This is 99% invisible. I'm Roman Mars.

It's the most wonderful time of the year.

It's mini story season.

Gather the kids around the fire because we have a year-end mix of

short stories about a rogue architect, spooky kitchens, a hundred-year-old

music streaming service, and the crazy way the French tried to make telling time less crazy.

Let's go.

So we are here with producer Chris Barube. Hey Chris, hello Roman. What do you have for us?

Okay, so I've been very into the French Revolution recently. I know there's been these online trends of people reading up about the Roman

Empire but you know I'm a little different I'm kind of zigging where other people are

zagging I don't know if you knew this about me I didn't I didn't know this. I mean why exactly are you reading

about the French Revolution? I don't know I mean it's I've been on a bit of a history

kick and the French Revolution is interesting I mean the French Revolution

they saw themselves as the beginning of history right like this is a whole new way of doing things

They're just trying lots of new things like new system of government a reign of terror

Just new everything.

A new country with new laws and new ways of working that was very rational.

Roman, that is Don Norman, the author of a book called The Design of Everyday Things and a favorite of 99% visible.

Absolutely. I mean my friend in college given me a copy of The Design of Everyday Things

is probably one of the reasons why this show exists. I mean he's that pivotal.

He's like our spiritual godfather.

Totally.

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