Thinking in Systems

This book helped me stop thinking about singular problems and solutions and taught me to think in terms of relationships. 

I read it at a time when I believed the electric car to be a solution to oil dependence and the greenhouse effect. Electric cars do not directly produce CO2 and are more energy efficient. What I missed was the fact that cars are much more than oil-burning CO2-emitters. They limit our street life and kill more than a million people in traffic each year.

By solving one problem without looking at the big picture, we enlarge other problems and… show more.

This is one of those books that shakes the foundations of how you see the world around you.

I was taken in by the pleasant and extremely readable chapters that take you deeper and deeper into the key concepts of systems thinking. Which, in the end, is not about the technical systems around, or about the ways in which you can describe everything in terms of components and their relations.

Donella makes you realize that the most powerful skill of systems thinking is the realization that our understanding of reality is always built on a layer of worldviews, values, and… show more.

This is not just a book, but a compelling primer that remarkably resonates with the principles of Organizational Behavior Management (OBM). The systems thinking approach became instrumental for me, offering a unique framework to dissect and optimize organizational dynamics within schools.

Meadows illuminates the intricate webs of systems failures, a perspective that parallels the OBM approach of viewing organizations holistically rather than in silos. Her insistence on recognizing the interconnectedness of elements, embracing continuous learning, and valuing nonquantifiable aspects are tenets that echo in the world of OBM.

For those of us aiming to enhance organizational effectiveness and foster a… show more.

A pleasant and accessible introduction to thinking about the world in terms of systems.

In terms of dynamics, which is the mathematical and intuitive basis for the Dynamic Mind perspective on consciousness that Sai Gaddam and I lay out in my book. Thinking about reality in terms of dynamics instead of digits—as activity rather than stuff—requires a revolution in your intuition.

If you want to learn to think about the mind as a basketball game rather than a computer (essential if you want to fathom consciousness), this book is a great place to start. 

Our work environments are complicated. We don’t always recognize how something seemingly unrelated can have a huge impact on another item or task way downstream.

Being able to think and view the world through the lens of systems opens your approach to solving problems both technical and human. Reading this book helped me make the connection that change control policies were the cause of our increased failure rates.

These sorts of unlikely relationships are what thinking with a systems mindset allows you to create. 

The book does a thorough job of taking you through the language of systems, diagramming systems,… show more.

Systems are everywhere. They are an inescapable part of life. One of the best things we can do to improve ourselves and the world is develop our understanding of them.

Thinking in Systems is my go-to start point for everything systems. The writing is clear, and the stories are meaningful. Donella Meadows does an amazing job of breaking down systems, exposing their connections, and building them back up to show us how we can solve the problems that are important to us.

This book opened my eyes in so many ways, by showing me connections between what I do and… show more.