Future Stuff [Paperback]

Malcolm Abrams (Author), Harriet Bernstein (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This is a consumer's guide to over 250 useful and time- and energy-saving products and services which will affect the way Americans work and play by the year 2000. They are at present on the drawing board, in production, or already being test marketed. Included are not only serious inventions like voice-activated computers and lenses to help the blind see, but also fun stuff like kiss moisturizers and bikinis which will change color with one's mood. The book gives the odds on availability, estimated time of arrival, price, and explains how each invention works. The text is nontechnical, very readable, and appropriately described as window-shopping into the future. Recommended for public and undergraduate libraries.
- Sarojini Balachandran, Auburn Univ. Libs., Ala.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics) (October 1, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140126392
• ISBN-13: 978-0140126396
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,480,265 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Fun read, July 29, 2003

By 

Avid Reader (Franklin, Tn) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Future Stuff (Paperback)

This is a fun book - full of short tales of inventions which may or may not affect the future. I first read it in 1990 and at a second glance recently I noticed how tame the predictions were. Most were consumer-oriented items or fantasy ideas (floating furniture for easy cleaning) but several have become reality - stitches that fade, food wrappings that one can eat, windows that lighten or darken or allow more or less heat into a room.
The organization is simple - a few chapters with small vignettes about the product accompanied by a drawing of same. Of added interest were two additional items: Predictions of when the product would appear and the percent chance of its development.

3.0 out of 5 stars Fun read, July 6, 2003

By 

Avid Reader (Franklin, TN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Future Stuff (Paperback)

This is a fun book - full of short tales of inventions which may or may not affect the future. I first read it in 1990 and at a second glance recently I noticed how tame the predictions were. Most were consumer-oriented items or fantasy ideas (floating furniture for easy cleaning) but several have become reality - stitches that fade, food wrappings that one can eat, windows that lighten or darken or allow more or less heat into a room.

The organization is simple - a few chapters with small vignettes about the product accompanied by a drawing of same. Of added interest were two additional items: Predictions of when the product would appear and the percent chance of its development.