Man will never fly... Electricity is a passing fad... The Beatles are on the wane... Hitler's horoscope proves there will be no war... Bad Predictions by Laura Lee records these failed forecasts and more. Read about what the year 2000 could have been like-- but wasn't. For the soothsayers and trivia lovers among us and for anyone who has ever had a good idea rejected.
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
"..some real gems of bad predictions that have been made over the years." -- Steve Crilley, FM4 (radio) Austria, June 28, 2000
"Every leader's nightmare -- his and her worst predictions recorded for posterity. Still, if read with some charity for the predictors, this is an amusing and enlightening resource book." -- Edsel B. Ford II
"For anyone who dares to look ahead to see around the bend or around the globe. If youve ever been told you cannot achieve something, but went ahead and tried anyway, Bad Predictions is for you. Its a book that you will read and re-read and want to share with your friends and colleagues. Theres a wealth of good information inside as well as some good laughs. Man will never fly. Faulkner cant write. The world will end in 1900. Someone somewhere said these things and much more. Bad Predictions is a delightful collection of failed promises, wrong-headed thinking, thwarted ambition and tales of people who failed to heed the warnings and succeeded in spite of the experts. It's also a great deal of fun. Its a must read." -- John Baldoni, Leadership Consultant, President, LC21.com
"In a world in which organizations self-assess through comparisons of TGR (Things Gone Right) and TGW (Things Gone Wrong), here is a masterful celebration of TGGW (Things Gone Gloriously Wrong). An invaluable and humbling book for managers and communicators alike." -- Thomas Morrisey, Executive Speech Writer
"The book shows trying to predict the future is a dangerous game, as some victims have found to their cost." -- Glasgow Herald 6-21-00
A funny collection of serious statements that did not come true... I laughed at nearly every page... Small wonder bacteria steak or plankton-burgers didnt catch on! Or how about houses built on turntables to catch the morning/afternoon sun? Pills to cure phobias? Disposable clothes? Flying houses that migrate with the seasons? Man will never fly is a familiar phrase, but did you know that the Wright brothers father, an Episcopalian bishop, said so?... There is pathos in Bad Predictions as well, like the prospector that sold his claim in South Africa for $20, a claim that turned out to contain 70% of the worlds supply of gold... Struggling authors will be entertained by the muddle-headed editors who intoned: Your book will never sell who then saw that work make millions for another publisher. Even Stephen King was so crushed when his first novel, Carrie, was rejected, that he hid it in a drawer for 10 years. Sports fans will enjoy the chapter on what was said about great athletes. Inventors will be exposed to new (old) ideas. Trivia nuts will learn a wealth of new material. In short, theres something in this book for almost everyone. Highly recommended. -- BookBrowser
"Every leader's nightmare -- his and her worst predictions recorded for posterity. Still, if read with some charity for the predictors, this is an amusing and enlightening resource book." -- Edsel B. Ford II
"For anyone who dares to look ahead to see around the bend or around the globe. If youve ever been told you cannot achieve something, but went ahead and tried anyway, Bad Predictions is for you. Its a book that you will read and re-read and want to share with your friends and colleagues. Theres a wealth of good information inside as well as some good laughs. Man will never fly. Faulkner cant write. The world will end in 1900. Someone somewhere said these things and much more. Bad Predictions is a delightful collection of failed promises, wrong-headed thinking, thwarted ambition and tales of people who failed to heed the warnings and succeeded in spite of the experts. It's also a great deal of fun. Its a must read." -- John Baldoni, Leadership Consultant, President, LC21.com
"In a world in which organizations self-assess through comparisons of TGR (Things Gone Right) and TGW (Things Gone Wrong), here is a masterful celebration of TGGW (Things Gone Gloriously Wrong). An invaluable and humbling book for managers and communicators alike." -- Thomas Morrisey, Executive Speech Writer
"The book shows trying to predict the future is a dangerous game, as some victims have found to their cost." -- Glasgow Herald 6-21-00
A funny collection of serious statements that did not come true... I laughed at nearly every page... Small wonder bacteria steak or plankton-burgers didnt catch on! Or how about houses built on turntables to catch the morning/afternoon sun? Pills to cure phobias? Disposable clothes? Flying houses that migrate with the seasons? Man will never fly is a familiar phrase, but did you know that the Wright brothers father, an Episcopalian bishop, said so?... There is pathos in Bad Predictions as well, like the prospector that sold his claim in South Africa for $20, a claim that turned out to contain 70% of the worlds supply of gold... Struggling authors will be entertained by the muddle-headed editors who intoned: Your book will never sell who then saw that work make millions for another publisher. Even Stephen King was so crushed when his first novel, Carrie, was rejected, that he hid it in a drawer for 10 years. Sports fans will enjoy the chapter on what was said about great athletes. Inventors will be exposed to new (old) ideas. Trivia nuts will learn a wealth of new material. In short, theres something in this book for almost everyone. Highly recommended. -- BookBrowser
About the Author
Laura Lee is a former actress and radio announcer who now makes her living as a writer of executive speeches, magazine articles, and occasional newspaper reporting. Along with Bad Predictions, Lee is the author of four books- a collection of poetry, Invited to Sound; The Name's Familiar: Mr. Leotard, Barbie and Chef Boyardee a former Book of the Month Club alternate selection; and the forthcoming Arlo, Alice and Anglicans: The Lives of a New England Church which tells the story of the church featured in the song and movie Alice's Restaurant. A sequel to The Name's Familiar is due out in 2001.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Glad I didn't say that!,
This review is from: Bad Predictions (Paperback)
As an educator, I love having stories to share about those who thought they knew what they were talking about and didn't. Too often we take what others' say too seriously and here are wonderful examples of what people said that weren't so insigtful. The book is a delightful read full of lots of laughs as well as moments of deep contemplation as things hit a little too close to home. Thanks to Ms. Lee for another great book.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
You Can't Let This One Get Away,
By Carolyn P. (Memphis, TN USA) - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Bad Predictions (Paperback)
Bad Predictions definitely has something for everyone. Even a person who doesn't enjoy books won't be able to put this one down after the first glance. It's divided into sections so everyone can flip to their favorite field first. Such as Society, Fashion, Transportation, Technology etc.I found it not only fun and entertaining, but an educating and even humbling experience. While some of the bad predictions, are humorous, some such as "you'll never need more than 640k" make you realize how much things can change even in a few years. What's considered impossible today can be second nature tomorrow. I think I enjoyed predictions from the early 1900's the best. But, I predict everyone will have their own set of favorites. Like Laura's other book, "The Names Familiar", "Bad Predictions" is a perfect ice breaker and conversation maker. It's a great coffee table book, and it's easy to read. Congratulations to Laura Lee for another great winner!
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