Chesterton's Fence

In 'Systemantics', John Gall provides a unique perspective on systems design by highlighting how complex systems inherently tend to fail. He introduces key concepts such as Gall's Law, which states that a complex system that works is invariably found to have evolved from a simple system that worked. The book also discusses how systems often oppose their own proper function, and how the introduction of a system does not reduce the total number of problems but merely changes their form and relative importance. Gall's work is characterized by witty observations and critiques on the failures of system design, advocating for a bottom-up approach to building systems.

In 'The Thing', G.K. Chesterton presents a series of essays that delve into his conversion to Catholicism and his perspectives on Christianity, critiquing modern ideologies like Protestantism, Universalism, and Materialism. The book offers insights into Chesterton's defense of the Catholic Church as a unifying force against the fragmented truths of the modern world.

In this book, James C. Scott examines the failures of centrally managed social plans and the destructive consequences of high-modernist ideologies. Scott argues that states often impose simplistic visions on complex societies, ignoring local, practical knowledge and leading to disastrous outcomes. He identifies four conditions common to all planning disasters: administrative ordering of nature and society, high-modernist ideology, authoritarian state power, and a prostrate civil society. The book critiques various utopian projects, including collective farms, compulsory villagization, and urban planning, and advocates for a more nuanced approach that respects local diversity and practical knowledge.