From the preface: The book is based on a collection of mishaps and oddities relating to computer technology. It considers what has gone wrong in the past, what is likely to go wrong in the future, and what can be done to minimize the occurrence of further problems.

Most of the events selected for inclusion relate to roles that computers and communication systems play in our lives. Some events exhibit problems with technology and its application; some events illustrate a wide range of human behavior, such as malice, inadvertent actions, incompetence, ignorance, carelessness, or lack of experience; some are attributable to causes over which people have little control, such as natural disasters.
Some are old; others are recent. Because such events continue to happen and because they affect people in many different ways, it is essential to draw realistic conclusions--particularly if the book is to help us avoid future disasters.