Includes bibliographical references and index.

A routine operation -- United Airlines 173 -- The paradox of success -- Wrongful convictions -- Intellectual contortions -- Reforming criminal justice -- The nozzle paradox -- Scared straight? -- Marginal gains -- How failure drives innovation -- Libyan Arab Airlines flight 114 -- The second victim -- The Beckham effect -- Redefining failure -- Coda: The big picture.

"Nobody wants to fail. But in highly complex organizations, success can happen only when we confront our mistakes, learn from our own version of a black box, and create a climate where it's safe to fail"