Description
Book SynopsisJean Russell's inspiring and visionary new book challenges the 'breakdown thinking' that focuses only on defensive reactions to the economic, social, political, and environmental crises we face. In its place she proposes 'breakthrough thinking': an approach that recognizes the gritty reality we face but enables us to envision and co-create a world of wellbeing and health. Part I - Perceiving - looks at the stories we tell about our world and our limited ways of perceiving it. It shows how we can look at the bigger picture, recognise our blinkers/blinders and introduces the key ideas of systems and complexity thinking in this area. Part II - Understanding - outlines new tools for understanding ourselves and the social and data revolutions we are part of. It looks in particular at behavioural economics, human irrationality, leadership, organisational and social structures and data metrics. Part III - Doing - sets out ways we can take action together to create the world of the possible, a thriving world, a world that works. This section focuses on creativity, game dynamics (how to gamify the tasks we need to accomplish as individuals and as a society) and the Action Spectrum - a way of understanding how we can most effectively make interventions in any situation. The book is peppered with references, practical questions and exercises to bring thriving to your organization and way of life.
Trade Review"This is a game changing book, literally - it moves us from a finite game world to an infinite game world. Jean Russell offers an inspiring and energizing call to action - daring us all to become thrivability agents. Her book shows us the profound limitations of threat-based narratives and calls all of us to collaboratively construct a new and powerful opportunity based narrative . Thrivability pulls us to work (and play) together in ways that generate exciting new possibilities and potential." John Hagel, Co-Chairman of the Center for the Edge and co-author of The Power of Pull
Table of ContentsIntroduction Thrivability Movements Part I: Perceiving Chapter 1: The Great Unfolding: Crisis and Opportunities The Economic Reality The Political Reality The Social Reality The Environmental Reality Chapter 2: Stories Perspectives Challenging Breakdown Thinking Stories That Inspire Greatness The Human Condition Chapter 3: How to See a Very Big Picture Zooming Context Cultivate Multiple Perspectives Time, Focus, and Values Chapter 4: Interconnected Systems and Patterns The Cynefin Framework Emergence Power Laws Part II: Understanding Chapter 5: Irrational People Care Refreshing our Models Behavioral Economics Positive Psychology Predictors Multiple Intelligences Chapter 6: Social Revolutions Communication Revolution Social Business Leading and Leaderless Organisms Network Organisms Diversity Governance in an Era of Connectivity Education in a Social World Chapter 7: Metrics and Data Evolutions Feedback Loops Data Collection Data Formats Data Presentation and Visualization The New Panopticon Part III: Doing Chapter 8: Creativity Serendipity Play Randomness Trust and Safety Chapter 9: Creating Together With Games Zero-Sum Games and Non-Zero-Sum Games Partially Rival Goods Game Dynamics Data Design and Incentives Chapter 10: Action Spectrum Limits to Causation The Action Spectrum Model
