Flirting with Disaster: Why Accidents Are Rarely Accidental

by Marc S. Gerstein

Book Overview

Chernobyl, Katrina, Challenger , BP, Columbia , Vioxx. These were not unavoidable catastrophes, but disasters that could have been prevented, or whose damages could have been mitigated, if only someone had spoken up.? Using case studies ranging from natural disasters and industrial accidents to Enron and the sub-prime lending crisis, Flirting with Disaster examines the psychological, cultural and institutional impediments to whistle-blowing. What Blink did for intuition and Freakonomics did for microeconomics, this page-turner--now in paperback--does for disasters, showing why they happen and how we can try to stop them before they do. ?

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 140276183X
• ISBN13: 9781402761836
• Release Date: February 2010
• Publisher: Union Square Press
• Length: 340 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.6" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

Dissenting Opinions Must be Encouraged

Marc S Gertein has compiled a remarkably compelling perspective on the perplexing topic of human nature; and in the process, we are left with a better understanding of why so many things turn into complete disasters. Human beings simply don't like conflict; they don't like inconvenience; and they never understand that little things cause major problems. Our society frowns on the naysayer and looks down on anyone voicing an opinion that doesn't fit in with popular belief. That's why so many things go wrong; the majority opinion is quite often ill-advised. If we are to learn anything from this outstandng book, it is the fact that disasters can be prevented; whether they be financial disasters for corporations, or actual disasters of life and property. In order to prevent these disasters, however, we must develop a mentality of encouraging dissent; of looking at a situation from a variety of perspectives; and just because the head-honcho has one opinion about something, that doesn't mean that person is right. Unfortunately, some are wrong more often than right. And that only leads to disaster.

Worth your time

This is a very good book. I have a professional interest in the topic-specifically the prevention of Structural Engineering failures. This book covers failures of many kinds: engineering, financial, medical, and military. It shows that the same social causes underlie all these failures whatever field they come from. The focus is on the behaviour of people rather than just the technical causes. The portion on "by-stander" behaviour is especially good: the natural tendency to give-in to the pressure to conform and so not speak out, even if you have the information to prevent a disaster.

***** Fools Know The Past: Flirts Know The Future *****

I was informed of the sensational contents of this book's manuscript by former NASA and DoD colleagues prior to its publication and shuttered as I read it: For it confirmed my own insights. In brief, the common theme is that IF we attack Iran in 2008, THEN as I shared in my works, the NBC [Nuclear-Biological-Chemical] retaliation fall-out will be nothing more than an equal and opposite reaction. For the most part, however, it will be a self-fulfilling prophecy that I outlined in my book as the focus of End-Time mythology worldwide: Armageddon Now! Nonetheless, is there an antidote to lies? Yes there is in fact: Tell the truth at every level of society! I mean for the love of God, don't we see that Satan is the "lies of our fathers?" That is, as I listened to the federal drumbeat during the Vietnam-era as my dad did during WWII, I also enlisted in the Army to fight the so-called "communists against Christ" but while he was right, I was clearly lied to as its purpose. In the final analysis, stop fighting and start flirting: Tell the truth because every one is ONESELF. Indeed, there is is only one DNA macrocmolecule that creates us all! But if we do not grasp this truth soon, there will not be an "economy" that has an "ecology" to support our illusions of "individuality!" Dr. John Jay Harper, author of Tranceformers: Shamans of the 21st Century, and Science of Soul: The End-Time Solar Cycle of Chaos in 2012 A.D..

No Accidents in Life

This book gives people access to understand that so called accidents are predictable. As we move into the 21st century, now is the time to take steps to avoid future accidents from happening. Combine all this with the section called "When Leaders are the Problem" and you have a powerful guidebook to creating a healthier, happier future for one and all.