The 99% Invisible City: A Field Guide to the Hidden World of Everyday Design Hardcover – October 6, 2020

I'm a fan of the 99% invisible podcast. Bought this book for a friend who doesn't listen to podcast. Also support the podcast.

I got this book due to the fact that it seemed everyone was talking about it at a bookstore that I was at and when I saw this at an amazing deal from Amazon I had to buy it. What an incredible book. I learned so much about walking through a city and not noticing things that the book writes about. The book is straight to the point and very easy to understand. I would recommend this book to anyone that likes to learn or just find it fascinating what to look for while walking through a city. This book is awesome!

Great read! I have shared this book with friends and they agreed. A great way to learn about everyday things that make life easier that we take for granted. A great value, well written, hope they write another one

It is quite wonderful and everyone should buy it. That said, it has two serious flaws. On consideration I didn't think they were worth deducting a full star.FIrst, it's illustrated only by what some reviewers call "beautiful line drawings" by Patrick Vale. The drawings are functional in several ways. They are much more legible on my classic black-and-white e-Ink technology KIndle. And because they are drawings, they can illustrate things very clearly in a small space. In some cases, the drawings seem "clever" and "clear." In other cases, I regret to say, they just seem "crude."Consider the beautifully painted manhole covers of Osaka Japan. They are works of art. They are in color, they are delicate, and they are immensely varied. What kind of nut thinks you can convey this adequately in a single black-and-white sketch of one of them? No words, however eloquent, can make up for it. I don't know what constraints led to this decision, but it sucks. I need to read this book with a tablet next to me, and make web searches as I read each page in order to see adequate images of the things the book is describing. In this case, a decent minimum would six to twelve full-color images.Second, the title promises a "field guide." It isn't. There is no way you can look at something weird in the urban landscape, go to the book and identify it. It doesn't even attempt to provide one. At least one website classifies it as a "reference work." It isn't. It's a great read, like a book by Bill Bryson or John McPhee, but it is no field guide.Third, I haven't tried to collate the chapter titles against the podcast episode titles, but rather a lot of the essays are based on topics that have been the subject of "99% Invisible" podcast episodes. If you are a regular follower of the podcast, as I am, a lot of this material will seem familiar.

If ever there was a manual to demystify the myriad intricacies of our urban landscapes and everyday surroundings, "The 99% Invisible City: A Field Guide to the Hidden World of Everyday Design" by Roman Mars would unquestionably hold the title. Delving deep into the seemingly mundane and often overlooked facets of city life, Mars offers a transformative perspective that elevates the ordinary to the realm of extraordinary.Building upon the ethos of the much-beloved "99% Invisible" podcast, this book is a masterclass in curiosity, meticulously exploring the unnoticed design elements that underpin our daily lives. From the story behind the shapes of our manhole covers to the psychology of traffic lights and the urban layout, Mars ignites a newfound appreciation for the often taken-for-granted marvels of engineering and design that populate our cities.The genius of "The 99% Invisible City" lies not just in its in-depth research or captivating narratives, but in Mars's uncanny ability to intertwine history, design, and human behavior into a cohesive tapestry. Each page is a revelation, highlighting how design isn’t just about aesthetics but also about solving problems, guiding behaviors, and shaping societies.The book's layout deserves special mention. Infused with illustrative graphics and engaging side notes, it ensures that readers are constantly engaged and invites them to dive deeper into each topic. While the book is comprehensive in its scope, its segmented approach makes it a breeze to either consume cover-to-cover or pick up for bite-sized doses of knowledge.For anyone who has ever walked through a city and wondered about the 'why' behind its design or simply for those curious about the stories behind everyday objects and layouts, this book is a treasure trove. It's not just a field guide; it's a love letter to the cities we live in and the designers whose unseen hand has crafted our daily experiences.In "The 99% Invisible City," Roman Mars beckons us to see our world with fresh eyes, inviting wonder and awe at every corner. It’s an enlightening journey, a testament to the notion that if one looks closely enough, there's a world of wonder lurking in the most unexpected places. This book is a must-read for urban explorers, design aficionados, and anyone keen to rediscover the magic of the mundane.