18 systems · 37 books · the systems behind an ordinary day
The World Underneath
An atlas of the systems that keep everyday life running.
When you turn on a light, tap a card, open a webpage, drink water or take medicine, physical systems, markets, laws, standards, machines and people are doing the work behind the gesture. We usually notice them when something stops.
Choose an ordinary action
Follow what makes it possible
Three views of the same city
One familiar place, three ways to see it
Each card starts with a familiar place. The second view shows how administration records it; the third shows what people do when the formal system falls short.
DEPENDENCE
A small object can support a large system
The model compares physical footprint with systemic dependence. It is not a measured ranking. Drag the slider to see the difference.
TIME
The same systems run on different clocks
Electricity reacts in seconds, crops grow over months and infrastructure lasts for decades. Move the slider to see which systems matter at each scale.
ATLAS · 18 SYSTEMS
18 systems, followed from action to failure
Choose a system to see what moves through it, what limits it, what it needs, how it fails and what the two books contribute.
SYNTHESIS
15 patterns across the systems
Recurring patterns appear across the books and systems.
MAINTENANCE
Civilization depends on maintenance
Reliability comes from repeated inspection, cleaning, calibration, replacement, reconciliation and repair.
Seeing Like a State
James C. Scott shows what institutions lose when they make a place legible.
QUESTIONS FOR ANY SYSTEM
9 questions for any complicated system
Try them on a hospital, railway, newsroom, border, cloud provider, school or supermarket.
37 BOOKS
The 37 books
Each system has two books: one about how it works and one about how people live with it. The summaries are original paraphrases.
- EPower System Economics Steven StoftElectricity & the grid
- NThe Grid Gretchen BakkeElectricity & the grid
- EPayments Systems in the U.S. Carol Coye Benson, Scott Loftesness & Russ JonesPayments & settlement
- NThe Pay Off Gottfried Leibbrandt & Natasha de TeránPayments & settlement
- EMaritime Economics Martin StopfordShipping & logistics
- NNinety Percent of Everything Rose GeorgeShipping & logistics
- EFeeding the World Vaclav SmilFood systems
- NThe Alchemy of Air Thomas HagerFood systems
- EThe Origins of Efficiency Brian PotterConstruction
- NHow Big Things Get Done Bent Flyvbjerg & Dan GardnerConstruction
- EThe Undersea Network Nicole StarosielskiCables & the physical internet
- NTubes Andrew BlumCables & the physical internet
- EThe Great Escape Angus DeatonPublic-health delivery
- NThe Ghost Map Steven JohnsonPublic-health delivery
- EHow Judges Think Richard A. PosnerCourts & contracts
- NGideon's Trumpet Anthony LewisCourts & contracts
- EWater 4.0 David L. SedlakWater & rivers
- NCadillac Desert Marc ReisnerWater & rivers
- EFabless Daniel Nenni & Paul McLellanSemiconductors
- NChip War Chris MillerSemiconductors
- EMaterial World Ed ConwayMaterials & trade
- NThe World for Sale Javier Blas & Jack FarchyMaterials & trade
- EOil 101 Morgan DowneyOil & gas
- NThe Prize Daniel YerginOil & gas
- ENormal Accidents Charles PerrowHow systems fail
- NMeltdown Chris Clearfield & András TilcsikHow systems fail
- EThe Cure for Catastrophe Robert Muir-WoodInsurance & catastrophe
- NAgainst the Gods Peter L. BernsteinInsurance & catastrophe
- ERubbish! William L. Rathje & Cullen MurphyWaste & recycling
- NJunkyard Planet Adam MinterWaste & recycling
- EBeyond Measure James VincentPrecision & standards
- NThe Perfectionists Simon WinchesterPrecision & standards
- EOrder Without Design Alain BertaudLand & zoning
- NThe Color of Law Richard RothsteinLand & zoning
- EA Prescription for Change Michael S. KinchDrug development & quality
- NThe Billion-Dollar Molecule Barry WerthDrug development & quality
- MSeeing Like a State James C. Scottreference book