The Best and the Brightest

Why it’s on the list: David Halberstam’s book is explicitly named in the McNamara passage as the work that made the technocrats’ brilliance ‘seem dark and ironic’; central to the book’s critique of data-driven hubris.

Where I saw it: Cited in Shortest Way Home — surfaced during the 2026-06-19 connection sweep.

Connections

• Shortest Way Home — where this book is cited.