I have been so intrigued by reviews of books by Philip K. Howard that I have bought four of them. I am chagrined to admit that I have not yet read any of them–I am a slow reader, and have a long to-do list. But when I saw Howard’s suggestions of books that critique government red-tape, I made the to-do list even longer.
(p. R5) American government is overdue for a spring-cleaning, so I was delighted to read several biting critiques of the red-tape state, especially Marc Dunkelman’s “Why Nothing Works” and Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson’s “Abundance.” What’s needed is a philosophical shift toward human agency and accountability. In “The Origins of Efficiency,” Brian Potter reveals the role of human ingenuity in refining modern technologies. In “Humanocracy,” Gary Hamel and Michele Zanini describe how decentralizing individual responsibility helps businesses thrive. Barry Lam’s “Fewer Rules, Better People” shows why fairness requires judgment on the spot. Without human oversight, systems always take on a life of their own.
The source for Philip K. Howard’s book suggestions is:
(Note: the online version of Howard’s suggestions has the date December 12, 2025.)
The books suggested by Howard are:
Dunkelman, Marc J. Why Nothing Works: Who Killed Progress―and How to Bring It Back. New York: PublicAffairs, 2025.
Hamel, Gary, and Michele Zanini. Humanocracy: Creating Organizations as Amazing as the People inside Them. Revised & Updated ed: Harvard Business School Press, 2025.
Klein, Ezra, and Derek Thompson. Abundance. New York: Avid Reader Press, 2025.
Lam, Barry. Fewer Rules, Better People: The Case for Discretion. New York: W. W. Norton & Company.
Potter, Brian. The Origins of Efficiency. South San Francisco, CA: Stripe Press, 2025.