The New Systems Reader

I've been looking at the literature on alternatives to our dominant social and economic systems for the past two decades. This book is phenomenal! It brings together current views from a wide variety of critical perspectives. Must reading for anyone interested in the area!

It seems more and more people are coming to believe,, or have concluded, that the dominant current economic structure in the U.S. is fundamentally and structurally inequitable and unsustainable.Many have claimed TINA--there is no alternative.Well, the TINA view is incorrect. There are alternatives. This book is the best answer this reader has come across so far to identifying many. This book is chock full of ideas, information, and examples to guide those seeking to develop, create, sustain and scale alternatives.While good public policy can help speed up needed structural transition, and may be essential to scale more workable and effective structures and systems, this book--which consists of a collection of chapters from 38 distinguished best economic systems thinkers and practitioners--demonstrates that, fortunately, good public policy is not necessary in order for individuals and groups to pursue alternative models at small scale. As surprisingly (to this reader) many are doing.A small number of the chapters were weak. But overall this book provides fresh thinking and practical hope for dealing far more effectively with overriding problems our dominant current economic structures and practices are creating. A breath of fresh air.

This book could not be more timely or relevant to current conditions. As we struggle to find solutions to multiple crises including income and racial inequality, climate change, and a broken political system, the authors provide a remarkably thoughtful and diverse set of perspectives on both the sources of current failures and potential remedies. The 38 authors represent leading thinkers and bring diverse backgrounds, disciplines, and experience to their analyses. Speth and Courrier have done a great service to the world by producing this collection.