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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

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  • We started tracking this book on April 21, 2011.
  • This book was $10.99 when we started tracking it.
  • The price of this book has changed 216 times in the past 5,011 days.
  • The current price of this book is $2.99 last checked 23 hours ago.
  • The lowest price to date was $2.99 last reached on January 7, 2025.
  • This book has been $2.99 17 times since we started tracking it.
  • The highest price to date was $14.99 last reached on March 29, 2019.
  • This book has been $14.99 4 times since we started tracking it.
  • This book is currently at its lowest price since we started tracking it.

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  • File Size: 1,911 KB

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