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Book Review: The new science of resilience gives answers to some basic questions

Book Review

    In these times of constant change, scientists, business leaders and ordinary citizens like you have begun to wonder. Are they just subject to forces beyond their control? Or can they create "shock absorbers" for their communities and the economy.


    In their new book, Resilience: Why Things Bounce Back, Andrew Zolli and Ann Marie Healy say the answers to these questions are shaping a new field of inquiry. It's focused on the ability of people and systems to maintain their core integrity and purpose amid unforeseen shocks and surprises.


    Zolli curates PopTech, a forum about innovation. Healy is a playwright, which accounts for the book's effective use of metaphor to explain complex issues.


    The authors encourage adaptation, agility and cooperation. They say the approach can help you weather disruptions and come to a different way of engaging with the world. Zolli and Healy tell about scientific discoveries, social and ecological innovations.


    They share insights on how to bolster your own psychological resilience, how to foster greater adaptability within your community and help in the development of more resilient organizations.


    Dan Ariely, Professor of Psychology and Behavioral Economics at Duke University, says, "Resilience teaches you that being strong is not about doing one thing well. It is about utilizing flexibility, redundancy and variety. Zolli and Healy help you understand the importance of planning for the future, even if it means giving up some short-term gains."


    Amazon reviewers say the book is optimistic and eye-opening. It sheds light on why systems, people and communities fall apart and how they learn to bounce back.

Resilience: Why Things Bounce Back by Andrew Zolli and Ann Marie Healy, Free Press.   
 

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