Predictions that were spectacularly incorrect. Is so wrong it’s funny!

9. “The horse is here to stay but the automobile is only a novelty—a fad.” – The president of the Michigan Savings Bank advising Henry Ford’s lawyer not to invest in the Ford Motor Company in 1903. Good thing he didn’t listen.

10. “A cookie store is a bad idea. Besides, the market research reports say America likes crispy cookies, not soft and chewy cookies like you make.” – The official response to Debbi Fields’ idea of starting Mrs. Fields’ Cookies.

11. “Television won’t last because people will soon get tired of staring at a plywood box every night.” – Darryl Zanuck, a very misguided movie producer in 1946.

12. “It will be years – not in my time – before a woman will become Prime Minister.” – Margaret Thatcher, who herself became Prime Minister of England.

13. “Rail travel at high speed is not possible, because passengers, unable to breathe, would die of asphyxia.” – Dr. Dionysius Lardner, an 1823 professor of Natural Philosophy and Astronomy.

14. “There is no reason for any individual to have a computer in his home.” – Ken Olson, president, chairman and founder of Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC). He said this in a speech at the 1977 World Future Society meeting in Boston.

15. “The world potential market for copying machines is 5000 at most.” – IBM, to the eventual founders of Xerox, saying the photocopier didn’t actually have a large enough market for mass production.

16. “Children just aren’t interested in Witches and Wizards anymore.” – Anonymous publishing executive in a note to JK Rowling when she tried to get them to publish the Harry Potter series.