Bernard London

Born in 1872 or 1873, Bernard London was a Russian-born figure who later built a career in the United States as a real estate broker, especially in New York. Although not widely known as a literary author in the usual sense, he became notable for one influential piece of economic and social argument.

In 1932, during the depths of the Great Depression, he wrote Ending the Depression Through Planned Obsolescence. In it, he argued that governments should set limited useful lifespans for goods so that old products would be replaced more often, boosting production and employment. Scholars often credit him with helping introduce, or at least popularize, the phrase "planned obsolescence."

London remains an intriguing historical figure because his ideas still echo in modern debates about consumer culture, waste, durability, and repair. Even when readers strongly disagree with his proposal, his pamphlet offers a striking window into the desperation and experimentation of the Depression era.