A woman whose pioneering work in the 1970s still makes front-page news, Donella Meadows was a scientist, author, teacher, and farmer widely considered ahead of her time. She was one of the world's foremost systems analysts and lead author of the influential Limits to Growth--the 1972 book on global trends in population, economics, and the environment that was translated into 28 languages and became an international bestseller. That book launched a worldwide debate on the earth's capacity to withstand constant human development and expansion. Twenty years later, she and co-authors Dennis Meadows and Jorgen Randers reported on their follow-up study in Beyond the Limits and a final revision of their research, Limits to Growth: The 30-Year Update, was published in 2004.
Publishers Weekly, Starred Review-
Just before her death, scientist, farmer and leading
environmentalist Meadows (1941-2001) completed an updated, 30th
anniversary edition of her influential 1972 environmental call to
action, Limits to Growth, as well as a draft of this book, in which
she explains the methodology-systems analysis-she used in her
ground-breaking work, and how it can be implemented for large-scale
and individual problem solving. With humorous and commonplace
examples for difficult concepts such as a "reinforcing feedback
loop," (the more one brother pushes, the more the other brother
pushes back), negative feedback (as in thermostats), accounting for
delayed response (like in maintaining store inventory), Meadows
leads readers through the increasingly complex ways that feedback
loops operate to create self-organizing systems, in nature ("from
viruses to redwood trees") and human endeavor. Further, Meadows
explicates methods for fixing systems that have gone haywire ("The
world's leaders are correctly fixated on economic growth ...but
they're pushing with all their might in the wrong direction"). An
invaluable companion piece to Limits to Growth, this is also a
useful standalone overview of systems-based problem solving, "a
simple book about a complex world" graced by the wisdom of a
profound thinker committed to "shaping a better future.
"When I read Thinking in Systems I am reminded of the enormity of
the gap between systemic thinkers and policy makers. If this book
helps narrow the gap, it will be Dana's greatest
contribution."--Lester Brown, founder and President, Earth Policy
Institute
"Dana Meadows' exposition in this book exhibits a degree of clarity
and simplicity that can only be attained by one who profoundly and
honestly understands the subject at hand--in this case systems
modeling. Many thanks to Diana Wright for bringing this extra
legacy from Dana to us."--Herman Daly, Professor, School of Public
Policy, University of Maryland at College Park
"Reading Thinking in Systems evokes the wisdom and even the voice
of Dana Meadows. We are reminded of how she was not only one of the
great systems thinkers, but also one of our greatest teachers. This
is modestly called a primer, and indeed it is, but unlike most
books with that title, this one quickly takes one from the
elementary into deep systems thinking about issues as critical
today as they were when Dana wrote these words. The discussion of
oil use and the interaction of its extraction pattern with economic
decision making should be required reading for all energy policy
makers and energy company executives (as well as all informed
citizens in a democracy). The fisheries case reminds us of how
little any government or private actor has done to grasp the
importance of takeout flows in determining stocks when the input
flows are not within our control. The commentary on economics and,
yes the need to consider limits, is a clear systems statement that
clarifies a great deal of discussion that goes back to The Limits
to Growth. It is remarkable that Dana is able to explain with such
clarity such systems concepts of stocks, flows, feedback, time
delays, resilience, bounded rationality, and system boundaries and
to illustrate each one with multiple informative examples. Her
statement that goals that optimize subsystems will sub optimize the
functioning of the total system, is truly profound. As the book
moves from the 'mechanics' of systems dynamics to Dana's more
philosophical perspective, we are treated to her inherent belief in
human values that consider the good of all, and how much more
effective considering the needs of others is likely to be in
solving larger, complex problems. The universe and our society may
be very complex and operate in counterintuitive, non-liner fashion,
but following the insights of this book and applying them will
provide for far more effective solutions to the challenges of a 7
billion person planet than current incremental, linear responses by
governments, corporations and individuals."--Bill Moomaw, Professor
of International Environmental Policy at the Fletcher School, Tufts
University
"In Dana Meadows's brilliantly integrative worldview, everything
causes everything else; cause and effect loop back on themselves.
She was the clearest thinker and writer co-creating the art and
science of systems dynamics, and Thinking in Systems distills her
lifetime of wisdom. This clear, fun-to-read synthesis will help
diverse readers everywhere to grasp and harness how our complex
world really works."--Amory B. Lovins, Chairman and Chief
Scientist, Rocky Mountain Institute
"Dana Meadows taught a generation of students, friends, and
colleagues the art and science of thinking beyond conventional
boundaries. For her systems thinking included the expected things
like recognizing patterns, connections, leverage points, feedback
loops and also the human qualities of judgment, foresight, and
kindness. She was a teacher with insight and heart. This long
anticipated book, the distillation of her life's work, is a
gem."--David Orr, Professor of Environmental Studies and Politics,
Oberlin College
"The publication of Thinking in Systems is a landmark. To live
sustainably on our planet, we must learn to understand
human-environment interactions as complex systems marked by the
impact of human actions, the prominence of nonlinear change, the
importance of initial conditions, and the significance of emergent
properties. Dana Meadows' final contribution is the best and most
accessible introduction to this way of thinking we have. This book
is destined to shape our understanding of socio-ecological systems
in the years to come in much the same way that Silent Spring taught
us to understand the nature of ecosystems in the 1960s and
1970s."--Oran R. Young, Professor, Donald Bren School of
Environmental Science and Management at University of California,
Santa Barbara
"Thinking in Systems is required reading for anyone hoping to run a
successful company, community, or country. Learning how to think in
systems is now part of change-agent literacy. And this is the best
book of its kind."--Hunter Lovins, founder and President of Natural
Capital Solutions and coauthor of Natural Capitalism: Creating the
Next Industrial Revolution
"Dana Meadows was one of the smartest people I ever knew, able to
figure out the sensible answer to almost any problem. This book
explains how she thought, and hence is of immense value to those of
us who often wonder what she'd make of some new problem. A
classic."--Bill McKibben, author of Deep Economy
"An inspiring sequel to Dana Meadows' lifetime of seminal
contributions to systems thinking, this highly accessible book
should be read by everyone concerned with the world's future and
how we can make it as good as it possibly can be."--Peter H. Raven,
President, Missouri Botanical Garden
"Few matched Dana Meadows remarkable blend of eloquence and clarity
in making systems thinking understandable. When Dana began her
career, the field was esoteric and academic. Today it is the sine
quo non for intelligent action in business and society. The
publication of Meadows' previously unfinished manuscript is a gift
for leaders of all sorts and at all levels."--Peter M. Senge,
author of The Fifth Discipline and The Necessary Revolution
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