Steps to an Ecology of Mind: Collected Essays in Anthropology, Psychiatry, Evolution and Epistemology

"It is unbelievable that this masterpiece has been out of print for so long. I have been looking for a copy for some years, having eventually and reluctantly had to return a loan copy. I am delighted that it is available again.

Organised as a collection of relatively short essays, this has a legitimate claim to be the outstanding book of the 20th century for anyone interested in change, systems thinking, ecology, epistemology, organisations, therapy and more. Be warned - it can be very hard in places, but the effort is worth it. 'Form, Substance and Difference', 'Conscious Purpose versus Nature' and 'The Logical Categories of Learning and Communication' are absolutely central texts for anyone considering how we need to respond to the current world crisis. Other key papers include 'The cybernetics of "Self": A theory of alchoholism' and 'Social Planning and the Concept of Deutero Learning'. If you work in the field of Organisational Development you will probably be familiar with some of the content through the many writers who have built on Bateson's work. Fritjof Capra writes about him a great deal. The original is best though.

The fact that it is back in print gives me hope.

David Ballard"
~ Written on 2000-03-13