Customer Reviews

Systems One: An Introduction to Systems Thinking

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4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
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If you know nothing about Systems Theory, this book could whack you on the side of the head. In six short chapters it gives you a background on Systems Thinking, covers two main concepts, and then explains how these concepts can be expanded. It is studded with amazing, real life examples of these concepts at work in the world.

The reader should be aware that this is more of a pamphlet covering just a couple concepts very thoroughly rather than a complete treatise on Systems Thinking. It is meant to be used as a guide to teach children about the basic concepts of Systems Thinking. For these reasons this book can be skimmed by adults. It is the first of five books in a series, meant to be digested in order. The others may increase in complexity. (I have yet to find them.) Listed on the inside the front cover, they are: "Environmental Systems", "Modeling and Systems Design", "Forecasting Systems' Performance" and "Application of Systems Theory".

As the introductory text to MIT's Sloan School of Management "Systems Dynamics in Education Process" you know that some "thought" has been given to its choice to begin that auspicious project. This booklet gives in terms simple to understand the preliminaries of "systems dynamics" needed to continue the "Roadmaps" series (currently at nine chapters) into the computer modeling of systems or to just understand the world around you. You'll want to compare this booklet with Daniel Kim's "Introduction to Systems Thinking" in the Pegasus Communications "Innovations in Management" Series!

I could have sworn that Amazon used to have a way for author's to comment without "reviewing" their own books, but I can't find it.

Anyway, a friend told me there was a copy of Systems One selling here for over $200, and I had to see for myself. I frankly don't know whether to be flattered or appalled! :)

This modest book was intended as an intro to systems thinking for high school students, but it has astonished me with its range and staying power. For almost 30 years it has been and continues to be used in graduate programs, management seminars, teacher education programs, and gifted programs. In addition, the appendix, a collection of "systems proverbs," has been published separately several times and continues to have a life of its own. (Google that phrase or "Kauffman's Rules" to see what I mean.)

There are many books on systems theory and systems thinking that are much deeper and more complete. What is puzzling is that nothing has quite replaced this one in its niche as a simple introduction to the subject. My own theory is that Fred Stout's terrific cartoons and the appendix are what gave it such long legs.

A small correction to one review: Systems One & Two were originally written as a single book (called "Systems Thinking"). The publisher decided to split it into two parts and make it part of a series, but as far as I know the rest of the series was never written. The other three titles listed inside the cover were just vaporware.

Clearly written with excellent examples, this book provides a basic, non-mathematical introduction to the fundamental concepts of system theory. I have used it with high school sophomore biology students with great success. I really don't know of any good alternatives, and I am sorry it seems to be no longer in print.