Thriving: The Breakthrough Movement to Regenerate Nature, Society, and the Economy Hardcover – March 8, 2022

I am happy to say that this book is a jewel for those interested in the latest trends in sustainability innovation and management. Not only because it shows an evolution of the integrated value creation model presented more than 10 years before in Argentina, but also the leadership model that he has been developing since his Phd. In his prologue you will see that he mentions "Hope", something that Jorge Luis Borges, the famous argentinian writer also told us in one of his poems, quoted at the Ecumenic Social Forum ceremony awards last year in Argentina and very necessary for the times that we live in today where we all need to thrive.The book shows how even in a chaotic situation like this, everything can be coped with. Optimism is critical for our societies to create and sustain conditions for increased life in all species. It is not a denial of the scale of the problems the world is facing right now, nor a medical solution or cure or a self-help book, but rather an attempt to marry applicable systems thinking to a pragmatic offer of hope, purposed driven by creativity and innovation. A book under the rules of transformational movements. This last point is the essence of "Thriving". Wayne Visser, besides being an educator is also a poet and a "possibilist", a state of mind and a state of being that the great "change makers" have.Do not loose the opportunity to have this jewel in your hands, specially for those interested in systems thinking applyed to sustainability and innovation.

I got this book as a goodreads giveaway. It was well thought out and written. Good ideas on an interesting subject.

An extensive survey of the movements, the people, and the organizations leading the way into the future. Visser has captured the vision and the action driving the human story forward in our time. It is ultimately the force of life itself that won’t take No for an answer but will persist and find a way around and through.

Best book I have read in years

I have been chipping away at this book for over a month now. Super interesting concepts and subject matter and thoroughly researched but so much information to absorb so I found it best to take my time.The author defines 'thriving' in several ways but here is one: "allowing nature, society, and the economy to all flourish together, rather than trading one off against the other... making sure that life on earth, in all its glorious diversity, not only survives but also fulfills its vast potential."What I liked most about this book was the sense of hope it conveys. Thinking about the climate crisis can be overwhelming and invoke feelings of helplessness and despair, but the author is able to break down the overarching problem into several different areas for improvement and innovation. Best of all, he highlights the many companies and industries and individuals that are already working towards a more sustainable future for our world.At times, I had difficulty following the train of thought due to the scientific jargon and acronyms used but simply looking back to find the definitions easily remedied that. Overall, I found this book to be enlightening, hopeful, and inspiring- a call to action.While this book seems meant more for leaders in business, if you have a fatalistic view on the climate crisis and sustainability, I recommend reading this one.

Visser is a guru on ESG and sustainability, with a background in private sector consulting and academia. His book successfully blends the two worlds with frameworks to organize common themes and ideas and real world, up to the date examples from the business world on how those ideas are manifesting today. In the wake of dire warnings from the IPCC on our future, despair can feel the default emotion. Instead, Visser paints a more optimistic outlook and indeed inspires hope that we can and we will chart our way through. Essential reading.

Wayne Visser is "the thought leaders' thought leader" when it comes to ESG, sustainability and CSR. His latest book joins my well- and often-read collection of his earlier works. Equal parts inspiration and information, Thriving eschews the current tendency towards doom and gloom ('a code red for humanity') and instead adopts a more hopeful tone.But it is far from simply a feel good. Dr. Visser offers tangible examples and information that justify the idea that we can not only find ways to overcome challenges, but thrive.A realistically positive and thoroughly engaging read. Highly recommended.

Enlightening in certain aspects. Though the poetry was of uniformly lackluster quality. And some of the praise of leaders here has not aged well in 2022.