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Introduction to General Systems Thinking

Gerald M. Weinberg

2 readers recommend it across 1 discussion

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THE WORD OF MOUTH

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Original Hacker News comments, in the readers’ own words.

ncphillips
Mathematics is useful for modelling systems of small numbers (mechanics) and large numbers (statistics), but most of the systems we engage with are systems of medium numbers. For medium number systems we must rely on heuristics. General Systems Thinking is about finding heuristics that can be applied to medium number systems. This idea is examined from different angles in both Pirsig's and Taleb's books as well. That said, it is a bit difficult to read. I really had to sit down and read it slowly and deliberately. I think I would suggest trying to come back to it in a couple years. Different books catch our attention at different times, and that's okay.