The Golden Apple: Changing the Structure of Civilization

In praise of An African Answer: The Key to Global Productivity, by Edgar J. Ridley - "It is a great book."  W. Edwards Deming

"Symptomatic thinking may well be the answer to the world's problems." - Eric Watkins, African Business magazine.

"With The Golden Apple: Changing the Structure of Civilization, author Edgar Ridley offers readers an extended look at the need for mankind to abandon its historical dependence on destructive symbols and the shackles of symbolic thinking once and for all in favor of the liberating Symptomatic Thought Process. The focus of The Golden Apple: Changing the Structure of Civilization is a contribution and celebration of the passion he feels for the positive benefits of the Symptomatic Thought Process as perhaps the last hope for mankind of reversing the destructive historical trends of a civilization with symbolic thinking as its DNA." - Ronald R. Sims, Ph.D., Floyd Dewey Gottwald Senior Professor, Mason School of Business, College of William and Mary, Williamsburg,Virginia.

"Having spent the better part of the past four decades in the medical profession, I found the messaging in this book to be powerful and broadly applicable to not only the practice of medicine but also the myriad of other professions that comprise society. I encourage the readers of this book to carefully take the thoughts proposed herein and apply them broadly to their life practices." Domenic A. Sica, M.D., Professor of Medicine and Pharmacology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia

Edgar J. Ridley, a renowned expert on symbolism and symbolic behavior, views the decision-making processes of managers from an entirely different angle, stating that "Most people do not understand how symbolism is used to mythologize history and manipulate behavior.  In order to be creative and innovative in the midst of a war zone, actors within organizations must be mindful of the impact imposed by symbolic thinking, typically exhibited through religious and racial prejudices."  Ridley concludes that "in order to unleash creativity and innovation, a symbolic thought process must be replaced by a Symptomatic Thought Process.®" 
With clients in regions ranging from Malaysia to Kazakhstan to Africa, Ridley's consulting expertise has been utilized for several decades to show a multidisciplinary approach is essential to accomplishing a mindset change for optimum competitiveness.     
Edgar J. Ridley is Chairman of Edgar J. Ridley & Associates, a global management consulting firm, with a worldwide practice based in New York City.  He heads a multidisciplinary team of organizational behavior and development specialists to help corporations and governments develop more efficient operations.The firm serves as industrial advisor to corporations and governments  throughout Asia and Africa.