Lethal Arrogance: Human Fallibility and Dangerous Technologies

This book approaches technology the way a real philosopher, like Schopenhauer, would approach metaphysics; as typically demonstating the results of whatever faith was instilled in the thinker as a small child. All of us had to learn that certain things work, and the bombs that we have built and paid for are the most outstanding example of how much faith we have been willing to invest in whatever works about nine times out of ten. I think I looked down in a hole once that must have been hiding one of the number ten, dud bombs, covered with a little loose dirt so I couldn't see what had made such a round hole going down in that dirt after a B-52 had flown over high in the air. If I tend to believe what this book says a bit more than the usual, highly skeptical reader or reviewer does, it might be because of that, or because I never really got to win a war or even call the shots. I liked the observations of this book about the inverse relationship of complexity and reliability most of all. Such empirically demonstrated observations ought to be the least political part of this book. Anything further I might say is in danger of being too political.

Lethal Arrogance is the "Silent Spring" of the technological realm, particularly with regard to those technologies that can threaten great numbers of humans or property. Where Rachel Carson brought to our attention the potential harm we faced as a result of our polluting ways, Professor Lloyd Dumas cautions us that we also risk great harm due to the way we create and handle dangerous technologies. This book should help awaken us to our extraordinary capability to destroy ourselves, if we're not careful. Lethal Arrogance should not only be on the reading list of every American who is concerned about his or her well-being or that of future generations, but should also be read by every technological expert, politician, and particularly world leader. I think this is one of the most important books pertaining to our security and well-being on this planet since Silent Spring.