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

Anna Jane Grossman (Author), James Gulliver Hancock (Illustrator)
4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)

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Book Description

September 1, 2009
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.

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Customers buy this book with Whatever Happened to Pudding Pops?: The Lost Toys, Tastes, and Trends of the 70s and 80s $9.47

Obsolete: An Encyclopedia of Once-Common Things Passing Us By + Whatever Happened to Pudding Pops?: The Lost Toys, Tastes, and Trends of the 70s and 80s


Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Anna Jane Grossman is a New York–based freelance writer specializing in lifestyle and arts and entertainment features. Her work has appeared in dozens of publications, including the New York Times, Salon.com, the Washington Post, CNN.com, the Associated Press, Elle, New York Magazine, Marie Claire, and Fortune.


Product Details

  • Hardcover: 192 pages
  • Publisher: Abrams Image; 1st edition (September 1, 2009)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0810978490
  • ISBN-13: 978-0810978492
  • Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.6 x 0.7 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #579,191 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Anna Jane Grossman is a New York-based freelance writer specializing in lifestyle and entertainment features. Her work has appeared in dozens of publications, including The New York Times, Salon.com, The Washington Post, Elle, and Fortune.
Her second book, Obsolete, is being published by Abrams Image in September 2009. For more information, visit: http://AnnaJane.net.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
A Good and Interesting Read August 26, 2009
Format:Hardcover
When my daughter tried to return money I had left in her purse, I told her to keep it because a girl should always have change in case she needs to make a phone call. After I said this, I realized how "obsolete" that sounded and was. A kid of this generation would first ask to borrow someone elses cell phone [even a stranger's] rather than use a pay phone... or know how to use one. This book made me aware of these types of time warp moments. A book everyone will enjoy and find interesting.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Anna Jane Grossman creates a truly enjoyable way of bringing back the memories of those nearly forgotten creations, ways of life and past observations. Her modern and so often humorous slant provides the type of encyclopedia that encourages one to pick up her book today as well as in the future.

In these times a look at the past with reminders of how things were - with a laugh out loud - can always find a ready audience.

Sandy Santora
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Mel
Format:Hardcover
Obsolete is the best of both worlds: it's divided up into digestible bits to satisfy the cravings of a casual reader. But it's also got depth that'll fulfill the reader who wants to learn, reflect and laugh out loud. Obsolete is witty, thoughtful -- and quite possibly the only encyclopedia I will happily read several times, from cover to cover. The only problem I have with it is that not every entry has an entire essay. But hopefully that just means Abram's Image has a second edition in the pipeline!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Fun to read
If I can remember almost everything in that book, does that mean I'm obsolete, too? A fun read and I was amazed at how many of those things I was actually familiar with. Read more
Published 10 months ago by DANA VANSCOY
Informational and Entertaining, but Incomplete ...
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 more
Published 19 months ago by DACHokie
A Classic You'll Share for Generations
As technology advances quicker than most of us can keep up with, this book is both a nostalgic and humorous ride down memory lane! Read more
Published on April 30, 2010 by Abigail T. Ramos
Things We Couldn't Get Along Without. But Now Getting Along Without...
Ms. Grossman has created a treasure chest of valuable nostalgia. As entertaining as it is to read of these objects that formerly were intrinsic parts of our lives, it is even more... Read more
Published on April 20, 2010 by Larry Boer
Why it's fun to go back
At 32, I'm not always sure where I fit into the world today - this book helped me feel a little more grounded. Obsolete is poignant, but never maudlin. Read more
Published on April 20, 2010 by Jonathan Bender
Doesn't really deliver on its promise
Anna Jane Grossman's Obsolete was a book I was really looking forward to reading, an encyclopedia of the devices of the past that are no longer used or needed: slide rules,... Read more
Published on February 4, 2010 by mrliteral
Great Gift
I bought this book as a gift but must admit I did skim through the categories.
This is a great book - just reading some of the items brought back good memories. Read more
Published on December 17, 2009 by Kayetom
Doesnt taste great and definitly less filling..
Ok Amazon, you caught me again damn you.. Paying that 15.95 at a brick and mortor place for a book that you sell for far less. Thats what impulse book buying will do to you. Read more
Published on November 14, 2009 by RJ
"Obsolete" should be obsolete
I was disappointed in the book. I thought there was going to be more of a story line, or be a satire. Mostly just informative. I thought the book was very boring. Read more
Published on November 2, 2009 by Sherryldine
Pertinent and Delightful
Anna Jane Grossman's "Obsolete" is a warmly funny meditation on a topic of universal relevance in the developed world: the cost that the current, unprecedented speed of... Read more
Published on October 26, 2009 by Solitary Scholar
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