21st Century Dodos: A Collection of Endangered Objects (and Other Stuff) by Steve Stack

29^th June 2014

Georgia Mizen

Georgia Mizen

29 June 2014

Joyful, ticklishly funny and full of miscellaneous mischief from start to finish, Steve Stack’s newest venture is a headlong bolt down memory lane. Perhaps some of the classic entries are a little beyond this reviewer’s lifespan but it is an undeniably enjoyable trip all the same.

Here you’ll find everything that’s gone (or almost gone) from the world, from black and white television sets to certain penny sweets, classic aeroplanes to old-school technologies. It’s a homage to the great goods of times gone by, and a fond farewell to the ones still clinging on.

Cassettes, old phones, typewriters and the ever-hilarious white dog poo all feature here, in a mash-up of 70s, 80s and 90s sentimentality. The clearly defined chapters and compilations make for easily flipping back and forth, across pages that deserve to be well-thumbed. Be aware that if anyone else is near you as you read, “listen to this!” will escape your lips more than once.

Every page has guffaw-worthy one-liners, guaranteed to embarrass you on public transport as you shake with laughter at the easy friendliness and casual disdain of the writing. Stack (the pseudonym of an apparently well-known journalist) is like a lovable uncle at Sunday lunch, regaling tales of his youth through the objects that fascinate him. It’s a homely, welcoming read that envelopes you in its nostalgic warmth; you’ll want to show this to your mum and dad and grandma and great uncle at the soonest possible moment. A wistful link to golden moments in human history, 21^st Century Dodos is a book to be shared and cherished, and never endangered.

Georgia Mizen

21^st Century Dodos: A Collection of Endangered Objects (and Other Stuff) is published by The Friday Project at the paperback price of £7.99.