Messy: The Power of Disorder To Transform Our Lives

Is a tidy and sterile environment truly ideal? Journalist and economist Harford (The Undercover Economist) explores the concept of messiness, referring to more than physical disarray. Using real-life examples from businesses such as Google and famous figures such as Martin Luther King Jr., as well as citing scientific studies, Harford suggests that messiness has its own value. Organization doesn't necessarily increase production; disruption can inspire creativity. Diversity is strength, as seen in thriving ecosystems and cities. In short, life is messy. In a chapter about winning, Harford describes how Amazon's hasty and experimental workings helped make it the company it is today. When discussing automation, he details how a plane crashed because people passively trust automatic systems that attempt to be orderly in a chaotic world. Regarding incentives, Harford exemplifies how quantifiable targets can negatively impact what they intend to improve. Other topics include collaboration, workplaces, improvisation, and resilience.