Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.18 AVERAGE
4.18 AVERAGE
Well, maybe a 3.5.
A digestible, welcoming intro to the crazy science that is systems theory. Basically, this is a dharma text, cuz everything's interconnected and we're all systems within systems, etc. So Buddhist! But also: so true, eh.
Meadows uses general examples (from bathtubs to national economies), and it's generally understandable and not too intimidating. Sometimes her politics, and the datedness of the book, shine through (there is a loving paean to Jimmy Carter), but that is easily forgiven.
A digestible, welcoming intro to the crazy science that is systems theory. Basically, this is a dharma text, cuz everything's interconnected and we're all systems within systems, etc. So Buddhist! But also: so true, eh.
Meadows uses general examples (from bathtubs to national economies), and it's generally understandable and not too intimidating. Sometimes her politics, and the datedness of the book, shine through (there is a loving paean to Jimmy Carter), but that is easily forgiven.
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
informative
medium-paced
medium-paced
challenging
informative
reflective
fast-paced
I gave this book 5 stars because it put into language so beautifully and concisely many complex ideas that I believe many people intuitively understand. There were some parts that I found incongruous— like how Meadows talks about the importance of open mindedness but then seems to have a clear bias and misunderstanding of communism based on propaganda rather than fact. Also, the discussion of ways to leverage points in systems for more personal accountability seemed to discount what is morally just— like not paying for someone’s hospital bill if they don’t wear a helmet on a motorcycle. But, overall, it was a great primer and a super quick and interesting read with lots of examples to help the reader understand the application of systems thinking in the real world. Key quote - “We’re back to the gap between understanding and implementation. Systems thinking by itself cannot bridge that gap, but it can lead us to the edge of what analysis can do and then point beyond to what can and must be done by the human spirit.”
Door één van de auteurs van Grenzen aan de groei geschreven inleiding op de systeemtheorie. Verwacht geen droog theorieboek, al lijkt het begin daar wel op te wijzen. Al snel gaat ze over hoe je systemen kunt herkennen, wat hun manco's zijn, en hoe je ze kunt beinvloeden. Verplichte kost voor economen en politici.
De meer rechtse heren moeten dan wel even door haar idealistische bril heen kijken. Ik daag ze uit om haar lijstjes te bekritiseren.
Want dat is ook fijn aan het boek: er staan lijstjes in.
De meer rechtse heren moeten dan wel even door haar idealistische bril heen kijken. Ik daag ze uit om haar lijstjes te bekritiseren.
Want dat is ook fijn aan het boek: er staan lijstjes in.
This text book is as dry as bark wood but the subject is extremely interesting: focusing not on specific events ("stock market went down") that happen but zooming out and asking: what behaviors contributed to this event and what feedback loops contributed to that behavior?
informative
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
Not giving this 5 stars because it doesn't feel like that kind of book, but this was incredibly impactful for me and I can already see it coloring my thinking in positive ways. It's like actually a self help book that isn't a self help book at all.