It Looked Good on Paper: Bizarre Inventions, Design Disasters, and Engineering Follies

Gathered in this book is a collection of flawed plans, half baked ideas, and downright ridiculous machines that, with the best and most optimistic intentions, men have constructed throughout history.

Included are such military, scientific, commercial, and infrustructure disasters as: • The Lead water pipes of Rome • Tacoma Narrows Bridge Collapse • Edison’s electrical folly • Betamax • Denver Airport’s Baggage System • Concorde crash • Hubble – A $2 billion telescope that didn’t work • the Mars probe failures due to simple math mistakes • The Spruce Goose • Cold Fusion • Ford Pinto Some failed spectacularly, others fizzled after great expense, and one crashed on Mars. While this is a book about ideas and things men make that have failed, it is not a technical manual. Rather it is a fun collection that shows how an otherwise brilliant designer, scientist, architect, or doctor can often spend years or millions of dollars creating something that a few small bits of common sense would have prevented. With over 35 chapters of incredible untruths, both infamous and obscure, IT SEEMED LIKE A GOOD IDEA is chock full of trivia, history, and fascinating looks at the world’s failed plans. About the Author: Bill Fawcett is the author and editor of more than a dozen books, including You Did What? He is also the author and editor of three historical mystery series and two Oral Histories of the US Navy SEALS. He lives in IL.

Author Biography

Bill Fawcett is the author and editor of more than a dozen books, including You Did What? He is also the author and editor of three historical mystery series and two Oral Histories of the US Navy SEALS.