Ted Audio Collective.

Audio Collective.

This is Design Matters with Debbie Millman from design observer.com.

On this program, Debbie talks with Ben Schott about the importance of failing early in one's career, about how to take a politician's

picture, and about writing and designing his own books. I think that's what

differentiates me. I'm not really a writer and I'm not really a designer. I'm a writer

who uses design and a designer uses words.

Here is Debbie Milman.

Here are a couple of things we learn from Ben Schott's original miscellany. In 19th century English public schools, an undersized boy was called

a nester and if a boy was surprised by something, he might say, Beards.

On the next page, you'll learn more than you ever thought possible about glove sizes,

both English and Continental.

Ben Schott's career has been almost as varied as the topics that fill his books.

He spent the first part of his professional life working for an ad agency before heading off to become a freelance

portrait photographer. Then he wrote, designed, and typeset, his first book of miscellany, which became a bestseller.

More Miscellaneous and Almanacs followed.

His latest book is a difficult word to pronounce.

You want to think I'm saying shardinfroyda, but I'm actually not the book's title is

Schottenfreude German words for the human condition he joins me today to talk

about his books and whatever other miscellaneous topics that present themselves.

Ben, welcome to Design Matters.

Thank you very much.

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