EPISODE · Jan 29, 2026 · 46 MIN

Seeing Like a State — Legibility, Control, and Systemic Failure (Audio)

from Crisis in Perception · host Crisis in Perception

Welcome to Crisis in Perception, where we examine the systems shaping our world — one book at a time.This episode explores Seeing Like a State by James C. Scott as a systems-level analysis of how administrative simplification enables control while undermining resilience.By examining legibility, high-modernist planning, and the loss of local knowledge, the book reveals why engineered order often collapses under real-world complexity.📺 Watch the Deep Dive and Mini Explainer on YouTube:👉 https://youtube.com/@crisisinperception🎬 Watch the Mini Explainer for a short visual introduction:https://youtu.be/K2dhPFzYtXw👉 https://youtube.com/@crisisinperception❤️ Support Crisis in Perception on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/posts/seeing-like-why-149445774?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link👉 https://patreon.com/CrisisInPerceptionAuthor Support LineIf these ideas resonate, consider reading the book yourself or borrowing it from your local library. Supporting authors and libraries helps keep critical inquiry accessible.Call to ActionIf you found this episode valuable, please follow the show and share it with others. Let us know what books or systems you’d like us to cover next.Closing LineThank you for supporting Crisis in Perception. Your support makes long-form, systems-level education possible.AI Use DisclosureThis content was created using AI-assisted tools for research synthesis, structuring, and narration support. All analysis, framing, and editorial decisions are guided by human judgment as part of the Crisis in Perception project.