Designing Regenerative Cultures

Daniel Wahl makes a compelling and uplifting case for collaboration over competition as the path out of the current existential threat we've created for ourselves. While at times it's hard to see a way forward given our nihilistic addiction to a capitalist system that does not serve us well, Wahl makes a passionate defense of our inmate capacity for redemption if we can replace our separation from nature with a new sense of interbeing, an awakening to our interdependence on everything around us. His hypothesis and roadmap towards designing regenerative cultures left me with plenty of questions (which is the purpose of the book) and an overall sense of optimism that love not fear will prevail. Anyone interested in a paradigm shift will appreciate this book.

In this groundbreaking book, Daniel Christian Wahl rejects our paradigmatic tendency toward quick-fix answers to our monumental crises, but instead, challenges humanity to ask the right questions, or to begin “living the questions.” (21) Wahl suggests that the urgency of the situation demands deeply considered inquiry, and a return to philosophical, ethical reflection that guides how we view our world, and act toward and within world. Our paradigmatic reaction: We don’t have time! Wahl wisely points out that we don’t have any time to waste on the same old answers that created humanity’s “terminal crisis of an outdated worldview.” (24) Instead, Wahl suggests we return to a love of wisdom and begin, through humanity’s new cosmological lens, living lives of deep inquiry toward “co-creating regenerative societies” and “collaborative cultures.”Wahl thoroughly explores his crucial inquiry, applying regenerative thinking to diverse topics such as activism, economics, innovation, and even spirituality. Four main ideas emerge from his deep analysis to challenge our outdated notions of society building, and invite us to not only survive, but thrive as a species within a multi-species planetary community: The shift from ‘sustaining innovation’ to ‘transformative innovation,’ the shift from dualistic/ either-or thinking, to systemic, complexity-based thinking and relating, The shift from the old industrial, technological model toward biologically-inspired innovation, and from large-scale agriculture and traditional economics, toward health and resilience by mimicking healthy ecosystems and creating circular economies.This book is an inspirational and necessary handbook for our age, full of novel tools and considerations essential to create a better future for all planetary beings. We must embrace regenerative culture design now and create a beautiful possibility…by “living the questions” deeply and fully, together.

The world seems like things are just getting worse and worse: climate change, pollution, global corporates destroying communities and ecologies. How do we find hope in a world like this? Daniel Christian Wahl shows us a realistic way forward to a new and better world.

This book is about living the questions together. It brings coherence and depth into a cross-disciplinary exploration of what's possible when humans engage in regeneration of the earth and society. Inspiring, engaging, full of excellent research and articulation of what resilience is and why its important, and its an invitation to imagine thriving.

Beyond simply serving as an aggregate collection of current theories, leaders and projects leading the way into a deeply sustainable future, this book is inspiring and weaves a strong common thread (and economic case, among other forms of "wealth") for all disciplines and walks of life to work together, instead of competing against each other. A good read if you're looking for the next level of sustainability.

Es un libro imperdible para quienes buscamos rediseñar sistemas sociales, ecológicos y urbanos, y hacernos cargo de la crisis socio-ambiental actual.

This is an important book full of inspiration for navigating our way forward. Thank you Daniel Christian Wahl!

Wahl is a person who steps into life and this book is encouraging for anyone who wants to look at ways to connect that propose win/win & win results.

This book requires a very detailed edit! The writer discusses our needs to rethink but is plagued by cliches, like deep! The book does not define terms, most of which I know, but they are technical terms that need introduction!I am not certain if the author is aware of science fiction, Arthur C Clarke Childhoods End and many more stories of change, of the liminal, come to mind.I think I am going to find it very valuable , as reviewers have claimed encyclopaedic, but at the moment it feels like a contestant in master chef who has just managed to get through to the next round!The purpose of humanity, our usp, is probably art. This book requires the assistance of a highly skilled sculptor and artist, a Michelangelo or Da Vinci :-)

A well thought out, easy to grasp vision of how we can redesign the future.It starts by questioning our concept of separateness and offers new ways of thinking about progress. Including a spiritual dimension is brave and much needed. Having a sense of community and shared goals and endeavours is critically important as we head in to an uncertain future. I recommend this book to anyone, especially if you feel bewildered or overcome by the challenges we face.

Every book comes from a particular set of viewpoints, so no book should be read in isolation, but some books should be read to help one to think about the questions we need to ask, to enable us all to live an enriched & enriching life - this is one of them.

This is an excellent book for anyone who wants to think deeply and systemically about creating a better world.Drawing extensively on the literature in the field, it not only provides a robust theoretical grounding, but equally focuses on the practical use of systems thinking in everyday work.Highly recommended.

So much food for thought and reflection....