Inviting disaster : lessons from the edge of technology : an inside look at catastrophes and why they happen

Combining captivating storytelling with eye-opening findings, Inviting Disaster delves inside some of history's worst catastrophes in order to show how increasingly "smart" systems leave us wide open to human tragedy. Weaving a dramatic narrative that explains how breakdowns in these systems result in such disasters as the chain reaction crash of the Air France Concorde to the meltdown at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station, Chiles vividly demonstrates how the battle between man and machine may be escalating beyond manageable limits -- and why we all have a stake in its outcome. Included in this edition is a special introduction providing a behind-the-scenes look at the World Trade Center catastrophe. Combining firsthand accounts of employees' escapes with an in-depth look at the structural reasons behind the towers' collapse, Chiles addresses the question, Were the towers "two tall heroes" or structures with a fatal flaw?

Combining captivating storytelling with eye-opening findings, Inviting Disaster delves inside some of history's worst catastrophes in order to show how increasingly "smart" systems leave us wide open to human tragedy.

Weaving a dramatic narrative that explains how breakdowns in these systems result in such disasters as the chain reaction crash of the Air France Concorde to the meltdown at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station, Chiles vividly demonstrates how the battle between man and machine may be escalating beyond manageable limits — and why we all have a stake in its outcome.

Included in this edition is a special introduction providing a behind-the-scenes look at the World Trade Center catastrophe. Combining firsthand accounts of employees' escapes with an in-depth look at the structural reasons behind the towers' collapse, Chiles addresses the question, Were the towers "two tall heroes" or structures with a fatal flaw?

Library Journal

Anyone who's been caught in a traffic jam caused by an accident can attest to what seems to be a universal fascination with disaster. While an engaging topic does not guarantee a good book, this volume on the conflicts between machines and humans is accessible and free of excessive technical jargon. This is not a Luddite's call for a return to the days before complicated technology but a careful examination of various disasters such as Chernobyl, Three Mile Island, the Space Shuttle, and an assortment of industrial and airline accidents and how they might have been prevented. While not all accidents can be avoided, Chiles shows how a large number of them could have been. Chiles contributes regularly to Smithsonian magazine, Audubon, and Air & Space, and the level and style of writing exhibited in these publications is maintained in this text. Highly recommended for academic and public libraries. James Olson, Northeastern Illinois Univ. Lib., Chicago Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

This "very absorbing look at technological catastrophes and why they happen" explores systemic breakdowns behind disasters from Chernobyl to the Challenger ( Booklist ). Inviting Disaster delves into over fifty of history's worst catastrophes in order to show how increasingly "smart" systems leave us wide open to human tragedy. Weaving a dramatic narrative that explains how breakdowns in these systems result in such disasters as the chain reaction crash of the Air France Concorde and the Bhopal chemical accident that killed thousands. James Chiles vividly demonstrates how the battle between human and machine may be escalating beyond manageable limits—and why we all have a stake in its outcome. Included in this edition is a special introduction providing a behind-the-scenes look at the World Trade Center catastrophe. Combining firsthand accounts of employees' escapes with an in-depth look at the structural reasons behind the towers' collapse, Chiles addresses the question: Were the towers "two tall heroes" or structures with a fatal flaw? "Vivid and dramatic stories." — Harvard Business Review "This is not a Luddite's call for a return to the days before complicated technology but a careful examination of various disasters . . . and how they might have been prevented." — Library Journal "A chillingly fascinating book that educates and informs in a highly readable style." — Dallas Morning News Explaining in vivid layman's terms how machines fail and deadly accidents result, this book draws on a wide range of disasters, some famous, some obscure, and combines riveting storytelling with eye-opening findings to show what happens when the reach for new technology exceeds a realistic grasp. Features a new Introduction. Combining captivating storytelling with eye-opening findings, Inviting Disaster delves inside some of history's worst catastrophes in order to show how increasingly "smart" systems leave us wide open to human tragedy. Weaving a dramatic narrative that explains how breakdowns in these systems result in such disasters as the chain reaction crash of the Air France Concorde to the meltdown at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station, Chiles vividly demonstrates how the battle between man and machine may be escalating beyond manageable limits, and why we all have a stake in its outcome. Included in this edition is a special introduction providing a behind-the-scenes look at the World Trade Center catastrophe. Combining firsthand accounts of employees' escapes with an in-depth look at the structural reasons behind the towers' collapse, Chiles addresses the question, Were the towers "two tall heroes" or structures with a fatal flaw? Combining captivating storytelling with eye-opening findings, __Inviting Disaster__ delves inside some of history's worst catastrophes in order to show how increasingly "smart" systems leave us wide open to human tragedy.Weaving a dramatic narrative that explains how breakdowns in these systems result in such disasters as the chain reaction crash of the Air France Concorde to the meltdown at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station, Chiles vividly demonstrates how the battle between man and machine may be escalating beyond manageable limits -- and why we all have a stake in its outcome. Included in this edition is a special introduction providing a behind-the-scenes look at the World Trade Center catastrophe. Combining firsthand accounts of employees' escapes with an in-depth look at the structural reasons behind the towers' collapse, Chiles addresses the question, Were the towers "two tall heroes" or structures with a fatal flaw? Special introduction to the paperback edition Introduction : On the machine frontier : new technology and old habits Shock wave : high tech on the high seas Blind spot : baffled and bewildered inside the massive system Rush to judgment : when flagship projects run out of time Doubtless : testing is such a bother Really bad day : panic and triumph on the machine frontier Tunnel vision : go away, I'm busy Red line running : humans have a limit, too Crack in the system : failure starts slow, but it grows Healthy fear : alive and alert at danger's edge That human touch : how little errors make big accidents Robbing the pillar : slacking off with the high-power system Machine man : surviving and thriving on the new frontier Disasters, calamities, and near misses cited in the book. Examines the many disasters that have occured in the world of high technology, from the capsizing of the Ocean Ranger offshore drill rig to critical systems failures of machines in homes, and reveals how these incidents could have been averted. Beginning on September 11,2001, and for the following three months, it seemed terrorists were about to turn the full might of our own mechanical wonders against us.