Customer Review from Dr. Laura Frey Horn: Memenomics: The Next Generation Economic System by Said Dawlabani is a thoughtfully developed book on the history and future of the US economic system. And, for perhaps the first time, we have a book that recounts history by matching economic behavioral development and patterns with human developmental patterns (through Spiral Dynamics Integral theory). It makes sense to finally link economic behavior and history to human and cultural behavior. Through Said Dawlabanis history of the development of US economics, early economic development can be logically explained through the progression of human and cultural development. As the country emerged into a nation with greater opportunity and became more developmentally complex, the economic structure, risks and opportunities also developed. Dawlabani, through the use of Spiral Dynamics is able to explain the benefits, risks and development of healthy and unhealthy social structures of American society, including those within the financial and political structures that eventually took greater control of American society. The ultimate cliffhanger (at least for me, and perhaps for most of us who lived through 2008) was the potential economic disaster of 2008 when the risk of abject failure of banking and the auto industry was at an all-time high. Dawlabanis explanation is particularly insightful. His understanding of both economics and human development provides a fuller explanation than many of the analyses I have read from those who are strictly economists. By showing how tied to human, organizational and cultural development, our economic sector is to the health and wellbeing of our nation and future, Said Dawlabani has laid bare how dependent all parts of our society are, not only on one another, but on a global society as well. If you understand economics, but did not understand human development at any level (individual, organizational or cultural) Memenomics, can serve as an excellent guide. The same holds true for those who understand human development, but not economics. And, if you come to Memenomics, without a background in either economics or human development, Said Dawlabanis writing is clear and concise enough to serve as a general primer to start you out. It would also be my wish that he leaves you wanting to learn more about both economics and Spiral Dynamics. I believe he also serves that purpose In Memenomics. Spiral Dynamics Integral theory is an individual, organizational and large scale cultural developmental theory, first researched and developed by psychologist Dr. Clare Graves (at Union College in Schenectady, NY) and later with, then independently furthered by Dr. Don Beck. Dr. Beck worked with Nelson Mandela and Frederik De Klerk (undertaking 63 secret trips into South Africa) to create the architecture to end apartheid in South Africa. This theory is in use throughout the world in studies on cultural change, organizational development and in individual growth and change. Disclosure: Said Dawlabani has been a guest speaker in my graduate leadership university courses. His discussion of Memenomics and the challenges of leadership in the Financial and Auto Industries have created tremendous thought provoking dialogues, not only during the class in which he speaks, but through the entire semester. I should also note that Spiral Dynamics is not a new concept for me. Dr. Clare W. Graves was my undergraduate advisor and professor when I was a psychology major at Union College. Learning his theory had a major impact on my life and is the theory that has guided my work and personal life. Although I had been at Union when Dr. Don Beck was working with Dr. Graves, it was not until the 1990s that I met him. I was fortunate to have him serve on my dissertation committee at George Washington University.
Posted on: Sun, 01 Dec 2013 08:15:36 +0000