In 1944, the Office of Strategic Services (OSS)—the precursor to the CIA—published the Simple Sabotage Field Manual. This declassified document outlines subtle acts of sabotage that ordinary citizens could use to disrupt enemy operations during World War II. While written for a specific wartime context, its guidance resonates in unexpected ways today. Remarkably, I first learned about this manual from a former CIA officer, who suggested it offers a unique lens for understanding inefficiency and dysfunction in modern systems—including the U.S. government.