A groundbreaking exploration of how complexity causes failure in business and life-and how to prevent it. An accidental overdose in a state-of-the-art hospital. The Post Office software that led to a multimillion-pound lawsuit. The mix-up at the 2017 Oscars Awards ceremony. An overcooked meal on holiday. At first glance, these events have little in common. But surprising new research shows that many modern failures share similar causes. In “Meltdown”, world-leading experts in disaster prevention, Chris Clearfield and András Tilcsik, use real-life examples to reveal the errors in thinking, perception, and system design that lie behind both our everyday errors and disasters like the Fukushima nuclear accident. But most crucially, “Meltdown” is about finding solutions. It reveals why ugly designs make us safer, how a five-minute exercise can prevent billion-dollar catastrophes, why teams with fewer experts are better at managing risk, and why diversity is one of our best safeguards against failure. The result is an eye-opening and empowering book-one that will change the way you see our complex world and your own place within it.
"Endlessly fascinating, brimming with insight, and more fun than a book about failure has any right to be, Meltdown will transform how you think about the systems that govern our lives. This is a wonderful book."
Charles Duhigg, author of The Power of Habit and Smarter Faster Better
"Not for the faint of heart. In crisp, compelling prose, the authors explain why failures occur so often in today's unfathomably complex systems. Their insights and takeaways offer crucial guidance for avoiding your own disasters."
