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Systems of Survival: A Dialogue on the Moral Foundations of Commerce and Politics Paperback – January 13, 1994

4.6 out of 5 stars 66

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With intelligence and clarity of observation, the author of The Death and Life of Great American Cities addresses the moral values that underpin working life.

In
Systems of Survival, Jane Jacobs identifies two distinct moral syndromes—one governing commerce, the other, politics—and explores what happens when these two syndromes collide. She looks at business fraud and criminal enterprise, government’s overextended subsidies to agriculture, and transit police who abuse the system the are supposed to enforce, and asks us to consider instances in which snobbery is a virtue and industry a vice. In this work of profound insight and elegance, Jacobs gives us a new way of seeing all our public transactions and encourages us towards the best use of our natural inclinations.

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A sometimes provocative but simplistic discussion of morality in the form of a Platonic dialogue between a Manhattan publisher and his party guests.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

“Altogether magnificent . . . Probably no single thinker has done more in the last fifty years to transform our ideas about the nature of urban life.” —Chicago Tribune

“[With] piercing analysis, crystalline prose and [a] finely-honed sense of morality, Jacobs covers an amazing amount of ground.” —
Cleveland Plain Dealer

“Superb . . . Cobbling together a little urban anthropology, a little economic history, and a vast store of highly nuanced personal observations . . . Jacobs is an indispensable provocateur.” —
Village Voice Literary Supplement

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Vintage; First Edition (January 13, 1994)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 256 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0679748164
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0679748168
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 7.6 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.15 x 0.55 x 7.98 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 out of 5 stars 66

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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
66 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Reviewed in the United States on January 27, 2019
This is a greatly un-appreciated book about the dangers of mixing up the standards, the proper behavior, the provenance, of (what should be) the public and the private spheres. In government, politics, etc., says Jacobs, fanfare, ceremony, tradition, respect for authority, etc. are not only appropriate but, to some degree, necessary, while in the private sphere efficiency, quick response to consumer demand, etc. should rule. What's more, she emphasized, these maxims are far more than a set of Emily Post guidelines; when they are violated, she warns, either or both spheres get corrupted and don't do their job as well as they should. Thus, for example, governments should not get into owning or running banks (she uses the World Bank, where I used to work, as a recurring example), nor should banks be trusted to govern. The recent (2018) opening of Los Pinos, the long-sequestered offices of the President of Mexico, to the public would get immediate condemnation from Jane.

As in her masterpiece "The Life and Death of American Cities," Jacobs has wonderful insights which she proceeds to exaggerate, take beyond the realm where they are correct, and thus leave plenty of openings for a critic's "now wait just a minute, there..." No matter. This little book is well worth a read. Fortunately, I expect it appeals to an older audience than Ayn Rand's romantic tracts on individualism and the free market, and so is unlikely to attract fools who want to go all the way, or even further, with it. Anyway, thanks to the late lady from Scranton!
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Reviewed in the United States on April 10, 2024
My chosen profession has a foot in each of the two moral syndromes described in the book. Conflict and some degree of human misery drive the demand for my services, and resolving that conflict can involve going to court. This book can help readers understand, reconcile, and respect the motivations driving everyone we are involved with in our working lives. Thanks to Jane Jacobs, we can see our allies and antagonists on a level playing field as individuals who must stay in professional character and be true to themselves. Jane Jacobs reveals the rewards for staying in your moral syndrome's lane and the temptations and pitfalls that lay in wait for both syndromes.

The book explains why a carefully placed lie from a politician or policeman is to be expected because we know that policemen and politicians are expected to use prevarication to stay true to the fundamental character of these professions. When caught in a constructive lie to "outsiders", these professions have no repercussions. In this moral syndrome, a constructive lie can be honored more than the truth itself. But lying to an "insider", someone you are closely allied with, can end either of these careers. Disloyalty to the team is unforgivable on teams, whereas lying to the public is the opposite: forgivable when protecting what you have been entrusted with protecting. Jacobs' guardianship syndrome is present to the degree that the responsibility to protect is part of the job.

Compare this to the consequences for a scientist lying to the public or a businessman selling slipshod merchandise, violating their clients' trust. In lying, the scientist and the businessman jeopardize their ability to make a living because their success is built entirely on being trusted by "outsiders".

I deeply appreciate this book because the problems that demand my professional participation involve coming to terms with physical and natural facts. But solving the problems driving my involvement requires getting people from both syndromes described in the book to work together. People are more challenging to understand than the physical and natural processes I study.
Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2016
There are many books that I have found inspiring, but this is the only book I have purchased and given away because I thought the ideas in it needed to be shared---and I did this three times and may do it again.

The main theme is that humanity has implemented two systems for survival. One, guardianship, that seems to spring from our DNA and is practiced by many social animals on our planet. The other, trade or commerce, that appears to be uniquely human. These are not competing systems, they are complementary. They each have their place and they each have their rules. These rules are often, when not directly opposed, not aligned.

For me, the insight that there are two systems at work in our society and that they have different goals and require different rules has made it much easier for me to analyze and understand the forces at work in my environment. It has also made it easier to understand why some things feel "right" while other similar things don't. For example, it seems desirable to have a company creating a competing bank, but not desirable to have the state or federal government creating a competing bank.

One of the criticisms of this book is the choice to write this as a Socratic dialog. I regard this approach as superior to the typical academic approach. Stories are easier to remember and often easier to understand, but I respect the views of those that don't. If you don't like something, then it is a fact that you don't like it. It is irrelevant that I think you should. Further, other readers of these comments may feel as you do--so it is a valid criticism. Just be aware that it will not be true for everyone.

Another criticism is that Jacobs didn't explore concepts or provide guidance that they expected. While I cannot argue that their expectations were met and they just missed it, I can argue that the expectations of the critics are owned by the critics and that there is no evidence that Jacobs promised to meet those expectations. I would also add that just the fact that her book created the desire to have additional ideas covered and guidance provided is a positive thing--not a negative.
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Top reviews from other countries

Chris Stoate
5.0 out of 5 stars A must read
Reviewed in Canada on March 14, 2024
Jacobs keeps it simple and delivers a framework that helps in understanding any societal issue you care to name. I have given this book as a gift countless times. Everyone finds it enlightening.
Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars The author delivers an understanding of forces preying on every person.
Reviewed in Canada on October 9, 2020
What I liked most was the author's conviction that logic and enlightened self-interest will win through for the salvation of humanity.

Unfortunately todays global circumstances trump all issues for me so even though the book has an optimistic take-away it did not reflect reality enough.

Still a good read delivering great moral thoughts and discussions.
Pen
4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 17, 2018
The book is very interesting and provides an imagined dialogue on these topics. Jane Jacobs, of course, is magnificent.
Dan Evens
4.0 out of 5 stars Very interesting book presenting a very interesting thesis. Presented ...
Reviewed in Canada on August 22, 2014
Very interesting book presenting a very interesting thesis. Presented in a lively format that rescues what might have been a very dry listing of facts. The only reason I don't give it 5 stars is because I'm not sufficiently well read on the topic to know how accurate or reliable her thesis is.
Charles Board
4.0 out of 5 stars Original thinking from Jane Jacobs -again!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 19, 2014
With her usual objective observational skills, Jacobs delineates the separate ethic systems of Government and Commerce and why when they overlap everything becomes corrupted. Charles D. F. Board
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