Systems of Survival: A Dialogue on the Moral Foundations of Commerce and Politics

This is a greatly un-appreciated book about the dangers of mixing up the standards, the proper behavior, the provenance, of (what should be) the public and the private spheres. In government, politics, etc., says Jacobs, fanfare, ceremony, tradition, respect for authority, etc. are not only appropriate but, to some degree, necessary, while in the private sphere efficiency, quick response to consumer demand, etc. should rule. What's more, she emphasized, these maxims are far more than a set of Emily Post guidelines; when they are violated, she warns, either or both spheres get corrupted and don't do their job as well as they should. Thus, for example, governments should not get into owning or running banks (she uses the World Bank, where I used to work, as a recurring example), nor should banks be trusted to govern. The recent (2018) opening of Los Pinos, the long-sequestered offices of the President of Mexico, to the public would get immediate condemnation from Jane.As in her masterpiece "The Life and Death of American Cities," Jacobs has wonderful insights which she proceeds to exaggerate, take beyond the realm where they are correct, and thus leave plenty of openings for a critic's "now wait just a minute, there..." No matter. This little book is well worth a read. Fortunately, I expect it appeals to an older audience than Ayn Rand's romantic tracts on individualism and the free market, and so is unlikely to attract fools who want to go all the way, or even further, with it. Anyway, thanks to the late lady from Scranton!

There are many books that I have found inspiring, but this is the only book I have purchased and given away because I thought the ideas in it needed to be shared---and I did this three times and may do it again.The main theme is that humanity has implemented two systems for survival. One, guardianship, that seems to spring from our DNA and is practiced by many social animals on our planet. The other, trade or commerce, that appears to be uniquely human. These are not competing systems, they are complementary. They each have their place and they each have their rules. These rules are often, when not directly opposed, not aligned.For me, the insight that there are two systems at work in our society and that they have different goals and require different rules has made it much easier for me to analyze and understand the forces at work in my environment. It has also made it easier to understand why some things feel "right" while other similar things don't. For example, it seems desirable to have a company creating a competing bank, but not desirable to have the state or federal government creating a competing bank.One of the criticisms of this book is the choice to write this as a Socratic dialog. I regard this approach as superior to the typical academic approach. Stories are easier to remember and often easier to understand, but I respect the views of those that don't. If you don't like something, then it is a fact that you don't like it. It is irrelevant that I think you should. Further, other readers of these comments may feel as you do--so it is a valid criticism. Just be aware that it will not be true for everyone.Another criticism is that Jacobs didn't explore concepts or provide guidance that they expected. While I cannot argue that their expectations were met and they just missed it, I can argue that the expectations of the critics are owned by the critics and that there is no evidence that Jacobs promised to meet those expectations. I would also add that just the fact that her book created the desire to have additional ideas covered and guidance provided is a positive thing--not a negative.

Dark Age is better but this is a great book to do an audio on - I would love to see some business class do Youtubes on this with students playing each roll and then discussing it after wards!This is the way we can keep our economy from sinking to 3rd world and how Developing nations can rise above and succeed.

Jane Jacobs was one of the most original and profound thinkers of the last hundred years, with the ability to prove conventional thought wrong on many subjects. Here she analyzes the shared ideas and values in western society, and discovers a major dichotomy in these systems of thought. The primary values that guide commerce and science contrast with those most important to institutions responsible for being "guardians"--government, courts, military, etc. This differentiation is both important and necessary, and keeping them separate is vital to effective performance within each institutional sphere. Whenever the two institutions and their values are combined in a single organization or operation, the result is corruption, often major.

Those who believe in dualities, and those that don't.Very hearty food for thought. I am a little surprised that I don't see folks making the connection between the duality that Jacobs outlines here and the similar duality that is described in the book "Clash!: How to Thrive in a Multicultural World " by Markus and Conner. The way tehy describe something very similar is the clash between Independent and Interdependent cultures.

The amazing thing about reading Jane Jacobs is that she intuitively understands what she examines. She writes as a true intellectual - broadly finding relationships based upon diverse scholarship.The tone of this book was different than those read previously, but is similar to "The Nature of Economies."It is set up as a didactic dialogue of varied perspectives. The conversational tone is a little difficult to take seriously initially.However, all the observations are sensible, and Jacobs has a knack for presenting the theoretical with a solid basis of facts.

Insight into two different ethical systems and when each is appropriate and inappropriate. Also examines the problem of admixture between them.This explains much of what both sides of the political divide like and dislike about our political leaders, past and present.

The book is very interesting and provides an imagined dialogue on these topics. Jane Jacobs, of course, is magnificent.

With her usual objective observational skills, Jacobs delineates the separate ethic systems of Government and Commerce and why when they overlap everything becomes corrupted. Charles D. F. Board

Very interesting book presenting a very interesting thesis. Presented in a lively format that rescues what might have been a very dry listing of facts. The only reason I don't give it 5 stars is because I'm not sufficiently well read on the topic to know how accurate or reliable her thesis is.

本自体もきれいでした。また本書の内容は期待通りで満足しています。