The 99% Invisible City by Roman Mars and Kurt Kohlstedt

How often do you stop to think about commonplace urban sights like traffic lights, fire escapes, and manhole covers? After you read this book, your answer will probably be “all the time”. Written by the creators of the podcast '99% Invisible', The 99% Invisible City (2020) explores the history and purpose of frequently overlooked objects in the urban landscape. It’s a great choice for trivia fans, history buffs, and anyone who is curious about why things are the way they are.

Most of the anecdotes in the book are only a page or two long, so it’s very easy to dip in and out of. If you find yourself (like I did) wanting even more information on the topics covered, I recommend checking out the authors’ podcast too.