Reading Library · Biology & Evolution Tier 1: Core Influence

Feral: Rewilding the Land, Sea and Human Life

by George Monbiot (2013)

★★★★★ 5/5

A manifesto for ecological restoration and the reintroduction of wildness

"Rewilding, to me, is about resisting the urge to control nature and allowing it to find its own way."

— George Monbiot

My Review

Monbiot's passionate argument for rewilding introduced me to trophic cascades - the idea that reintroducing predators can transform entire ecosystems, even changing the course of rivers. This concept became central to thinking about how removing or adding key players changes organizational dynamics.

Why It Matters

Monbiot's examples of trophic cascades - wolves changing rivers in Yellowstone, whales fertilizing oceans - demonstrate how key actors can have effects far beyond their direct actions. This is essential for understanding organizational influence.

Key Ideas

  • Trophic cascades demonstrate non-linear system effects
  • Apex predators shape ecosystems in unexpected ways
  • Human intervention often prevents natural recovery
  • Wildness has intrinsic value beyond utility

How It Connects to This Framework

Book 1's Ecosystem Thinking and Book 8's material on trophic cascades and keystone species. The concept of cascade effects in organizations comes from this ecological understanding.

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