Worst Ideas Ever

A Celebration of Embarrassment

By: Daniel Kline, Jason Tomaszewski

Narrated by: Patrick Lawlor

Length: 3 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's summary

Mistakes so big they seem like fodder for The Onion - but they really happened!

From memorable disasters such as New Coke, the XFL, and Tiger Woods’ marriage to less-remembered failures such as Yugo, Cop Rock, and Microsoft’s BOB, Worst Ideas Ever revisits history’s biggest blunders. Whether it’s a pop culture failure the likes of Dennis Miller’s disastrous run on Monday Night Football, a political one such as John Edwards’ odd decision to run for president while cheating on his cancer-stricken wife, or a technological misstep such as Apple’s Newton OS, Worst Ideas Ever uncovers the ridiculous stories behind mistakes so huge, you’ll have to constantly remind yourself that they actually happened.

Moving from Mariah Carey’s “performance” in Glitter to the Minnesota Vikings decision to trade away their future for an aging Herschel Walker, Worst Ideas Ever offers the real stories behind some of the dumbest things ever done. Whether it was ego (Michael Jordan leaving basketball for baseball), greed (nobody questioning their impossibly high returns when investing with Bernie Madoff) or simple stupidity (Jay Leno moving to 10 p.m.), Worst Ideas Ever brings it all back in hilarious detail.

©2011 Daniel B. Kline and Jason Tomaszewski (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

A list of bad ideas

This is a list of random bad ideas in business, sports and politics with no overarching theme other than them being less than optimal ideas. This book has no point, and a Wikipedia article of the worst ideas ever would be a better, more comprehensive read for free.

Failed Math Approach in the 60's???

Truth be told, a LOT of bad ideas have happened since this was written in 2011. I learned a few things that are really worth nothing, but remembered a lot that was funny. The most interesting thing I learned was the failed approach in the way the US taught kids math in the 60's, called NEW MATH. I really see similarities between it and Common Core Math being pushed today. Interesting... you need to look up New Math on Wikipedia... I probably wouldn't recommend a credit on this one... Hope this helps someone. Later.

First half great

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I would recommend the first half.

Would you be willing to try another book from Daniel Kline and Jason Tomaszewski ? Why or why not?

Yes. If it were cheap. I wouldn't use a credit on it based on my experience with this book. It started out on one theme, then degraded into rantish musings on another theme.

What about Patrick Lawlor’s performance did you like?

Yes, it was perfect for this book.

Was Worst Ideas Ever worth the listening time?

Yes because the bad chapters are easily skipped once they turn into a rant.

Any additional comments?

The first part of the book on "worst ideas ever" is comical, amusing, and held my interest easily. Then the book devolves into several chapters on "worst mistakes of individual X's life" and it becomes tedious, repetitive, and more like the author was writing for himself than for the audience. He should have stuck to the original theme, he did a great job on that part.

fun and informative

entertaining and fast-paced, but I fell asleep during the lengthy sports items. A fan might find it riveting, though.

Most boring book ever

What would have made Worst Ideas Ever better?

Engaging/entertaining stories. There must be some bad worst ideas ever.

What could Daniel Kline and Jason Tomaszewski have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Perhaps more research than quoting a Wikipedia article. I swear the Taco Bell dog was lifted word-for-word.

What three words best describe Patrick Lawlor’s voice?

Snarky, uninspiring, uninflected

Any additional comments?

I'm glad I only paid 0.99 for this on special. I listened to it and within ten minutes concluded that either I was incredibly discerning or it was incredibly uninteresting. I'm not too discerning, so...

Factoids better suited for a bathroom book

Dry narration of anecdotal stories of ideas that maybe really weren't as bad as they tried to portray. The New Coke story is predictable and has been worn into a cliché. Other stories are of variable interest, but absolutely nothing laugh-out-loud funny. Not entertaining to listen to, perhaps of mild interest to keep the book in the bathroom to grab a couple of factoids in short sessions.

Please don't try to talk sports guys

Though there are some good stories in this audiobook the authors spent too much time on obvious well known stories. They also didn't go very deep into many of their selections. This is particularly true when it comes to sports; as the authors spouted cliches and unfounded rumors (Michael Jordan was really suspended during his baseball hiatus); or that everyone knew that Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa were using steroids in 1998) rather than more interesting, in depth less known stories. Still as part of the Daily Deal it was definitely worth the purchase price.

Inconsistent, Incorrect, and overdone

It was somewhat interesting although I had to roll my eyes at some of the statements.
(1) There is no question that "New Coke" was a really stupid idea. It is not true that they went back to the original formulation with Coca Cola Classic. They replaced cane sugar with corn syrup.
(2) Any marketing failure is not a "worst idea" ever. All of the new soft drinks that didn't succeed Crystal Pepsi, Pepsi Blue, Coca-Cola BlāK might have been a hit. Which of us can predict the next software drink success? Note: Some of the soft drink products still exist in niche markets, they just don't work everywhere.
(3) The Apple Newton was not a worst idea ever.
(4) Drafting one basketball player over another isn't the worst choice ever unless you have the ability of hindsight.

I could go on and on but why bother. It was worth the 99 cents I paid on the daily deal. If you have to pay more than ninety nine cents, forget it.

Coulda been a contenda!

Any additional comments?

The blurbs made it sound like the book would go into reasons and back stories of some of the worst ideas in history. Instead it just talks about the ideas and mocks them, though there really wasn't enough mocking or humor in the book.

It reads a lot like a middle-school book report, which covers some highlights but doesn't go in depth of some of the most moronic decisions in history. A little research and some follow-up by the authors and this could have been a hilarious and cautionary tome of knowledge.

That being said, it is a harmless book and is a good diversion to listen to when you aren't able to concentrate heavily on the story. There is some humor and some snarky mocking of the decisions made by supposedly intelligent people.

Patrick Lawlor's reading of the book was perfectly fine, but the source material didn't give him a chance to shine or show off his abilities. I would not shy away from anything he read in the future and could even think of him as someone who would encourage me to try something I am on the fence about listening to.

Personally, I thoght the book was very funny

I was so close to LOL moments while listening to at the gym...I'm sure I did laugh out at least once. .I'm glad that I didn't read the reviews as I really thought the short episodes of the worst ideas ever was very funny -- Even the sports related bad ideas was interesting and I'm not particularly a sports fan -- many subject matters were covered. I suppose one could nit pick at the authenticity of it (and maybe rightfully so) but on the surface and with not too much thinking on my part -- it was a good listen! The one that stands out where I don't have to go back and find them all, was the woman's portable urinal contraption...that was where I probably did actually laugh out loud.