Our September book is from Jane Jacobs, a person we've frequently chatted about at the previous book clubs!
She was influential in shaping the landscapes of Toronto and New York, is famous for her role in shaping the field of urban planning and has written several books on those topics. I picked this book for it's focus on business and politics, given everything shaping our world these days and the previous book club discussions on shaping social change.
Systems of Survival: A Dialogue on the Moral Foundations of Commerce and Politics by Jane Jacobs
In this thought-provoking work, urban theorist Jane Jacobs argues that human societies operate according to two distinct moral systems that she calls "syndromes" - the Commercial Syndrome (based on trading and voluntary exchange) and the Guardian Syndrome (based on protection and territorial control).
Through a Socratic dialogue format, she explores how each system has its own coherent set of moral precepts: commerce values honesty, collaboration, and innovation while guardianship values loyalty, tradition, and hierarchy. Jacobs contends that problems arise when these systems become "monstrous hybrids" - mixing moral codes inappropriately, such as when governments try to run like businesses or when businesses adopt guardian-like territorial behaviors. She argues that understanding these two fundamental ways of organizing human cooperation is essential for creating healthy societies, as both systems are necessary but must remain distinct to function properly.
The book offers a unique lens for examining everything from corruption to organizational dysfunction through the framework of moral system confusion.
Please note: I also recommend that you read Cradle to Cradle for it's foundational education on core sustainability topics that often come up in the book club discussions. Please also start reading Cradle to Cradle - happy summer reading!!
