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21st Century Dodos: A Collection of Endangered Objects: and Other Stuff
A fond farewell to the many inanimate objects, cultural icons and general stuff around us that find themselves on the verge of extinction.
We’ve all heard of the list of endangered animals, but no one has ever pulled together a list of endangered inanimate objects. Until now, that is.
Steve Stack has catalogued well over one hundred objects, traditions, cultural icons and, well, other stuff that is at risk of extinction. Some of them have vanished already.
Cassette tapes, rotary dial phones, half-day closing, milk bottle deliveries, Concorde, handwritten letters, typewriters, countries that no longer exist, white dog poo… all these and many more are big a fond farewell in this nostalgic, and sometimes irreverent, trip down memory lane.
We’ve all heard of the list of endangered animals, but no one has ever pulled together a list of endangered inanimate objects. Until now, that is.
Steve Stack has catalogued well over one hundred objects, traditions, cultural icons and, well, other stuff that is at risk of extinction. Some of them have vanished already.
Cassette tapes, rotary dial phones, half-day closing, milk bottle deliveries, Concorde, handwritten letters, typewriters, countries that no longer exist, white dog poo… all these and many more are big a fond farewell in this nostalgic, and sometimes irreverent, trip down memory lane.
- GenresNonfictionHistoryHumor
224 pages, Hardcover
First published September 29, 2011
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215 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
September 22, 2019
If you are British and over 35, this book is for you. You are going to sit there, just like I did, nodding and smiling to yourself at all the things you remember that are now either gone forever or on their way out. Some you won't necessarily miss - like finding the only working telephone box in miles stinks of piss. Almost all the red telephone boxes are now privately owned and lovingly maintained.
Something to think about. These days we can order everything to be delivered to our home - from online shopping to the local curry house, but milkmen, the original delivered-to-your-home merchants have nearly died out.
If you are an American and think this short book might amuse you too, then you have to find out what sort of American you are first:
A, Really dislikes books from the UK that have not been Americanised . Not just the spelling, but words like 'pavement' have been replaced by 'sidewalk' and 'biscuit' by 'cookie'. Also would like a glossary at the back for the un-Americanised words. Occasionally feels like complaining of 'untranslated' books in reviews. You really won't enjoy this book.
B. Doesn't give a damn about the above, loved Monty Python and got the jokes. You'll probably like this book too, but... it's very much a British book. Actually I have a small anecdote about Monty Python and Fawlty Towers. Years ago it was the fashion on the island for hotels and bars to have a UK tv night, a big screen somewhere around the pool. There would be rows of chairs and the bar staff would, crouching down, run around bringing you drinks and free nachos at happy hour prices during the screenings.
Three sorts of people used to go the John Cleese nights. The British laughed before the sketches as people would call out its name as soon as it started, 'the parrot sketch', 'ministry of funny walks' 'the rat'. The Americans who laughed did so when something was obviously funny to them, but not us. And the West Indians, stood at the back, didn't laugh at all but were there for the cheap drinks.
For Sandra, who wanted to know why white doggie poo has disappeared.
So a good, very short and mildly amusing book to remind you of sherbet fountains, Walkmen, untangling C120 cassette tapes, dial telephones, Filofax, typewriters and something we've lost forever that our children don't even understand. Privacy.
Revised Sept 2019 because is full of typos. And bad grammar. Must have been an off day.
Something to think about. These days we can order everything to be delivered to our home - from online shopping to the local curry house, but milkmen, the original delivered-to-your-home merchants have nearly died out.
If you are an American and think this short book might amuse you too, then you have to find out what sort of American you are first:
A, Really dislikes books from the UK that have not been Americanised . Not just the spelling, but words like 'pavement' have been replaced by 'sidewalk' and 'biscuit' by 'cookie'. Also would like a glossary at the back for the un-Americanised words. Occasionally feels like complaining of 'untranslated' books in reviews. You really won't enjoy this book.
B. Doesn't give a damn about the above, loved Monty Python and got the jokes. You'll probably like this book too, but... it's very much a British book. Actually I have a small anecdote about Monty Python and Fawlty Towers. Years ago it was the fashion on the island for hotels and bars to have a UK tv night, a big screen somewhere around the pool. There would be rows of chairs and the bar staff would, crouching down, run around bringing you drinks and free nachos at happy hour prices during the screenings.
Three sorts of people used to go the John Cleese nights. The British laughed before the sketches as people would call out its name as soon as it started, 'the parrot sketch', 'ministry of funny walks' 'the rat'. The Americans who laughed did so when something was obviously funny to them, but not us. And the West Indians, stood at the back, didn't laugh at all but were there for the cheap drinks.
For Sandra, who wanted to know why white doggie poo has disappeared.
So a good, very short and mildly amusing book to remind you of sherbet fountains, Walkmen, untangling C120 cassette tapes, dial telephones, Filofax, typewriters and something we've lost forever that our children don't even understand. Privacy.
Revised Sept 2019 because is full of typos. And bad grammar. Must have been an off day.
July 15, 2016
As the title indicates, 21st Century Dodos is a collection of common objects and concepts heading toward extinction.
This was a pretty short book and I don't have a whole lot to say about it. It contains humorous entries about VHS, Betamax, rotary telephones, pipes, typewriters, various extinct candies and countries, telegrams, and other subjects, most notably that white dog poop from the 1970s and 80s you don't see much of anymore.
21st Century Dodos is very much a British book. There were quite a few entries that I had no idea what was being discussed. That being said, I still found it pretty interesting and amusing. 3 out of 5 stars and well worth 99 cents.
This was a pretty short book and I don't have a whole lot to say about it. It contains humorous entries about VHS, Betamax, rotary telephones, pipes, typewriters, various extinct candies and countries, telegrams, and other subjects, most notably that white dog poop from the 1970s and 80s you don't see much of anymore.
21st Century Dodos is very much a British book. There were quite a few entries that I had no idea what was being discussed. That being said, I still found it pretty interesting and amusing. 3 out of 5 stars and well worth 99 cents.
July 22, 2014
21st Century Dodos: A Collection of Endangered Objects is the perfect coffee table read. The book is filled with a plethora of fun, nostalgia inspiring items such as Cassettes, Telegraphs and Milkshake straws. However despite the authors implications that anyone under 35 will get no value out of this books' content, I personally think any 90's kid and earlier will find many fun memories in this book.
My only real issue with this book (and it's not so much an actual issue as it is a disappointment) is that this book features largely British items and brands, and as a Canadian I would say I was left in the dark on many of the exclusively British Dodos.
Overall fun read with a decent amount of worldwide Dodos although majority are of British descent.
Note: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
October 8, 2011
Hands up if you remember cap guns, cigarette candy and the screech of a tape loading to play your favourite pixellated computer game? If so, you'll find this book a nostalgic, fuzzy-feeling and amusing trip down memory lane. If you follow @meandmybigmouth on Twitter, then you'll have a good idea of the style of writing.
I kept reading "if you're over 30" or "readers under 30 won't remember" and thinking, "I remember this stuff" only to remind myself that I will be turning 30 next month. Maybe this book, more than anything else, has hit that home and I'll stop thinking I'm 25 still. The things of my youth are sadly no longer with us and some of it I never even had the pleasure of experiencing. I don't think I even had a VCR until I left for university!
If you're my age or older, I think you'll love it. It was briefly passed round at work and inspired a conversation about dog poo (our token young person was fortunately out of the office). If you want to know what on earth your parents keep reminiscing about, this could possibly help too!
I admit, I don't remember everything in this book but it was nice to learn about the things that became extinct before my brain cells were fully functioning. I really do think this sort of stuff should be included in the curriculum, history is not just about war but about the little things that changed everyday life. And yes, Opal Fruits are still Opal Fruits in my mind...
I kept reading "if you're over 30" or "readers under 30 won't remember" and thinking, "I remember this stuff" only to remind myself that I will be turning 30 next month. Maybe this book, more than anything else, has hit that home and I'll stop thinking I'm 25 still. The things of my youth are sadly no longer with us and some of it I never even had the pleasure of experiencing. I don't think I even had a VCR until I left for university!
If you're my age or older, I think you'll love it. It was briefly passed round at work and inspired a conversation about dog poo (our token young person was fortunately out of the office). If you want to know what on earth your parents keep reminiscing about, this could possibly help too!
I admit, I don't remember everything in this book but it was nice to learn about the things that became extinct before my brain cells were fully functioning. I really do think this sort of stuff should be included in the curriculum, history is not just about war but about the little things that changed everyday life. And yes, Opal Fruits are still Opal Fruits in my mind...
April 9, 2014
If you want to feel prehistoric while simultaneously reliving the joys of your childhood, this book is for you! That’s assuming that you were around in the 1970s and 1980s, otherwise much of 21st Century Dodos will feel inexplicably bizarre.
Steve Stack has assembled a collection of things that are either now extinct or rarely seen these days. These aren’t just limited to gadgets, foodstuffs or TV adverts they don’t make any more, but also include activities, ways of doing things and even concepts. So alongside entries for ‘Rotary Dial Telephones’, ‘Candy Cigarettes’ and ‘Humphreys’ you will also find ‘Mixtapes’, ‘Half-day Closing’ and ‘Waiting Ages for American Films to Come Out’.
Many of these really struck a chord with me and brought back some detailed memories. ‘Loading Computer Games from Tape’ – how many hours were lost watching my Commodore 64 upload a simple game from cassette? ‘One Phone in the Home’ – the awkwardness of gossiping to your mates with your Mum pretending not to eavesdrop! ‘Calculator Watches’ – I owned a digital watch that you could play Pac-man on which made me the most popular kid in school for about five hours!
There is some genuine research into many of these, alongside the author’s own personal reminiscences. ‘Nuns’ made me laugh while also realising he was right – you really don’t see them as often as you used to. And his entry for ‘Handwritten Letters’ is a gem.
Steve writes with a light touch and plenty of humour, but also a strong observational slant. He doesn’t claim that the past is better than the present, as you might expect such a nostalgic book to do, but isn’t afraid to state where he feels the modern world has gone astray. There are some mild but insightful commentaries on heavyweight topics such as corporal punishment and over-protectiveness towards children. These add a little Weetabix crunchiness to balance out all the Woolworths pick’n'mix sweetness.
This is a funny, thoughtful romp through yesteryear that really highlights how much life has changed in the last few decades.
Steve Stack has assembled a collection of things that are either now extinct or rarely seen these days. These aren’t just limited to gadgets, foodstuffs or TV adverts they don’t make any more, but also include activities, ways of doing things and even concepts. So alongside entries for ‘Rotary Dial Telephones’, ‘Candy Cigarettes’ and ‘Humphreys’ you will also find ‘Mixtapes’, ‘Half-day Closing’ and ‘Waiting Ages for American Films to Come Out’.
Many of these really struck a chord with me and brought back some detailed memories. ‘Loading Computer Games from Tape’ – how many hours were lost watching my Commodore 64 upload a simple game from cassette? ‘One Phone in the Home’ – the awkwardness of gossiping to your mates with your Mum pretending not to eavesdrop! ‘Calculator Watches’ – I owned a digital watch that you could play Pac-man on which made me the most popular kid in school for about five hours!
There is some genuine research into many of these, alongside the author’s own personal reminiscences. ‘Nuns’ made me laugh while also realising he was right – you really don’t see them as often as you used to. And his entry for ‘Handwritten Letters’ is a gem.
Steve writes with a light touch and plenty of humour, but also a strong observational slant. He doesn’t claim that the past is better than the present, as you might expect such a nostalgic book to do, but isn’t afraid to state where he feels the modern world has gone astray. There are some mild but insightful commentaries on heavyweight topics such as corporal punishment and over-protectiveness towards children. These add a little Weetabix crunchiness to balance out all the Woolworths pick’n'mix sweetness.
This is a funny, thoughtful romp through yesteryear that really highlights how much life has changed in the last few decades.
July 14, 2014
I might be a bit below the target age for this one -- I remember some of these things, like cassettes and candy cigarettes and Jif, but other stuff was on its way out before I got there. I'm about to turn twenty-five, so I'd guess I'm about ten years behind some of this nostalgia stuff.
It's not a very substantial book, but if you feel like a bit of nostalgia and an opportunity to go 'I thought I was the only one who remembered that!', then this might be for you.
Some of it hasn't yet gone the way of the dodo for me: my parents get milk delivered, and I remember watching the milk float arrive on those illicit late nights I stayed up reading, sometimes. Okay, the first time it actually really freaked me out. But still. Milk float.
It's not a very substantial book, but if you feel like a bit of nostalgia and an opportunity to go 'I thought I was the only one who remembered that!', then this might be for you.
Some of it hasn't yet gone the way of the dodo for me: my parents get milk delivered, and I remember watching the milk float arrive on those illicit late nights I stayed up reading, sometimes. Okay, the first time it actually really freaked me out. But still. Milk float.
October 5, 2011
I loved it, and I sailed through its 230 plus pages of nostalgic cap-tipping to all those once familiar objects we rarely see any more (or see rarely as their numbers are so few) with both a smile on my lips and a wistful look on my face. It’s nice to be reminded of good things. It’s nice to be reminded of bad too. But what Stack manages admirably to do, is make you sigh and laugh, almost at the same time. I like, too, that certain things I’d not heard of (duocans anyone?) were explained. The book is both an education and entertaining.
But what did it for me, and what, I think, is perhaps the best endorsement of the book, was everyone else’s reaction to it.
On Saturday we had a barbecue. My sister, her husband, and their son are visiting from China, and my brother and his other half came up from London. My parents were there too. They saw the book, they asked about it, and they talked about it, flicking through it, and we remembered things together. And I know it’s a bit of a cliché, but there was something in it for everyone. Certain cars that, a few years ago, you couldn’t go anywhere without seeing, that just aren’t around any more (though I did see a Ford Sierra yesterday); Green Shield Stamps; computer games you had to load from a cassette; ring pulls – even Rag and Bone Men (a job my great-grandfather had).
So, there you go. A book I loved and one that will, I’m sure, appeal to many others, all with different ages and preferences. We each have our own history and I think you’ll find at least some of it in this remarkable volume.
But what did it for me, and what, I think, is perhaps the best endorsement of the book, was everyone else’s reaction to it.
On Saturday we had a barbecue. My sister, her husband, and their son are visiting from China, and my brother and his other half came up from London. My parents were there too. They saw the book, they asked about it, and they talked about it, flicking through it, and we remembered things together. And I know it’s a bit of a cliché, but there was something in it for everyone. Certain cars that, a few years ago, you couldn’t go anywhere without seeing, that just aren’t around any more (though I did see a Ford Sierra yesterday); Green Shield Stamps; computer games you had to load from a cassette; ring pulls – even Rag and Bone Men (a job my great-grandfather had).
So, there you go. A book I loved and one that will, I’m sure, appeal to many others, all with different ages and preferences. We each have our own history and I think you’ll find at least some of it in this remarkable volume.
September 21, 2020
Easy read about stuff that no longer is around
April 24, 2020
This was an ok way to spend an hour or so. Probably more nostalgic if you’re British as a lot of the things he mentions were not found world wide.
July 19, 2014
How can it be so hard to review a book that had me sighing and nodding in agreement all the way through? A book that started so many conversations in this house .... "Oh, do you remember ......"; "bloody hell, I've not thought of those for years ....."; "now I'm craving ....."
This is not a story, it's not fiction, nor is it a history book ~ well, I suppose it is in a way. I defy anyone over the age of 35 to read this without exclaiming in joy at least ten times throughout.
I remember EVERYTHING in this book - every single thing. The shops on the High Street, and not just Woolworths, but Athena and Our Price and C&A (did every C&A smell a bit funny, or was that just the Lincoln branch?). I remember the frustration of arriving in town at 2pm on Wednesday and remembering that it's bloody HALF DAY CLOSING.
Black Jacks and Fruit Salad chews at half a penny each; Spangles and sweet cigarettes; reading Mandy comic and always having a 2p coin so that we could ring Dial-a-Disc from the red telephone box.
21st Century Dodos brings back so many memories, and yes, I do look back fondly and it's easy to forget that this was mainly the 70s - the decade of very bad fashion mistakes, and terrible disco pants and rock stars who wore platform boots and glittery eyeshadow (and that was the men).
This is perfect book for one of those evenings or summer afternoon when you get all of your friends round, down a few bottles and start reminiscing about the 'good old days'. It will spark so many memories, so many conversations and I'd guess there would be a fair few arguments too.
This is funny and charming and will make you crave things that you'd not thought about in years. The writing is great, not stuffy or text-book like - it's easy and friendly and I loved it. I loved every page.
This is not a story, it's not fiction, nor is it a history book ~ well, I suppose it is in a way. I defy anyone over the age of 35 to read this without exclaiming in joy at least ten times throughout.
I remember EVERYTHING in this book - every single thing. The shops on the High Street, and not just Woolworths, but Athena and Our Price and C&A (did every C&A smell a bit funny, or was that just the Lincoln branch?). I remember the frustration of arriving in town at 2pm on Wednesday and remembering that it's bloody HALF DAY CLOSING.
Black Jacks and Fruit Salad chews at half a penny each; Spangles and sweet cigarettes; reading Mandy comic and always having a 2p coin so that we could ring Dial-a-Disc from the red telephone box.
21st Century Dodos brings back so many memories, and yes, I do look back fondly and it's easy to forget that this was mainly the 70s - the decade of very bad fashion mistakes, and terrible disco pants and rock stars who wore platform boots and glittery eyeshadow (and that was the men).
This is perfect book for one of those evenings or summer afternoon when you get all of your friends round, down a few bottles and start reminiscing about the 'good old days'. It will spark so many memories, so many conversations and I'd guess there would be a fair few arguments too.
This is funny and charming and will make you crave things that you'd not thought about in years. The writing is great, not stuffy or text-book like - it's easy and friendly and I loved it. I loved every page.
July 1, 2014
If you remember sliding your home made mix cassette tape, recorded in silence from the Radio Top 40, into your Walkman and strapping your calculator watch to your wrist before disappearing to play unsupervised in the local park until dinner time, then the nostalgic appeal 21st Century Dodos will be a source of nostalgic appeal.
Subtitled "A collection of endangered objects (and other stuff)" this is a light and humourous tribute to the end of an era. At just forty it seems almost obscene that so much of my childhood is now obsolete - rotary phones, Polaroid cameras, 10c mixed lolly bags (Cobbers were my favourite), school blackboards and roller skates but I enjoyed the reminder of these simple pleasures, and treasures.
It might hearten Steve Stack to know Australia still has Woolworths stores and my boys are currently participating in Bob-a-Job week (though I go door to door with them). Not having grown up in England however there are a lot of things mentioned in the book that I'm unfamiliar with, retailers, television shows and product brands among them.
21st Century Dodos is a fun read, for anyone over about 35 I would think, but as it is heavily skewed towards British culture it is to those readers that grew up in England during the 1970/1980's that I would recommend this book.
July 22, 2014
READ IN ENGLISH
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, thank you!
I couldn't resist a book that has 'dodo' in the title and features one on the cover. It's a collection of short entries about 'endangered things'.
I think this is book that's best for people who are a bit older than I'm and preferably British, as there are some chapters on British shops and television. However, even if you weren't alive in the '80s nor British, in other words, just like me, you'll probably enjoy this book.
I was planning on just searching the interesting chapters, but ended reading everything. The writing was very nice and sometimes even funny. I would recommend however to not read everything in one go, as it shows that not everything is written on the same moment and there's some repetition between certain pieces. But overall, very enjoyable.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, thank you!
I couldn't resist a book that has 'dodo' in the title and features one on the cover. It's a collection of short entries about 'endangered things'.
I think this is book that's best for people who are a bit older than I'm and preferably British, as there are some chapters on British shops and television. However, even if you weren't alive in the '80s nor British, in other words, just like me, you'll probably enjoy this book.
I was planning on just searching the interesting chapters, but ended reading everything. The writing was very nice and sometimes even funny. I would recommend however to not read everything in one go, as it shows that not everything is written on the same moment and there's some repetition between certain pieces. But overall, very enjoyable.
November 9, 2012
I loved this book - it was laugh out loud funny and full of those bewildering memories that you hoped you'd forgotten, but when prompted they all come tumbling back and time slips by in the blink of an eye.
June 21, 2024
This book has the author lamenting the loss of such things as ring pulls, white dog poo, nuns (apparently there aren't as many as there used to be), directory enquiries, milk deliveries, and more. Unnecessarily more. It feels a bit like:
Hey, remember how kids played in the street before everyone got scared about pedos? Remember cap guns, boys (because, he says, girls won't remember these)? Oh and remember corporal punishment? I'm not saying we should beat kids, but a clip round the ear might be good for them! Oh and remember crappy sports shows that ate up TV schedules, and that shitty magazine Look-In, and the change of pronunciation for Nestles and Nougat, what are we, fackin French?
Ugh. This book is like listening to some dude who says he doesn't mind change, but remember when you could walk down the street with your rotary phone, smacking random kids on the back of the head for not being respectful to all the nuns?
At the end of the book, the author says that man's quest for progress leaves devastation in its wake. Coincidentally, at the beginning of the book he says you can download an app for extra Dodo material. So, you know, be warned I guess.
Oh, btw, I remember cap guns and I enjoyed mine very much, thank you.
Hey, remember how kids played in the street before everyone got scared about pedos? Remember cap guns, boys (because, he says, girls won't remember these)? Oh and remember corporal punishment? I'm not saying we should beat kids, but a clip round the ear might be good for them! Oh and remember crappy sports shows that ate up TV schedules, and that shitty magazine Look-In, and the change of pronunciation for Nestles and Nougat, what are we, fackin French?
Ugh. This book is like listening to some dude who says he doesn't mind change, but remember when you could walk down the street with your rotary phone, smacking random kids on the back of the head for not being respectful to all the nuns?
At the end of the book, the author says that man's quest for progress leaves devastation in its wake. Coincidentally, at the beginning of the book he says you can download an app for extra Dodo material. So, you know, be warned I guess.
Oh, btw, I remember cap guns and I enjoyed mine very much, thank you.
January 21, 2024
21st Century Dodos is a fabulous, welcome and downright hilarious trip down memory lane! Most of the "dodos" I remember and some weren't familiar at first but then I had "Oh, now I remember" moments! I got this book in 2012. Quite why I've waited nearly 12 years to read it is a mystery to me as it's just brilliant!!
May 27, 2017
God, I feel old!! :-)
Enjoyable and easy read, of course not everything is relatable, if you don't live in the UK, but still.
And what is it about the white dog poo? That made me giggle out loud. :-)
Enjoyable and easy read, of course not everything is relatable, if you don't live in the UK, but still.
And what is it about the white dog poo? That made me giggle out loud. :-)
January 26, 2021
Great read for lovers of history
This is a great collection of items that are or are nearly extinct in every day life! Some of the items are foreign to me,but then I don't live in England either.
This is a great collection of items that are or are nearly extinct in every day life! Some of the items are foreign to me,but then I don't live in England either.
October 15, 2018
Great framing of a book on a last farewell to different products. A bit too focused on the UK to earn the fourth star. Fun book - and I even learned some things.
January 12, 2022
Nostalgia for Gen Xers, I’ve had this book so long it’s 11 years old itself!
January 3, 2016
The topic of vanishing pop culture is one that fascinates me.
It used to be that what was popular tended to be ephemeral: most of it simply came and went. Consider this:
* The original copyright term in the USA was 14 years, renewable once if the author was still alive
* The original cast of Gilligan's Island got no royalties from syndication. Typically, the thought was that a TV episode would run once, and have perhaps two re-runs...and that was the end of its value
* Some television shows were recorded over by the owners, meaning that some episodes (even of reasonabl popular shows) have been lost
Certainly, the release of older movies to television (especially 1957's release of pre-1948 movies, in particular Universal horror movies) started to change that, and helped engender the no)stalgia craze of the 1960s.
Digital media, with its very inexpensive distribution has further helped preserve and reinivigorate pop culture. I've written about how "you are showing your age when you say you are showing your age".
Reboots (of just about anything) also revive pop culture. Two years ago, I could be pretty sure that almost no one under 50 would get a joke I would make about The Man from U.N.C.L.E. We had a (less than blockbuster) remake last year. This year, there is a remake of Pete's Dragon coming from Disney, and a new TV series of ElectraWoman and Dyna Girl is in the works.
That said, pop culture is still disappearing.
I was very surprised when our Millenial (now adult) kid didn't know what a cassette audiotape was...despite listening to them as a small child. The not knowing was years ago, but it was telling.
So, the idea of a book about vanishing pop culture certainly appealed to me.
Steve Stack delivers on the idea, and I like that it covers a number of different topics...not just media, but things like candy bars and white "dog poo".
A book like this also benefits from a sense of humor and of autobiography, and 21st Century Dodos has both.
There are a couple of cautions I'll give you.
First, and importantly for Americans, this is a very British book. Our shared culture may have some overlaps (mix tapes, for example), but the specifics may be surprisingly different. You may feel like you know another country's culture, but just try watching a game show from somewhere else. :) Not only are the shows and candy different, but you'll need to understand terms and phrases like "came a cropper" and "punters". I was amused by this: "In an attempt to broaden the international appeal of this book, here is an entry for Scottish readers."
Second, this appears to be a collection of episodic writing (as in a blog). When you write over a long period of time like that, you tend to reuse the same terms and phrases (as noted above...both of those appear multiple times) and even concepts (believe me, I know). That works fine when you are reading them spaced out, over a long period time. When you read them as a book, you notice it much more. If you read the same term ten times over the course of a year, it's much less noticeable than when you read it over the course of an hour.
Neither of those were a big deal for me.
Bottom line: this is a fun bit of nostalgia, well-written, but will generally not be as enjoyable for readers not from England.
It used to be that what was popular tended to be ephemeral: most of it simply came and went. Consider this:
* The original copyright term in the USA was 14 years, renewable once if the author was still alive
* The original cast of Gilligan's Island got no royalties from syndication. Typically, the thought was that a TV episode would run once, and have perhaps two re-runs...and that was the end of its value
* Some television shows were recorded over by the owners, meaning that some episodes (even of reasonabl popular shows) have been lost
Certainly, the release of older movies to television (especially 1957's release of pre-1948 movies, in particular Universal horror movies) started to change that, and helped engender the no)stalgia craze of the 1960s.
Digital media, with its very inexpensive distribution has further helped preserve and reinivigorate pop culture. I've written about how "you are showing your age when you say you are showing your age".
Reboots (of just about anything) also revive pop culture. Two years ago, I could be pretty sure that almost no one under 50 would get a joke I would make about The Man from U.N.C.L.E. We had a (less than blockbuster) remake last year. This year, there is a remake of Pete's Dragon coming from Disney, and a new TV series of ElectraWoman and Dyna Girl is in the works.
That said, pop culture is still disappearing.
I was very surprised when our Millenial (now adult) kid didn't know what a cassette audiotape was...despite listening to them as a small child. The not knowing was years ago, but it was telling.
So, the idea of a book about vanishing pop culture certainly appealed to me.
Steve Stack delivers on the idea, and I like that it covers a number of different topics...not just media, but things like candy bars and white "dog poo".
A book like this also benefits from a sense of humor and of autobiography, and 21st Century Dodos has both.
There are a couple of cautions I'll give you.
First, and importantly for Americans, this is a very British book. Our shared culture may have some overlaps (mix tapes, for example), but the specifics may be surprisingly different. You may feel like you know another country's culture, but just try watching a game show from somewhere else. :) Not only are the shows and candy different, but you'll need to understand terms and phrases like "came a cropper" and "punters". I was amused by this: "In an attempt to broaden the international appeal of this book, here is an entry for Scottish readers."
Second, this appears to be a collection of episodic writing (as in a blog). When you write over a long period of time like that, you tend to reuse the same terms and phrases (as noted above...both of those appear multiple times) and even concepts (believe me, I know). That works fine when you are reading them spaced out, over a long period time. When you read them as a book, you notice it much more. If you read the same term ten times over the course of a year, it's much less noticeable than when you read it over the course of an hour.
Neither of those were a big deal for me.
Bottom line: this is a fun bit of nostalgia, well-written, but will generally not be as enjoyable for readers not from England.
July 2, 2014
I don’t read a lot of non-fiction, something I always feel bad about, so when the publisher contacted me and asked me to consider 21st Century Dodos I jumped at the chance. I like funny non-fiction books that I can dip in and out of so this looked like it could be a good match for me. The only slight concern I had was my age – I’m in my early 30s so whilst I expected I would be able to identify with a good proportion of the Dodos in the book there were likely to be plenty that had reached or nearly reached extinction before I’d had the chance to become aware of them.
I was pleasantly surprised to find that actually I was familiar with the vast majority of the Dodos in the book, and those that I didn’t have first hand experience of were all things I’d heard about from family members. I was amused to find that a number of the more recent Dodos either still exist to some extent or have only recently disappeared from the sleepy corner of rural Worcestershire I currently call home.
The book itself is divided into 10 sections, each collecting together Dodos on a similar theme e.g. In the home, On the high street. The paperback edition I had to review is a “New and improved” edition with the addition of a section called Reader’s Dodos – all things that had been suggested by readers of the first edition. I liked the structure a lot, when I came to a new section I found myself wondering whether certain things would be included in it and was then pleased each time to discover that they were.
I had fully intended to dip in and out of this book, but after reading the first few entries in the first section I switched to reading it in an entirely linear manner – not wanting to risk missing out on any of the entries. I picked it up whenever I had a few minutes to fill, each time planning to read the next two or three entries before finding I’d read another ten or fifteen.
This book is a wonderful slice of nostalgia, I think any reader will find lots to enjoy. I particularly liked the entries on technological things which tend to offer a more detailed overview of how the various technologies evolved and died out. I’m going to be passing my copy on to a couple of family members I know will love this book, I think a couple of people may also get it as a present in the next few months.
I was pleasantly surprised to find that actually I was familiar with the vast majority of the Dodos in the book, and those that I didn’t have first hand experience of were all things I’d heard about from family members. I was amused to find that a number of the more recent Dodos either still exist to some extent or have only recently disappeared from the sleepy corner of rural Worcestershire I currently call home.
The book itself is divided into 10 sections, each collecting together Dodos on a similar theme e.g. In the home, On the high street. The paperback edition I had to review is a “New and improved” edition with the addition of a section called Reader’s Dodos – all things that had been suggested by readers of the first edition. I liked the structure a lot, when I came to a new section I found myself wondering whether certain things would be included in it and was then pleased each time to discover that they were.
I had fully intended to dip in and out of this book, but after reading the first few entries in the first section I switched to reading it in an entirely linear manner – not wanting to risk missing out on any of the entries. I picked it up whenever I had a few minutes to fill, each time planning to read the next two or three entries before finding I’d read another ten or fifteen.
This book is a wonderful slice of nostalgia, I think any reader will find lots to enjoy. I particularly liked the entries on technological things which tend to offer a more detailed overview of how the various technologies evolved and died out. I’m going to be passing my copy on to a couple of family members I know will love this book, I think a couple of people may also get it as a present in the next few months.
October 14, 2014
Netgalley
.5 because all things that exist should get a little nod
The premise of this book was intriguing. It suggested a look at things that remain on the bottom of that cardboard box in your garage, basement, or safety deposit box because you are silly enough to think that Michael Jackson's Thriller will be worth something someday—it probably will, so smart move, because I tossed mine a decade ago.
A list, basically, but in paragraph form that looks at things we are suppose to have forgotten, but really haven't because they are so vital to defining a given generation, say Polaroids and audio cassettes, and thus the experience is just a reminder and not "YES! the 'iron token' I totally forgot about it".
It was the listless, endless drone of halfhearted, sorry little paragraphs that are dreadfully reminiscent of those conversations you had/have with your semi-sober grandfather that started with … "In my day…".
There is this inherent friction between the items referenced in the book because the bracket segmenting the decades covered within it are so widespread. Rather than a distinct look at the 40s, the 50s, the 60s, etc, this book just sorta splays them on the floor in a haphazard manner.
And then it just gets silliness all over the place. In the 'Readers' Dodos' they have isolated and sterilized the grandpa '… in my day'.
"cadbury's creme eggs- the old school ones that were larger and more chocolately and not so sickly sweet. I'm sure the yolks were brighter and if you took them from the fridge, a sheen of sweat would bloom on their crisp chocolately shells."
The problem here isn't with what is focused on, though that is not as finely tuned as it could have been, but with the formation and lack of ambition. This reads more like monochromatic stories shared at Springfield Retirement Castle; though this is probably underestimating Grampa Simpson. The lack of photos, the strange and flimsy organization and sequence of objects discussed, lay flat on the page and reading it is quite garish.
Yes I remember mix tapes, vas, cap guns, blackboards, audio cassettes , polaroid cameras, printer paper with holes, dial up modems, compact discs, walkman, projectionists , candy cigarettes, the Concorde, typewriters, etc, but do I really want to revisit them through such painfully dull display glass?
.5 because all things that exist should get a little nod
The premise of this book was intriguing. It suggested a look at things that remain on the bottom of that cardboard box in your garage, basement, or safety deposit box because you are silly enough to think that Michael Jackson's Thriller will be worth something someday—it probably will, so smart move, because I tossed mine a decade ago.
A list, basically, but in paragraph form that looks at things we are suppose to have forgotten, but really haven't because they are so vital to defining a given generation, say Polaroids and audio cassettes, and thus the experience is just a reminder and not "YES! the 'iron token' I totally forgot about it".
It was the listless, endless drone of halfhearted, sorry little paragraphs that are dreadfully reminiscent of those conversations you had/have with your semi-sober grandfather that started with … "In my day…".
There is this inherent friction between the items referenced in the book because the bracket segmenting the decades covered within it are so widespread. Rather than a distinct look at the 40s, the 50s, the 60s, etc, this book just sorta splays them on the floor in a haphazard manner.
And then it just gets silliness all over the place. In the 'Readers' Dodos' they have isolated and sterilized the grandpa '… in my day'.
"cadbury's creme eggs- the old school ones that were larger and more chocolately and not so sickly sweet. I'm sure the yolks were brighter and if you took them from the fridge, a sheen of sweat would bloom on their crisp chocolately shells."
The problem here isn't with what is focused on, though that is not as finely tuned as it could have been, but with the formation and lack of ambition. This reads more like monochromatic stories shared at Springfield Retirement Castle; though this is probably underestimating Grampa Simpson. The lack of photos, the strange and flimsy organization and sequence of objects discussed, lay flat on the page and reading it is quite garish.
Yes I remember mix tapes, vas, cap guns, blackboards, audio cassettes , polaroid cameras, printer paper with holes, dial up modems, compact discs, walkman, projectionists , candy cigarettes, the Concorde, typewriters, etc, but do I really want to revisit them through such painfully dull display glass?
October 6, 2011
Steve Stack's new book 21st Century Dodos, published by The Friday Project (an imprint from Harpercollins) is an affectionate farewell to the many inanimate objects like your beloved VHS player and collection, cultural icons like your local lighthouse keeper and other general bits and bobs like minidisc players (I literally saved up my pocket money for months to buy one only to be told by the guy in the local record shop that no produced albums on minidisc) and Smash Hits Magazine. Most items are on the verge of extinction and many have vanished already. For the first time we have an endangered list and it is up to us to save these objects in our lofts and basements.
21st Century Dodos will make a great present for anyone who says 'in my day' and/or like to sit on the toilet, reading. The short chapters make it ideal for toilet reading. I didn't actually experiment with reading the book on the toilet because I didn't want to have a ring around my bum as the book pulls you into a nostalgic frenzy.
21st Century Dodos is funny and I guarantee you will be reading out extracts to your partner, the person sitting next to you on the bus or your pet snail. I don't remember the days when you have to use tapes to load games on computers but my boyfriend did and he loved that section of the book!
21st Century Dodos will make a great present for anyone who says 'in my day' and/or like to sit on the toilet, reading. The short chapters make it ideal for toilet reading. I didn't actually experiment with reading the book on the toilet because I didn't want to have a ring around my bum as the book pulls you into a nostalgic frenzy.
21st Century Dodos is funny and I guarantee you will be reading out extracts to your partner, the person sitting next to you on the bus or your pet snail. I don't remember the days when you have to use tapes to load games on computers but my boyfriend did and he loved that section of the book!
August 17, 2015
I received this book from NetGalley. This book is a real trip down memory lane for the reader. There are some things in here that I am not old enough to remember but many things I really miss! Basically this book is a collection of things that have gone extinct or are endangered, things like VHS, Marathon bars and blackboards.
Many things were nostalgic for me such as the change from Opal Fruits to Starburst in 1998, the extinction of dial-up internet with that crackly tone and "I need to use the phone!" being shouted up the stairs, the 10p mix which would probably only contain one sweet in today's extortionately priced sweet shops and the amazing Woolworths (home of the 10p mix).
This is a great coffee table read, a book that will spark a conversation about your most missed items, a book to flip through when you want to feel nostalgic for things that no longer exist.
Obviously there are things that aren't mentioned in this book, Stack couldn't include everything. For example, anyone remember Starburst Joosters? They were the only jelly beans I ever liked and where are they now? Overall, however, there is a wide range of objects mentioned in this book and it definitely makes for a fun quick read.
Many things were nostalgic for me such as the change from Opal Fruits to Starburst in 1998, the extinction of dial-up internet with that crackly tone and "I need to use the phone!" being shouted up the stairs, the 10p mix which would probably only contain one sweet in today's extortionately priced sweet shops and the amazing Woolworths (home of the 10p mix).
This is a great coffee table read, a book that will spark a conversation about your most missed items, a book to flip through when you want to feel nostalgic for things that no longer exist.
Obviously there are things that aren't mentioned in this book, Stack couldn't include everything. For example, anyone remember Starburst Joosters? They were the only jelly beans I ever liked and where are they now? Overall, however, there is a wide range of objects mentioned in this book and it definitely makes for a fun quick read.
August 7, 2014
(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)
Sub-titled "A Collection of Endangered Objects (and Other Stuff)", this book looks back fondly at items, brands and advertising that has either gone the way of the dodo or are just about dead and buried. From Rotary Dial Telephones, Candy Cigarettes and and Calculator Watches, this book has nostalgia by the bucket-load.
I quite enjoyed this trip down memory lane. While it is true that a lot of the products etc are British, we Australians got a lot of them here or saw them in British television shows from the 70s and 80s.
The only disappointment I had (and, to be fair, it is a reasonably sized one) is that I would liked to have read more history of the products featured in this book. A page and a bit of each item felt a little short and, I know that the idea was to get as much stuff into the book as possible but maybe a little less product, a little more background for those who don't live in Britain.
Paul
ARH
Sub-titled "A Collection of Endangered Objects (and Other Stuff)", this book looks back fondly at items, brands and advertising that has either gone the way of the dodo or are just about dead and buried. From Rotary Dial Telephones, Candy Cigarettes and and Calculator Watches, this book has nostalgia by the bucket-load.
I quite enjoyed this trip down memory lane. While it is true that a lot of the products etc are British, we Australians got a lot of them here or saw them in British television shows from the 70s and 80s.
The only disappointment I had (and, to be fair, it is a reasonably sized one) is that I would liked to have read more history of the products featured in this book. A page and a bit of each item felt a little short and, I know that the idea was to get as much stuff into the book as possible but maybe a little less product, a little more background for those who don't live in Britain.
Paul
ARH
November 5, 2012
Maybe it's because I am of a certain age (similar to the author), but I found this a fantastic read and it brought back many fond memories for me.
I was smiling and chuckling most of the way though the book at the stories and the feelings that were brought back as I remembered the objects.
That said, it should not be looked at as just a book for men in their early forties or over, but has a very wide appeal to the younger generation too. My daughters look at me in disbelief when I tell them there were only 3 TV channels when I was their age and finally I have written proof to show them!
This goes down as one of the best and funniest books I have read in a long time, a thouroughly deserved 5 stars.
I was smiling and chuckling most of the way though the book at the stories and the feelings that were brought back as I remembered the objects.
That said, it should not be looked at as just a book for men in their early forties or over, but has a very wide appeal to the younger generation too. My daughters look at me in disbelief when I tell them there were only 3 TV channels when I was their age and finally I have written proof to show them!
This goes down as one of the best and funniest books I have read in a long time, a thouroughly deserved 5 stars.
December 10, 2011
You really do have to be over thirty to get the most out of this book, though my fourteen-year old remembers some of them. I'm just shy of fifty and will admit I was unaware of some of the toys in here, but yes, I remember Sinclair Spectrums, sweet tobacco (it never encouraged me to smoke) and 8-track stereos. I still think snickers are Marathons, Starbursts are Opal Fruits and G00d God! My daughter tells me Bounty bars have changed their name now, too! I loved Texan bars and Old English Spangles, too.
This is a book to dip in and out of rather than a sit-and-read. Quite a trip down nostalgia lane.
This is a book to dip in and out of rather than a sit-and-read. Quite a trip down nostalgia lane.
April 18, 2012
Have read the first chapter on the cassette tape and it brought back so many memories. Even though this books is very British, it is still a good read so far - some Americans might have trouble relating to it, but Australians shouldn't have too much of a problem.
I ended up skimming this book through to the end, as it is due back at the library. I found that the majority of the book was heavily skewed towards British products and areas, so at least half of the book was irrelevant to me. It was an interesting book nonetheless, but I would like to read a similar book that wasn't quite so reliant on geography for the reader to relate to it.
I ended up skimming this book through to the end, as it is due back at the library. I found that the majority of the book was heavily skewed towards British products and areas, so at least half of the book was irrelevant to me. It was an interesting book nonetheless, but I would like to read a similar book that wasn't quite so reliant on geography for the reader to relate to it.
May 7, 2013
This is a great collection of all those things that you fondly remember from your childhood (yes even a young whipper snapper like me found plenty to part the fog of memory) that are either no longer in existence or rapidly on their way out. Each item has its own little entry with each separated into separate categories from home and school to the cinema and newsagents. Entries range from cassette tapes and mini discs to chopper bicycles and roller skates (skates not blades). This is a great trip down memory lane and a perfect opportunity for those who don't remember these things to find out what all the fuss is about.
July 14, 2014
This book is delightful. We always are reminded of animals going extinct or being put on the endangered list this book brings us inanimate objects we don't see anymore. This brought memories of things I would never even think of.. Answers on a postcard --- I remember every week my mother would cut out and scotch tape a crossword puzzle from the newspaper to a postcard to see if she could be the winner. Remember when the next big thing was betamax and laser discs? How about countries that no longer exist? This book is British based but it still brings back a lot of memories. Read as a netgalley copy
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