Normal Accidents
Charles Perrow · first published 1984 · ISBN 9780691004129
Perrow argues something unsettling: in complex systems like nuclear plants, chemical factories, and aircraft, accidents are inevitable no matter how much you invest in safety. The problem is not error or negligence but the tight coupling of components and unexpected interactions between parts. When everything connects to everything else, the opportunity for surprise failures multiplies.
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This shifts you from thinking 'we can engineer away risk' to understanding that certain systems are fragile by their very nature. It's a sober read, but essential for anyone who will design systems where failure has real consequences.