the 'random mix' and monoculture points in here are the topic of the first chapter of Seeing Like a State, the book about why institutions over-simplify the societies they govern
it's a good book, especially as an introduction to why reductionism and quantitative measurement distort what they measure when taken apart from holism and qualitative valuation - but boy is it a slow burner. I listened to it on audiobook during my commute and I'm surprised I didn't fall asleep at the wheel.
