Fernando Bessega

The books that failed to stand that test of time

Every year thousands of books become obsolete.  Maps are updated, Travel guides add new hotels, and scientists develop new technology however there are other times when event happens that changes history or an author’s theory is just plain gets it wrong.  Below are 10 examples of books that didn’t stand the tests of time. 

Books that failed to stand the test of time.

The Millennium Bug : How to Survive the Coming Chaos by Michael S. Hyatt

1998           

This account outlines an ominous view of how computer systems will be able to deal with the year 2000 problem. Power grids will go dark, 911 call centers descend into chaos, Visa cards die, and the industrialized world is reduced to hunting and gathering in Hyatt's millennium nightmare. In reality the only blackouts that occurred were from one too many glasses of millennium cheer.

The Nixon Nobody Knows by Henry D. Spalding

1972

An intimate glimpse into the Presidents private life exposing everything… Except that Watergate thing that he was planning for two years later.

Apple: The Inside Story of Intrigue, Egomania, and Business Blunders by Jim Carlton

1977

There may have been a shaky start but with after Steve Jobs successes with the Macintosh 128k in the 1980s and company recent successes with the iPod, iPhone, iMac and iTunes I personally think Carlton got it wrong.

Born to Run The O. J. Simpson Story by Larry Fox

1974

Written at the height of his NFL career as a running back the books author Larry Fox could never have predicted OJ’s run from the LAPD in his white bronco almost 20 years later.

Esperanto The World Interlanguage by George Allan Connor

1948

Esperanto was a constructed language developed in the late 1800s, which could supposedly be learned in a fraction of the time taken to learn a traditional language.  Much was touted in the early 20th century that Esperanto would alleviate language barrier problems but the concept never took off.

Money and Investments by Montgomery Rollins

1928

A reference book for the use of those desiring information in the handling of money or the investment thereof, however with Black Tuesday occurring the following year anyone taking this investment advice may have ended up in the poor house.

Spoiling for a Fight: The Rise of Eliot Spitzer by Brooke A. Masters

2006

In 2006 The Rise of Eliot Spitzer was published describing the ruthless ways in which he cracked down on unethical financial institutions. In 2008 the Fall of Eliot Spitzer was recorded in the newspapers, over his involvement with high price escort services.

Teen Dreams: Rob Lowe by Marci Fredricks

1985

Published in 1985 Teen Dreams depicts Lowe as the object of young women’s desires, but in 1988 this Brat Pack found himself one of the first celebrities scandalized by a sex tape in which he was, ironically, with a 16 year old girl.

True Brit: The Story of Singing Sensation by Sheryl Berk

1999

Written in 1999 when Britney was the squeaky clean, former Mousecateer, and children’s roll model.  Now less then a decade later she’s still on the front pages but it’s not for her singing.

In with the Euro, Out with the Pound: Single Currency for Britain by Christopher Johnson

1999

Nearly a decade after being written and there is no hint of Brittan dropping the Pound.

As you can see writing about the future is a precarious business but even some authors are ticked by sciences inability to invent everything our minds can dream up.  Daniel Wilson wrote an entire book about our distinct lack of moon colonies, flying cars and ray guns entitled Where's My Jetpack?

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