In "At Home: A Short History of Private Life," Bill Bryson recounts a man's ambitious yet unsuccessful venture into automation with a general store designed for a self-service experience. Customers would insert a coin to receive various goods like coal, potatoes, and nails from a chute, but the innovative system faced persistent operational failures. Despite the investment and modern concept, the technology of the time proved inadequate and the project was ultimately a disappointment.

This anecdote highlights the challenges of early automation attempts and the gap between innovative ideas and practical execution. Bryson uses this example to illustrate the evolution of consumer goods distribution and our historical struggles with technology. In an era where convenience was becoming increasingly desired, this man's dream of an automated shopping experience ultimately remained unrealized.