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    Thinking in Systems: A Primer
    Thinking in Systems: A Primer
    Thinking in Systems: A Primer
    Audiobook6 hours

    Thinking in Systems: A Primer

    Written by Donella Meadows

    Narrated by Tia Rider

    4.5/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    In the years following her role as the lead author of the international bestseller, Limits to Growth—the first book to show the consequences of unchecked growth on a finite planet— Donella Meadows remained a pioneer of environmental and social analysis until her untimely death in 2001.


    Thinking in Systems, is a concise and crucial book offering insight for problem solving on scales ranging from the personal to the global. Edited by the Sustainability Institute’s Diana Wright, this essential primer brings systems thinking out of the realm of computers and equations and into the tangible world, showing readers how to develop the systems-thinking skills that thought leaders across the globe consider critical for 21st-century life.


    Some of the biggest problems facing the world—war, hunger, poverty, and environmental degradation—are essentially system failures. They cannot be solved by fixing one piece in isolation from the others, because even seemingly minor details have enormous power to undermine the best efforts of too-narrow thinking.


    While readers will learn the conceptual tools and methods of systems thinking, the heart of the book is grander than methodology. Donella Meadows was known as much for nurturing positive outcomes as she was for delving into the science behind global dilemmas. She reminds readers to pay attention to what is important, not just what is quantifiable, to stay humble, and to stay a learner.


    In a world growing ever more complicated, crowded, and interdependent, Thinking in Systems helps readers avoid confusion and helplessness, the first step toward finding proactive and effective solutions.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherChelsea Green Publishing
    Release dateJul 19, 2018
    ISBN9781603588478
    Thinking in Systems: A Primer

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    Reviews for Thinking in Systems

    4.5/5

    411 ratings25 reviews

    What our readers think

    Readers find this title to be an outstanding and eye-opening book that provides a clear and concise introduction to systems thinking. It offers a practical point of view and a new lens with which to view the world. The book is highly recommended for anyone looking to better understand the systems we live in and take action. While some readers find the language to be dry and academic in the beginning, it becomes more engaging as it explores larger picture views of systems. Overall, this book is a must-read and a fundamental resource for everyone.

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 5/5
      A brilliant yet accessible account of how to think about and work with systems
    • 5/5
      Donella Meadows offers a glimpse into a strange universe. Reading her book, it becomes clear how archaic and closed our thinking is. Numbers are placed before values, short-termism before long-termism, in short: we often confuse the goals with the means. Without an understanding of the map, we will continue to cultivate unsustainable ways of life, travelling like on a ship of fools.
    • 5/5
      Brilliant. Clear and uncomplicated. Great primer. Worth a second listen.
    • 5/5
      It’s a systems classic and references many important levers to keep in mind.
    • 5/5
      Excellent introduction to a very comprehensive topic. But where do I go now?
    • 5/5
      On of the smartest book I ever heard.
      I strongly recommended it.
    • 5/5
      Outstanding book, must read and listen. Don't miss, fundamental to everything.
    • 5/5
      Great book . Give a practical point of view about system
    • 4/5
      Interesting book about our biases and how systems self perpetuate
    • 4/5
      Good reading & audio quality.
      The book is a great introduction to systems thinking despite being fairly dated.
      The biggest drawback is the dry, academic language which makes it a tough read. I have reservations about recommending it because of this. However, if you get through the first half, it becomes an absolute pleasure as the discussion shifts to a larger picture view of systems in our world.
    • 5/5
      Eye opening perspective.from a
      intellectual artisan , a Walden pond for our times
    • 5/5
      I loved listening to this book. Donella delves into many current and relevant topics using the subject of system engineering as a vantage point. This makes the book an interesting read. This book is certainly a must read for all politicians, social engineers and business managers seeking to find a holistic view of the systems they create. The audio is also clear and pleasant to listen to.
    • 5/5
      Eye opening and well written. Lots of gems in here and very relevant to 2020
    • 5/5
      Great book, I really like reading this and learned so much
    • 5/5
      Fantastic overview of systems thinking distilled beautifully and applied across many disciplines. Great read.
    • 5/5
      A must-read, for anyone looking to better understand the system we live in and act on it.
      A life-changing perspective, you'll see systems everywhere.
    • 5/5
      An outstanding book. Clear, concise, no jargon. I loved it.
    • 5/5
      Excellent introduction to understand how systems work in everyday life.
    • 5/5
      I loved this book. I feel like a came away with a better understanding of politics, the economy, the universe. I feel enlightened. I want to listen again in a few weeks to let some of the concepts sink in.
    • 4/5
      Worth reading. No revolutionary new idea presented, rather a new lens with which to view things and a structure to interpret and act on the knowledge so obtained.
    • 5/5
      an excellent audiobook, reinforced many of what i believe in
    • 3/5
      It is an easy read. A primer on the matter.
    • 5/5
      A must read (or listen)! For every engineer and every decision maker. The clarity of exposition is marvellous. Feedback, the most power mechanism of systems in nature, is explained in detail. Decision makers will learn how to use this powerful tool. Engineers, who know this concept very well, will benefit on how they can better recognize the variables and the control loops into play.
    • 3/5
      It's a great introductory book for systems thinking. I urge anyone creating a business or making policy to definitely read this book.
    • 5/5
      For anyone who really and I mean really wants to get the objective look on what compromises society and life. This is a must read. Could not have put it better and without any political agenda.

      1 person found this helpful