The Utopia of Rules: On Technology, Stupidity, and the Secret Joys of Bureaucracy (Hardcover) by David Graeber

from

Well written, logical, persuasive, and interesting set of three (and 1/3) essays, purportedly about bureaucracy, its appeal, its powers, its flaws, and its dangers, but mostly about why you can't fight the system within the system. An anthropologist and a participant in Occupy Wall Street, Graebe...

from johnverdon

Another fine book by Graeber - this one is an even handed exploration of the power of organizations to enact collective efficiencies and simultaneously reduce people to stupidity of enacting mindlessly the rules of order. Well worth the read from the anthropologist who coined the term 'We are the...

from willszal

As usual, Graeber's viewpoints and rhetoric are fascinating. This is a book about the Age of Bureaucracy. Unlike many of Graeber's other books, this one is just thrown together: an introduction, plus a series of four essays, already published in other places [albeit found here in long form].The t...

from RickGeissal

Interesting perspective on bureaucracies being, rather than a hindrance or frustrating side effect of organization, are essential to the functioning of organizations.

from jcbrunner

This is actually a collection of three essays and a film review. The critique of the quasi-Fascist 2012 Batman film "The Dark Knight rises" is the best part as he shows the strange attraction of the audience for the all powerful superheroes and their opponents who use their powers to fight one an...