# How to tell if your current book is old **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** books-writing-myths\ **Created:** [May 19, 2024, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-if-your-current-book-is-old/1001759 "2024-05-19T04:29:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2024, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-if-your-current-book-is-old/1001759/1 "2024-05-19T04:29:48Z")
The main character calls the operator to get the number for the police ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2024, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-if-your-current-book-is-old/1001759/2 "2024-05-19T04:47:54Z")
Laundry marks help to identify the former wearer of a suit. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2024, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-if-your-current-book-is-old/1001759/3 "2024-05-19T07:41:41Z")
Everyone is smoking at the bar. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2024, 9:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-if-your-current-book-is-old/1001759/4 "2024-05-19T09:19:35Z")
People are worried about what the Soviets are up to. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2024, 9:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-if-your-current-book-is-old/1001759/5 "2024-05-19T09:47:58Z")
The guys are all wearing armor. ---
**Author:** ![eburacum45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eburacum45/32/8690_2.png) [@eburacum45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eburacum45)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2024, 9:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-if-your-current-book-is-old/1001759/6 "2024-05-19T09:56:50Z")
Awful lot of people in today’s world wearing armour too, unfortunately. ---
**Author:** ![colinfred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colinfred/32/21338_2.png) [@colinfred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colinfred)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2024, 9:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-if-your-current-book-is-old/1001759/7 "2024-05-19T09:59:28Z")
The cover is falling apart ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2024, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-if-your-current-book-is-old/1001759/8 "2024-05-19T10:16:30Z")
Okay, a serious one: The men all put on hats when they go outside. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2024, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-if-your-current-book-is-old/1001759/9 "2024-05-19T10:19:15Z")
The protagonist is leaving town on business and has a train to catch. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2024, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-if-your-current-book-is-old/1001759/10 "2024-05-19T10:42:04Z")
Very openly expressed values dissonance compared to modern times, especially involving women, any minority of any kind, and the police. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2024, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-if-your-current-book-is-old/1001759/11 "2024-05-19T10:45:08Z")
An important message is delivered by telegram. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2024, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-if-your-current-book-is-old/1001759/12 "2024-05-19T10:47:52Z")
There are sex scenes. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2024, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-if-your-current-book-is-old/1001759/13 "2024-05-19T12:44:29Z")
The main characters are playing piquet by candlelight. There’s a soiree in the pump room at Bath. ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2024, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-if-your-current-book-is-old/1001759/14 "2024-05-19T12:50:43Z")
Someone prepares for a trip with paper maps. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2024, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-if-your-current-book-is-old/1001759/15 "2024-05-19T12:54:50Z")
It opens with “In the beginning…” ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2024, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-if-your-current-book-is-old/1001759/16 "2024-05-19T13:54:06Z")
The town crier has news. ---
**Author:** ![Banksiaman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banksiaman/32/3334_2.png) [@Banksiaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banksiaman)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2024, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-if-your-current-book-is-old/1001759/17 "2024-05-19T13:58:47Z")
‘The answer lay somewhere among the green characters on the computer screen …’ ---
**Author:** ![SurrenderDorothy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/surrenderdorothy/32/1221_2.png) [@SurrenderDorothy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SurrenderDorothy)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2024, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-if-your-current-book-is-old/1001759/18 "2024-05-19T14:03:58Z")
They specify that someone had a “camera phone.” ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2024, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-if-your-current-book-is-old/1001759/19 "2024-05-19T14:05:29Z")
Characters must dodge horse droppings when crossing the street. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2024, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-if-your-current-book-is-old/1001759/20 "2024-05-19T14:08:05Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > People are worried about what the Soviets are up to. Not sure that’s changed as much as you apparently think; especially when it’s phrased (as it often is) as being worried about what Russia is up to. – People are, and expect to be, out of touch with each other for significant periods of time. – People look for information without resorting to the internet. – My first indication on recently reading a previously unfamiliar book: somebody’s reported as having paid for their lodgings with “gold specie”, and there’s no sign that anyone thinks this extraordinary. (A few pages later the author kindly told unfamiliar readers explicitly that it was set in 1897.) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-if-your-current-book-is-old/1001759.md?page=2)