Early Reviews
“Giordanengo provides a comprehensive synthesis of ecological foundations and economic structure, sorely lacking in our quest to develop sustainable economies in the face of growing economic and environmental turmoil. From the roots of ecological restoration, this book delivers a clear path to restoring the American economy, in a way that speaks in a universal language to policy makers, business owners, academics and the next generation. The identification of three drivers of highly resilient and productive economies and ecosystems—diversity, energy, and trade—is perhaps the most important insight to resolving growing tensions between society, nature, and the global market economy. This book provides hopes for species, ecosystems and the planet.”
~ Kingsley Dixon, Vice chair of the global board of directors, Society for Ecological Restoration.
“Ecosystems as Models to Restoring our Economies appeals to a broad range of people across ages, values, and political beliefs, and will change the way we live our lives. I’ll be sending this book to many people in my life moving forward, and believe it should be required reading for high schools, colleges, and any other educational program.”
~ Morgan Day, Urban Planning and Sustainability Writer
“As an ecologist and ecosystem restorationist John Giordanengo, like myself, has spent decades pondering the plight of humanity while simultaneously working with natural plant communities that have been able to survive every disturbance imaginable. There are predictable strategies used by nature, in order to survive in a world of unpredictable disturbances. Giordanengo points out that it is the built-in strategy of natural systems to increase energy capture, increase diversity, and to maximize the recycling of nutrients within the system beginning at the local level. The in-depth work of this book reveals our economy has become “upside down” compared to ecosystems. The human economy has grown “out” to the limits of our biosphere. It is time, as Giordanengo asserts, to mimic nature and to grow IN.”
~ Mark Shepard, Author of Restoration Agriculture
“Entrepreneurs play a critical role in the ecosystem, and in the endurance and restoration of a thriving economy. Ecosystems as Models to Restoring our Economies, Giordanengo’s masterpiece book, distills nature’s most important principles with basic economic theory in a logical and seamless narrative. Your first takeaway might be – why haven’t we looked at the earth ‘s ecosystems before – for the answers to a sustainable economy? As a reader, you will be drawn to new clues and conclusions.”
~ Patty Alper, Teach to Work, Author, The Alper Portfolio Group Ltd, President
“Finding the ‘win-win-win’ solution that optimizes economics, environmental sustainability, and human well-being is an essential and urgent task facing all of us. Giordanengo approaches this problem with his unique background of scientist, NGO leader, and business owner. He makes credible arguments and presents credible scenarios to solve the crisis, offering empirical solutions that resonate and build up from the local to global scales. John writes with a level of clarity not common to his colleagues and has created a treatise well worth reading.”
~ Tim Seastedt, Professor Emeritus, University of Colorado, Boulder.
“If you care about the environment; you will not want to miss reading this book.”
~ Don Hijar, life-long conservationist, and owner of Pawnee Buttes Seed Company
