IN THIS TIME OF TURBULENCE, scientists, economists, social
innovators, corporate and civic leaders, and citizens alike are
asking the same basic questions: What causes one system to break
down and another to rebound? Are we merely subject to the whim of
forces beyond our control? Or, in the face of constant disruption,
can we build better shock absorbers-for ourselves, our communities,
our economies, and for the planet as a whole?
The answers to these vital questions are shaping a new field of
inquiry, and a new agenda, focused on resilience: the
ability of people, communities, and systems to maintain their core
purpose and integrity amid unforeseen shocks and surprises. By
encouraging adaptation, agility, and cooperation, this new approach
can not only help us weather disruptions, but also bring us to a
different way of being in and engaging with the world.
Reporting firsthand from the coral reefs of Palau to the back
streets of Palestine, Andrew Zolli and Ann Marie Healy relate
breakthrough scientific discoveries, pioneering social and
ecological innovations, and important new approaches to
constructing a more resilient world. Along the way, they share
insights to bolster our own psychological resilience, foster
greater stability within our communities, and establish leadership
imperatives for more resilient organizations. Zolli and Healy show
how this new concept of resilience is a powerful lens through which
we can assess major issues afresh: from business planning to social
development, from urban planning to national energy
security-circumstances that affect us all.
Provocative, optimistic, and eye-opening, Resilience
sheds light on why some systems, people, and communities fall apart
in the face of disruption and, ultimately, how they can learn to
bounce back.
