An introduction to general systems thinking
Gerald M. Weinberg.
by Gerald M. Weinberg · first published 1975
77% recommend19% neutral3% critical
Why HN recommends it
Rigorous, structured introduction to systems theory that teaches ways of building mental models of complex systems; suited to software people, testers, and technical leaders, and often paired with Meadows or Gall.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
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…more rigorous account than is usual in this space, so I believe it is a must read for everyone in software. --- Author: Gerald Weinberg Books: * Are Your Lights On? * Becoming a Technical Leader' * Introduction to General Systems Thinking Jerry's books have had a tremendous amount of impact on my thinking in the past couple years. I highly recommend reading everything you can get your hands on. --- Author: Nassim Taleb Books: * The…
on “Ask HN: Books you read in 2018?” ↗…decades; see also: Lindy effect.) Language and linguistics: "Metaphors We Live By" by George Lakoff and Mark Johnson (1980): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metaphors_We_Live_By Systems thinking: "An Introduction to General Systems Thinking" by Gerald M. Weinberg (1975): https://geraldmweinberg.com/Site/General_Systems.html I still often use Weinberg's Systems Triumvirate when feeling stuck on a problem: 1. Why do I see what I see? 2.…
on “Ask HN: Which book can attract anyone towards your field of study?” ↗…You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!" by Richard Feynman, because it gave me a model for how to enjoy life. "Models" by Mark Manson, because it helped shape my understanding of heterosexual relationships. "An Introduction to General Systems Thinking" by Gerald Weinberg, because it illuminates the general laws underlying all systems. Fiction: "Stranger in a Strange Land" by Robert A Heinlein, because it showed me a philosophy and "spirituality",…
on “Ask HN: Books you wish you had read earlier?” ↗An Introduction to General Systems Thinking. Gerald Weinberg. This book, now over 40 years old, addresses the 'core within the core' of the reality of systems. Unbelievably good, with a very light-hearted tone.
on “Ask HN: What language-agnostic programming books should I read?” ↗Gerald Weinberg has several books on the topic [0, 1]. Dorner [2] has a short, sharp, thoughtful book on our biases in analyzing complex systems. [0] 'An Introduction to General Systems Thinking', Gerald Weinberg [1] 'General Principles of Systems Design', Gerald Weinberg [2] 'The Logic Of Failure: Recognizing And Avoiding Error In Complex Situations', Dietrich Dorner
on “Ask HN: Any recommended resources to develop system thinking?” ↗…an organizational perspective: Systems Thinking: Creative Holism for Managers by Michael C. Jackson. https://www.amazon.com/Systems-Thinking-Creative-Holism-Mana... - For general systems theory: An Introduction to General Systems Thinking by Gerald M. Weinberg https://www.amazon.com/Introduction-General-Systems-Thinking... - For systems thinking and the learning organization: The Fifth Discipline: The Art & Practice of The Learning Organization…
on “Ask HN: Any recommended resources to develop system thinking?” ↗'An Introduction to General Systems Thinking' [1] by the late, great Gerald Weinberg? [1] https://leanpub.com/generalsystemsthinking Edit: no relation (I believe?) to Gabriel Weinberg of Duck Duck Go who is also being mentioned in this discussion.
on “Ask HN: Which books teach mental models?” ↗I highly recommend "An Introduction to General Systems Thinking, by Gerald Weinberg. An orthogonal piece of advice that I got from a different book of Gerald Weinbergs' is to learn 3 or 4 Very Different languages simultaneously, to grasp the enormous difference between…
on “Ask HN: I'm looking for a good book on the fundamentals of CS” ↗…at solving programming problems I would consider https://projecteuler.net/archives If you want to get better at problem solving in general I would recommend a few books How to Solve it by Polya An Introduction to General Systems Thinking by Weinberg
on “How to improve problem solving skills” ↗I went back to the basics this year. Re-read my favorites from Jerry Weinberg ( August 7, 2018) - The Secrets of Consulting: A Guide to Giving and Getting Advice Successfully - An Introduction to General Systems Thinking - Becoming a Technical Leader: An Organic Problem-Solving Approach - Are your lights on? based on his references I went back to Virginia Satir, her Books are kinda hard to order: - The new Peoplemaking…
on “Ask HN: Favorite nonfiction books of 2018?” ↗Systemantics/The Systems Bible, by John Gall, for a lighthearted, whimsical introduction through real-world examples across a range of industries. An Introduction to General Systems Thinking, by Gerald Weinberg, for a more rigorous/structured introduction. I've heard good things about Donella Meadows, but I haven't read anything of hers yet.
on “Systems thinking as important as ever for new coders” ↗I don't really know what to recommend. Maybe An Introduction to General Systems Thinking by Gerald M. Weinberg is a good starting point for a CS-person. "Education is what remains when what has been learned has been forgotten", Skinner, I believe. Well what is education then? I believe it…
on “Forget Setting Goals. Focus on Systems Instead” ↗The two books on systems thinking that I'd recommend are Gerald Weinberg's "An introduction to general systems thinking" and Donella Meadows' "Thinking in systems: a primer". Anything by Gerald Weinberg is eye-opening, if you haven't come across him before. He's the grand-daddy of modern thinking on testing. If you follow…
on “Interview questions for QA managers” ↗This gives a great perspective on complexity. Reminds me a lot of the book An Introduction to General Systems Thinking by Jerry Weinberg. https://www.amazon.com/Introduction-General-Systems-Thinking...
on “Why Complexity is Different” ↗Peter Senge's Fifth Discipline is great. Related, I would also recommend "Thinking in Systems" by Donella Meadows and "An Introduction to General Systems Thinking" by Jerry Weinberg.
on “Ask HN: Books you wish you had read earlier?” ↗