Although exactly a "page turner", I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in human development. Scott describes high modernism, through the urban planning doctrine of Le Corbusier and city of Brasilia, the revolutionary doctrine of Lenin, the rise of scientific forestry, the industrialization of agriculture, forced collectivization and resettlement in Tanzania and Ethiopia, and the dominance of scientific explanations over practical knowledge. He also describes som... (show more)

Although exactly a "page turner", I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in human development. Scott describes high modernism, through the urban planning doctrine of Le Corbusier and city of Brasilia, the revolutionary doctrine of Lenin, the rise of scientific forestry, the industrialization of agriculture, forced collectivization and resettlement in Tanzania and Ethiopia, and the dominance of scientific explanations over practical knowledge. He also describes some of the most salient contemporary critiques these policies, such as those on urbanism by Jane Jacobs, and against Leninism by Rosa Luxembourg and Alleksandra Kollontay. Scott doesn't dwell on the fact that these critiques of state control came from women, but this fact is certainly thought provoking. Contrary to my expectations before reading, the book is not just an endless repudiation of central planning through the ages. Scott gives recommendations, even if they aren't in the form of "bulleted" policy tips. Each chapter, especially the conclusion, provides positive examples of institutions and urban and rural models which are 'metis friendly", ranging from the Vietnam memorial to polycrop farming. One question I had regarded Scott's philosophical basis: while his ideas seem to put him squarely in the libertarian camp, in the book doesn't refer to other libertarian thinkers whose ideas he surely relies upon (i.e. Hayek). (show less)