The Tyranny of Metrics

In this book, Jerry Z. Muller argues against the over-reliance on metrics, which he terms 'metric fixation'.

He contends that this fixation can lead to the corruption of social processes, gaming of statistics, and a hyper-focus on trends that do not accurately reflect reality.

Muller provides examples from education, healthcare, business, and public policy to illustrate how blindly following metrics can result in unintended and harmful consequences.

The book emphasizes the importance of balancing metrics with human judgment and experience to ensure more accurate and beneficial decision-making.