So I thought it would be fun to ask Gemini .....

What was the best thing before sliced bread

The saying "the best thing since sliced bread" emphasizes how revolutionary and convenient sliced bread was when it was introduced. So, to answer your question playfully, one could say the best thing before sliced bread was unsliced bread!

However, if we consider the phrase's origin, when the first commercially sliced bread was marketed in 1928, the advertising slogan was, "the greatest forward step in the baking industry since bread was wrapped." This suggests that wrapped bread was considered a significant improvement before sliced bread came along.

Beyond that, many other inventions predated sliced bread and were arguably more impactful, such as:

• The wheel: A fundamental invention for transportation and mechanics.

• Agriculture: Revolutionized food production and allowed for settled societies.

• The printing press: Enabled the widespread dissemination of knowledge.

• Electricity: Powered countless innovations and transformed daily life.

• The telephone: Revolutionized communication.

Ultimately, what constitutes the "best" thing is subjective and depends on the criteria used for evaluation. Sliced bread was certainly a convenience that caught on quickly, hence the enduring saying!