Rationalization, with McDonald’s as the paradigm case, is occurring throughout America, and, increasingly, other societies. In virtually every sector of society more and more emphasis is placed on efficiency, predictability, calculability, re- placement of human by nonhuman technology, and control over uncertainty.Al- though progressive rationalization has brought with it innumerable advantages, it has also created a number of problems, the various irrationalities of rationality, which threaten to accelerate in the years to come.These problems, and their ac- celeration should not be taken as a case for the return to a less rational form of society. Such a return is not only impossible but also undesirable.What is needed is not a less rational society, but greater control over the process of rationalization involving, among other things, efforts to ameliorate its irrational consequences.