A review by nat_sanchez
Thinking in Systems: A Primer by Donella H. Meadows

challenging informative reflective fast-paced

5.0

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.”