Enjoyable and Informative!

This book, based on a podcast, discusses urban phenomena that completely pass under the radar. The first chapter, for instance, examines the coloured lines that appear at times on sidewalks and asphalt. A full discussion is provided, including what colour refers to what specific infrastructure.

Overall, the contents prove very original and professionally researched. Some may wish however that the book were more structured, as topics currently appear in what many may consider rather haphazard fashion.

In the audio version, two bonuses are generously provided:
• a substantial and enlightening conversation between the two authors, Roman Mars, who also warmly acts as narrator for the whole book, and Kurt Kohlstedt, who self-describes as a “design nerd”;
• a full episode of the podcast, dealing with Sears Roebuck’s kit houses of the turn of the 20th century, that is just fascinating.

Globally, this offering is warmly recommended to all interested in city life and design.

1 person found this helpful

Deeply needed a PDF

The concept of the book was stunning, wonderfully narrated as well, but without any visual reference to lean on, the listener is left to search these topics themselves which defeats one the main appeals of audiobooks. Had they provided a PDF to accompany the book, this would have been a memorable book.

interesting

You are not missing the illustrations by getting this book in audio. This California centric urban planning book has the most irritatingly vague diagrams and drawings.

Other than that, if you listen to 99% invisible a lot of the information has already been covered. It has one of the podcasts at the end just in case you are not familiar with the work.

Highley recomend for fans of the podcast

You know that feeling you get when your listening to a 99% invisible podcast and you start to feel it winding down and you get real sad because you know its going to end soon and your going to have to wait a whole nother week for a new episode? This is like a never ending episode of 99 pi featuring only Roman Mars. While it understandabley lacks some of the production value of the actual podcast because you know.... Its an audio book... its a content rich experience with both familiar and new knlowledge nuggets for all you fellow nerds out there. 12 out of 10 highly recomended