Resilience Thinking: Sustaining Ecosystems and People in a Changing World

Resilience Thinking introduces a bold and necessary shift in how we understand and manage systems—whether ecological, economic, or social—in a world marked by rapid change and uncertainty. Rather than offering short-term fixes or efficiency-driven solutions that often lead to brittle outcomes, this book presents a powerful framework for building systems that can adapt, transform, and thrive over time.

Written by scientist Brian Walker and science communicator David Salt, Resilience Thinking explains how human and natural systems operate as dynamic networks shaped by cycles of disturbance, renewal, and evolution. The book explores what qualities make a system resilient—such as diversity, modularity, and the ability to learn—and how these qualities can be nurtured to ensure long-term sustainability.

Clear, concise, and engaging, the book offers more than just theory. Through five real-world case studies, readers see how resilience thinking can be applied across landscapes, communities, and industries to navigate risk, foster innovation, and expand future options. Whether managing a watershed, planning urban growth, or designing policy, this approach equips decision-makers with tools for thinking beyond linear models and toward systems that can absorb shocks and keep functioning.

Resilience Thinking is essential reading for environmental professionals, business leaders, and anyone seeking smarter ways to steward resources in a complex, interconnected world.