10 Favorite Systems Thinking Books of the Past 10 Years (Or So)
by Janice Molloy
According to most sources, our current decade began on January 1, 2010, so I’m about a year late in compiling a list of my favorite systems thinking books of the 00s. But I’ve received so many requests lately for my systems thinking “must reads” that I’ve decided to run the risk of being hopelessly late to the party and share my top titles of the past 10 years (or so).
This list is admittedly U.S.-centric; please use the "Comments" section to recommend books published in other countries and from different perspectives on systems thinking. Another mea culpa is that I haven’t included anything by Russell Ackoff. I hope you will weigh in with your suggestions on which of his books would make your top 10 greatest hits from the past decade.
Finally, with all the excellent books that came out in the last decade, I chose not to list the new edition of The Fifth Discipline, published in 2006. It almost goes without saying that Peter Senge’s classic is a permanent fixture on any list of systems thinking resources.
Thinking in Systems: A Primer by Donella H. Meadows (Chelsea Green, 2008) Dana Meadows had a unique ability to take the mystery out of what can be perceived as overly complex concepts. In this posthumously published book, she shows how systems of all shapes and sizes behave in similar ways and provides concrete ways to change underlying structures to produce better outcomes.
When a Butterfly Sneezes: A Guide for Helping Kids Explore Interconnections in Our World Through Favorite Stories (Pegasus Communications, 2001)/Connected Wisdom: Living Stories About Living Systems by Linda Booth Sweeney (SEED, 2009) Whereas Dana Meadows often used examples of systems in everyday life, Linda Booth Sweeney looks for them in stories, both contemporary and ancient. Her goal with both of these books is “to find a fun and memorable way to help kids see and understand the world of systems all around us.”
Business Dynamics: Systems Thinking and Modeling for a Complex World by John Sterman (McGraw-Hill/Irwin, 2000) The core textbook for learning how to apply system dynamics modeling to complex organizational challenges. Even if you aren’t interested in modeling per se, Sterman’s clear, well-written explanations of the core elements of systems thinking make it worth a look.
Systems Thinking, System Dynamics: Understanding Change and Complexity 2/e by Kambiz E. Maani and Robert Y. Cavana (Pearson Education New Zealand, 2007) Another comprehensive, practical introduction to systems thinking/system dynamics tools and concepts. This book includes a series of detailed examples for using systems thinking to diagnose complex problems and design robust interventions.
Limits to Growth: The 30-Year Update by Donella Meadows, Jorgen Randers, and Dennis L. Meadows (Chelsea Green, 2004) The most recent version of the influential system dynamics analysis of the impact of a rapidly growing population in a world of finite resources. Despite the grim prospects outlined through much of the book, the final chapter offers a sense of hope by proving guidelines for setting in motion a sustainability revolution.
The Shape of Change (plus The Shape of Change: Stocks and Flows) by Rod Quaden and Alan Ticotsky with Debra Lyneis (Creative Learning Exchange, 2007) This book includes games and hands-on activities for helping kids in grades 3-8 observe and understand patterns of behavior over time. In particular, the “Connections Circles” tool is an easy way to begin to trace cause and effect relationships.
Thinking in Circles About Obesity: Applying Systems Thinking to Weight Management by Tarek K. A. Hamid (Springer, 2009) Despite the best efforts of the weight-loss industry, medical professionals, public policy experts, and individuals, obesity has become a daunting health crisis. Using a systems thinking perspective, Hamid highlights the flaws in our commonly held assumptions about this issue and provides practical leverage points for breaking the vicious cycles that are fueling the crisis.
Why Your Boss Is Programmed to Be a Dictator: A Book for Anyone Who Has a Boss or Is a Boss by Chetan Dhruve (Cyan Communications, 2007) When a problem happens time and again, it’s a clue that the underlying structure needs to be revamped. In this compelling application of systems thinking to workplace dynamics, Dhruve makes the case that our current organizational structures unintentionally create poor boss-employee relationships—and suggests how we might solve this persistent challenge.
Tracing Connections: Voices of Systems Thinkers edited by Joy Richmond, Lees Stuntz, Kathy Richmond, and Joanne Egner (isee systems, inc. and Creative Learning Exchange, 2010) Published as a tribute to systems thinking pioneer Barry Richmond, this book includes essays on the application of these tools in a wide range of settings. The introduction outlines Richmond’s important work on the eight critical systems thinking skills.
Janice Molloy is content director of Pegasus Communications, managing editor of The Systems Thinker newsletter, and program director of the annual Systems Thinking in Action conference.