Searching for Safety

by Aaron Wildavsky

Protecting ourselves against the risks associated with modern technologies has emerged as a major public concern throughout the industrialized world. Searching for Safety is unique in its exposition of a theory that explains how and why risk taking makes life safer and exposes the high risk of avoiding change. The book covers a wide range, including how the human body, as well as plants, animals, and insects, cope with danger. Wildavsky asks whether piling on safety measures actually improves safety. While he agrees that society should sometimes try to prevent large-scale harm, he explains why a strategy of resilience—learning from error how to bounce back in better shape—is usually better. His intention is to shift the debate about risk from passive prevention of harm to an active search for safety. This book will be of special interest to those concerned with risk involving technology, health, safety, environmental protection, regulation, and more.

 

275 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

Aaron B. Wildavsky

Reviews

[Tica Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptional book. Only one that impressed me during my study at university. Clever, innovative, mind-blowing.

[Martez Wilson]

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it was about a kid had moved to a new town and he had left his aunt cuz he was living with her him and his mom left and moved across town and his mom found a guy that she liked at work. but he was a bully of the neighborhood and he beat his kids and his wife he went to jail and got out. when he got out she agreed to marry him he say he would live a clean life but he moved in with them.His name was larry he moved with them and one day his mom went to work he hadn't started school yet then so he stayed at home.he came down stairs and went in the fridge he hadn't spoke to larry sine he had moved with them he grabbed ben and said "your gonna start respecting me benny boy" ben snatched away from him and larry hit him and beat him.and his mom came home and say that larry had hit him they descoused it in the room and larry hit ben mom they had to stay away from him his aunt was out of town so she came back and told larry to get out. larry refused she bought a couple of guys in to beat larry up and larry moved away and never seen him again ever at their house again.

[Lorin Hochstein · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is essentially a critique of the precautionary principle. Wildvasky argues that society should apply a trial-and-error approach to safety. Rather than attempting to eliminate all risks, it should be willing to try new approachs that have some associated risks, in order to reap the potential benefits that may ultimately lead to improved safety overall.