Thinking in Systems: International Bestseller

There are a few books that encapsulate a way of thinking so simply, so clearly and so compellingly that I find myself giving little kisses of delight to the cover. I read this on a Kindle, so this resulted in quite a lot of smudging. I am not a student of systems or someone who ever spent much time thinking about systems at all, although, like practically everybody, my life and work are all about either creating, maintaining, supporting, or surviving various systems. I heard about this book from a Tweet referring to its twenty-fifth anniversary and linking to an article singing its praises, which it does better than I can. For me, it has been a truly revelatory experience, a platonic slave-in-the-cave moment, which I believe will divide my cognitive experience into pre and post its reading. As Meadows warns at its outset, studying systems leads one to see systems everywhere, which, of course, is because they were there all along. But being able to see and interpret them allows us to better participate and avoid traps that commonly lead to system failure. Sadly, it also allows us to understand why some decisions taken by executives, politicians, and others that manage systems in which we have little or no control are doomed to failure and to undermine their own goals. This awareness will help readers become better citizens/coworkers and critics of leadership. But it can also help us avoid issues that threaten our own, smaller systems, our relationships, families, homes, work, and health. This book draws heavily on examples from the time in which it was written, which artificially sets the book in a particular historical moment. Meadows simply had so many examples to chose from, that she took quotes from contemporaneous newspaper articles. But the examples might as well be chosen from today’s stories or those from hundreds of years ago. They are just examples. This book is timeless. These quotes from the early nineties have the added benefit of proving her point, as in most cases history has borne out the predictions that stem from the flaws and features that Meadows points out. Note that there were some oddities in the Kindle version. A few words seem to have disappeared in various places in the transposition. I bought a hard copy of the book and was able to fill the gaps (just a few words here and there, nothing that would keep me from recommending the Kindle edition). I hope the editors will correct this. The end of the book contains a very useful appendix that I am tempted to tear out and put up on the wall, detailing fundamentals of systems thinking. I could not recommend this highly enough.

I’ve read several books on systems thinking, over the years, and wish I’d found this one first. Meadows builds a clear, solid foundation and layers on insights. The book is both practical and inspiring. It can change how you see the world. Highly recommend.

I was looking I was looking for an easy and approachable introduction to systems thinking, and I think I found it in this book. The book makes for an easy to follow read whilst not compromising on complexity itself. The author does an excellent job of illustrating the various concepts and models, whilst still allowing for the necessary humility in exploring this vast and fascinating subject. Some readers might be put off by a slightly preachy and moralistic tone. A few times, I find myself wondering if the book was not too simplistic, but then the author delivers a surprising or thoughtful insight which adds texture and nuance.

Thinking in Systems, a Primer is good reading for everybody. The author Donella Meadows who during her lifetime was a scientist trained in chemistry and biophysics, and ultimately was a teacher and researcher at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Despite her academic standing and the sophisticated world of research in which she worked and lived, her writing is accessible to anyone, from middle school onward through high school and university students. The book is replete with charts and graphs, short asides to emphasize particular points, problem-solving scenarios, and it uses familiar examples to make its points. Systems are nonlinear, and they are almost infinitely scalable, with different effects and consequences at each level observed. Scoping out the system into its component parts, and observing the functionalities of how it operates, will tell you a great deal about what you would need to do in order to accomplish a particular goal, and what to watch out for along the way. Thinking in systems as an ongoing daily activity is a necessary adjunct to wisdom and maturity. Actions have consequences; and consequences can be planned and proactive, or they can be regressive than reactive. In terms of human activity, systems create and channel energy; they store and utilize energy; and as they decay, they lose energy and either dissipate or die. We are all part of one system or another, or many at a single point in time, now and throughout our lives. It pays to know how to deal with system dynamics; because those who fail or refuse to do so are likely to be unsuccessful in whatever goal they are seeking to accomplish. You do not need to be a scientist or mathematician in order to appreciate the values of this book. I highly recommend it.

I ordered this book because the title intrigued me. I didn't know what to expect, but have found it to be a fascinating read. Most of the concepts the book presents have never crossed my mind before and I am learning so much about a field I knew nothing about. This is a serious, well-researched, well-written, and thoroughly accessible introduction to system thinking.

Full of insights on biological and human systems with ideas on how to effectively influence them as well as the dangers involved. One chapter focuses is called Leverage Points - Places to Intervene In a System which describes, in an order from least effective to most effective, ways to influence a system. Reading this made me realize we are witnessing, in real time, her 2nd most important leverage point, Paradigms. The paradigm of what the United States is and stands for is being reshaped in the specific way she describes: "You keep speaking and acting, loudly and with assurance, from the new [paradigm]. You insert people with the new paradigm in places of public visibility and power". Systems do not remain static, for better or worse.

This was one of the best books I have read. Any layperson should read it I really think it should be mandatory reading in schools. It's not only a book about how systems work. The book gives you a different mental perspective on how to think about the world. You start seeing thinks differently.

Great introduction to systems thinking. Would recommend it to anyone!!!!! It’s a must-read!

This primer lays out systems theory basics in a way that is easy to understand and fun to read. I have been going through the bibliography for some further reading.

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