Once Upon a Complex Time: Using Stories to Understand Systems

Systems thinking is thinking with a wide-angle lens, a way of thinking about the whole instead of the parts. It is seeing connections and patterns in the isolated events that occur around us. Books about systems thinking have generally followed a pattern of moving from general principles to specific examples. In Richard Brynteson’s new book, Once Upon a Complex Time: Using Stories to Understand Systems, he takes a unique perspective. He reverses this traditional methodology by using stories to illuminate complex systems theory. Stories are a powerful teaching tool. They awaken and inspire to action, they touch people at a very deep level. The author uses stories from all aspects of life, some familiar, some personal, and looks at them through the lens of complex systems. Brynteson tells stories of people who did the opposite of what they desired because they did not understand the complexities of the system. Richard Brynteson’s systems stories invite the reader to examine ourselves and actions, to understand the complexities of life and to begin to use a wide-angle lens when viewing the world. Once Upon a Complex Time challenges the reader to look at organizations—and life—in a whole new way.

Dr. Richard Brynteson, is a professor, consultant, and speaker. During his 25 year career, he has worked and lived in South America, Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. His current occupational mission is to push the systemic, creative, innovative, strategic, and critical thinking of his students and his clients. Richard has a B.A. in English from Dartmouth College, an M.B.A. in Marketing from the University of Chicago, and a PhD. in Education from the University of Minnesota.