David Hawk's new book, Human Nature and the Potential in Nurture, investigates the relationship between human behavior, social systems, and the natural environment, offering a systems-based perspective on environmental decline. The research-backed work, published by an imprint blending traditional publishing with modern marketing, draws from Hawk's doctoral studies in systems sciences at the University of Pennsylvania and collaboration with the Institute of International Business at the Stockholm School of Economics.
The book examines how patterns of regulation, control, and strategic threats influence relationships among individuals and institutions, and how these same approaches extend to humanity's interaction with nature. According to the publisher, the work originated from research involving twenty firms and six governments, providing a broad empirical foundation. Hawk's analysis moves beyond focusing solely on ecological outcomes to explore the underlying social structures that contribute to environmental challenges, covering interpersonal relationships, organizational behavior, and public policy.
Hawk's professional background in engineering, planning, architecture, leadership development, and higher education informs the book's examination of how institutions develop responses to complex problems. He notes that these responses can sometimes reinforce the conditions they aim to address. The book contributes to interdisciplinary discussions on environmental management, social organization, and long-term sustainability.
“The work grew from a desire to better understand the relationship between human systems and natural systems, and how patterns of behavior influence both,” Hawk stated. “The research sought to examine those connections through a systems perspective.”
Hawk, raised on a farm in Iowa, pursued studies in engineering, city planning, and corporate planning. During his engineering education, he served in Vietnam from 1966 to 1968. His career has spanned the United States, Sweden, Finland, Japan, England, China, and other international settings, with contributions to urban planning, business management, public policy, engineering, and executive education. He has served as a professor, academic administrator, and program developer, establishing educational initiatives and doctoral-level institutes focused on leadership and organizational development.
Human Nature and the Potential in Nurture is available through major online booksellers in print and digital formats. For business and technology leaders, the book offers insights into how decision-making patterns in organizations and policy can inadvertently harm the environment, highlighting the need for systems thinking to address sustainability challenges. The research underscores that environmental issues are deeply intertwined with social structures, suggesting that effective solutions require rethinking governance and management approaches.
The book can be found at Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and Walmart.
