Welcome to Litsy!

Yeah no. The only audience I can imagine for this book are people who a) are interested is design, architecture and human planning but b) haven't heard the 99% Invisible podcast and c) are are allergic to in-depth storytelling, preferring vaguely related snippets. Over half the stories have already been covered on the show, and the rest barely had enough info to get started. Took me forever to read because I never really got into it.

This book is full of fascinating—and sometimes funny—stories like this. Manhole covers, the strange symbols you see painted on streets, electrical substations—why are they presented like they are? And why don‘t we see them? Why do we have drinking fountains?

Each story is only a few pages, making it easy to pick up and put down. But once reading, I don‘t want to put it down. 😄

I want to be able to finish my audiobook tomorrow, so I needed some more audio time today. Enter my fox mittens, which now have proper cuffs and zero loose ends!

The book is interesting as a survey text and I‘ve learned a lot, but there are definitely places where I want more detail. I often feel like Mars has just started a topic before BOOM! He‘s on to the next bit. #audioknitting

Of course, he did. Fucking piece of shit!

Route names (3 of 3)

Route names, continued.

(Continued)...side.

I don't know why he didn't capitalize nightmare island or termination point, but I found this interesting.

(Continued)...ones with the numeral eight (which sounds like "prosperity" in Chinese) sell at a 2.5% premium, which may sound small but can add up to tens of thousands of dollars.

(Continued)...with the choice skip over the revolving doors in favor of adjacent swinging ones. For some users, a revolving door compartment can feel cramped and awkward. For others, including people with disabilities or anyone pushing a stroller or carrying bags, these spaces can be physically difficult to navigate.

Historically, the side of the road that people walk, drive, or ride on has varied and shifted. When horseback was a primary mode of transit, people usually rode on the left side so their right hand remained free to greet or attack oncoming riders, depending on what the situation called for.

These concrete barriers that you see along highways started out in California, but they were vastly improved upon in New Jersey, and are now referred to as Jersey barriers.

"Hide the lightbulbs, Honey! The electric guy is here!"

Desire paths emerge when people trample on the grass to cut a route to the place they want to go when urban planners have failed to provide a designated walkway. Most of the desire paths you encounter in a city trace the shortest distance between two points, often to cut corners, but many others are there just because people want to take a path less traveled. (Continued in comments)

Thomassons: As cities change, sometimes useless remnants are left behind. Some are demolished, but others persist, and some are even actively cleaned and repaired despite no longer serving their original purpose. A Japanese artist dubbed them "Thomassons," referencing a baseball player whose career took a turn-- leaving him well paid but mostly on the bench--useless, but well-maintained.

Anchor plates: Small metal circles, squares, and stars affixed to building exteriors are visible parts of wall anchoring systems designed to hold old buildings together and to prevent bricks from falling off of facades

I think I‘m really going to love this book.

Halfway through this book. I love seeing things bought up in the book in my city

A short look at a lot of the things most people don‘t think about in a City. As a civil engineer, a lot of it I knew. But it was cool to look at it from this perspective.

Based in part on the wildly successful podcast, 99% Invisible, this book will make you take notice of design detail that most of us just pass by in any city. I have the hardcover (which is gorgeous), but I checked out the audio from the library so I could listen to the bonus episode of the podcast, plus an interview with Roman Mars. It‘s a great listen. Highly recommended!

I‘ve dipped into the 99% invisible podcast & blog from time to time and am loving this book. All kinds of interesting stuff about the things that often don‘t get noticed in cities. A Christmas present, as was the toffee vodka. 📖🥃

My Xmas present to myself (MORE BOOKS!!!!!!) arrived. Woop woop.

@Caroline2 thanks for posting about Ex Libris... it's a super gorgeous volume and I can't wait to read it... thanks for the recommendation! Books about books are a particular favourite thing of mine.

Fascinating audiobook!! I guess there is a podcast too (I'll definitely have to look it up) I just saw this on my library's homepage and thought I'd give it a try. I think anyone that enjoys Bill Bryon, Sam Kean or AJ Jacobs will enjoy this.

I‘ve found the perfect bookmark for this book. Hopefully I can soon stop reading in podcast voice.

Books delivered from a local bookshop. It‘s literary festival season and I want to read everything I hear about. All the books!