strap on your time travel goggles, climb into the (not so) Wayback Machine and get ready to become Obsolete.

[Martin Hernandez · Rating 1 out of 5]

Tenía una expectativa de asombro y diversión mucho más alta con este libro, que pretende ser una lista exhaustiva de objetos y costumbres que dejaron de ser útiles. En principio me enganchó porque leí una de las entradas del libro, la correspondiente al "Rolodex", aquí, y me gustó mucho. Sin embargo, el libro ya no resultó tan divertido; aunque todas las definiciones tratan de ser ingeniosas, hay varias que apelan totalmente a un humor estadounidense que carece de sentido para un lector ajeno a esa cultura; en otras definiciones se asoman ideas racistas ("DOING NOTHING AT WORK: ...these menial and rote tasks can now largely be done by nonhumans (or non-Americans)...", p.63), etc... Las dos mejores entradas del libro, son las correspondientes al "CORRECTION FLUID" y "GETTING LOST".

[E.J. Cullen · Rating 1 out of 5]

From analog clocks to camcorders, dictionaries, encyclopedias, fax machines, manual car windows, nuns, pay phones, photo albums, privacy, typewriters, traditional names, and wristwatches (notice how the prices are tumbling?) Read this in about an hour while watching the Mets. Try doing that with James Joyce!

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, easy read. I don't understand the lower star ratings, it is what it sets out to be. Good research and writing along with some humor and more in depth definitions when needed. Found it at the wonderful American Computer Museum last year while in Bozeman. Glad I did.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Late fees are obsolete. Wrong.
Cash? Maybe, maybe not.
Books. Doubtful. The ebook craze has been greatly overstated and still is just about 20% of books sold.
Buffering. No.
Capitalization?

Frankly this is a wish list more than reality.

[Mike Burke · Rating 5 out of 5]

At the library cruising the shelves and picked up "Obsolete, an encyclopedia of once-common things passing us by" by Anna Jane Grossman. Copyright 2009.

Fun book with useless facts.

A Brooklyn-born inventor Arnold Neustadter didn't like disorder. He developed the Rolodex.

But the one I like is:

Writing Letters
Method of communication usually involving paper, pen, and the US Postal Service; basic structure including a salutation (e.g., "Dear John or "Hi Mom), body ("it's over" or "Camp is good"), signature ("Sincerely, Jean" or "Love, Me"), and optional postscript (P.S. You'll be hearing from my lawyer" or "Please send a bra").

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Obsolete was a brilliant read. If you were looking for a list of items that are going obsolete. Look no further. Anna Jane Grossman compiles a list of once common, but now rare items in the world. Evidently, Grossman pours out her heart and soul writing there small little snippets of information about such items. Take a ride through memory lane letting nostalgia hit your square in the nose when you read this book!

[Garrett Rowlan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book's date of publication (2009) plus references to MySpace and other extinct entities makes us see it at a double remove, noting all that has come along in technology since then. It gives something like a turn-on-the-century review on what has gone away (WiteOut, etc), while itself falling into the trap it has set. Still, an interesting read on things that have largely (handwriting) or completely (VHS tapes) gone away.

[Kara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unfortunately, Grossman couldn't decide if she wanted to write a history book or a satire, tried to do both, and the result is... less than stellar. There are some interesting thoughts about how quickly new technology has changed some aspects of day-to-day life, but all the snark and pseudo-history was off putting.

[Ashley Hoover · Rating 3 out of 5]

I generally enjoyed the entries but I wish it had more things that are obsolete that I hadn't heard of before rather than what was expected to become obsolete. Also the book is 10 years old and I'm surprised how often I thought.. "wow I didn't realize that was a thing already" and then it would suddenly be very dated by a mention of one's Myspace page.

[Jehnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written in encyclopedia form, with much longer digressions on some of her entries, this book is witty but oddly dated. Items Grossman declared firmly obsolete in 2009 are still hanging on and in some cases reasserting themselves.
The idea is novel, the dismount doesn't always stick.

[Wayne K · Rating 3 out of 5]

My thoughts

I liked certain aspects of the book but some things the author didn't give enough info or history.Also the book is not completely current but was an interesting read.

[Dachokie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informational and Entertaining, but Incomplete ..., October 11, 2010

Anna Jane Grossman's effort to remind us of so many of the things we once took for granted that have suddenly (and quietly) vanished from our lives is both intriguing and fun to read. While I believe the book definitely offered a taste for my hunger for nostalgia, I found it somewhat unfulfilling in the end.

"Obsolete" is thought-provoking in that it does make one realize how once-seemingly indispensible "things" have somehow simply disappeared in our society's race toward the technological future. Presented in an alphabetized/encyclopedic format, Grossman's range of topics for all-things obsolete are diverse (ditto-paper or easy to open packaging), humorous (handkerchiefs), expected (typewriters) and occasionally odd (wrinkles). Some of the topics covered are simply addressed with a witty, sarcastic quip (anonymity), while others delve deeply into the history of the subject matter (film). In this regard, "Obsolete" scores big points as being both entertaining and informative. While it isn't exactly baffling to understand the downfall of stuffing mucous-covered cloth into pockets for re-use, it is interested how our society has gradually snuffed the art of cursive writing. Grossman definitely does the research on several topics and her efforts often provide a curiosity-satisfying history that led to the flourish of things that have since disappeared.

While the book is oftentimes educational and fun to read, I was hoping for more considering there are so many common things have disappeared in recent years. Maybe this is expecting too much from the author, but when a subtitle includes the word "encyclopedia", I expect the content to reveal more, not less. While brevity could have benefited some of the topics covered and more detail provided for others, I still believe what Grossman presents is worthy. The only other issue I have with "Obsolete" is that the silly artwork that illustrates many of the topics is unnecessary and photos would have been great.

[tamarack · Rating 3 out of 5]

i didn't get to finish this, but given that it's an encyclopedia i feel justified in moving it on to the 'read' shelf. (i had to return it to the library before finishing).

it's hilarious; if not totally accurate. the illustrations are charming, and the humour is witty enough to keep me entertained (but shy of sarcasm, and a far cry from biting -- which would ruin it for me). would make a good gift for anyone born before the early 80s.

[Mollie Hartup · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun reminder of things once used, like my grandparents' manual typewriter used to write my first school newspaper articles in the late 1980s. Also an interesting look at how technology changes basic principles...for example how caller ID has shifted the power from the caller to the callee. Though we still get that thrill of the unknown caller today when we dare to answer that call from a number we don't recognize.

[Gerry · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was walking through the library with the kids when this book caught my attention. I was rather disappointed with the author's definition of "obsolete" on many of the items. Some of the stories related to the items were interesting, but the attempt at humor in most fell short and only served to motivate me to begin skimming the book.

[Kenneth Buff · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun little coffee table read. Filled with all the devices (and sometimes concepts) that are no longer used or relevant to our society. The book feels a little dated at times when it makes references to Myspace (rather than Facebook) or cell phones with buttons on them as things we use today, but other than that it's a nice walk through memory lane from a modern perspective.

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like most encyclopedias, not all of this book was interesting. It was very short and I got the feeling that the author left out a lot. Certain entries had a mini rant slash essay. Overall this book was entertaining but not the best of its kind.

[Cindy May]

I think the author did a good job of coming up with a fairly comprehensive list of antiquated items - many of which I had forgotten about. It will be interesting to see what items she can add to the list at the end of this decade!

[pea. · Rating 5 out of 5]

oh my, when you really think of how much has changed in a lifetime it can make you sentimental, this book will be saved for the kids and their kids...

[Marnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

entertaining.

[Eli · Rating 4 out of 5]

totally enjoyable.

[Suzanne (suz&mark) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think the concept for this book was very good but as I got to the end it became a little tedious

[Lindsey Orlando]

Mentioned in an interesting article in the in-flight magazine on Southwest Airlines

[David Allen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good observations now and then, but overall, this seems like an inferior, strained update/remake of the 1994 book "Going, Going, Gone."

[Jana · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun, quick read. Some things were not surprising, some were, and some made me think.

[lara phillips · Rating 3 out of 5]

more like a thoughtful listicle than a book, but I enjoyed it.