Reading List: Sources for Cha-nge

This short reading list reflects the thinking behind Cha-nge. If our ideas resonate with you then these books and articles are all highly recommended.

It starts with mathematics and logic, cognitive studies and anthropology for knowledge engineering and the related field of cognitive linguistics to which I was introduced by Professor Vyv Evans.

The next section covers innovation and strategy. I spent many years studying here while attempting to put theory into practice in business. Links are included for a couple of articles I wrote during my time running Cogapp.

More recently I have been exploring the possibilities of systems thinking including the extraordinary insights from Stafford Beer's management cybernetics and Dana Meadow's systems modelling.

Finally, I have included a selection of books from different fields that exemplify the insights that can occur when you change your perspective.

Metaphors, Mental Models and Problem Solving

• Culler, Jonathan. 1985. Fontana Modern Masters: Saussure
• Hage, Per. and Frank Harare. 1984. Structural Models in Anthropology
• Johnson-Laird, Philip. 1983. Mental Models
• Lakoff, George. and Mark Johnson. 1980. Metaphors We Live By
• Pólya, George. 1945. How to Solve It
• Saussure, Ferdinand de. 1916. Course in General Linguistics

Strategy and Innovation

• Blank, Steve. 2013. The Four Steps to the Epiphany: Successful Strategies for Products that Win (5th edition)
• Boyd, John. 2018. A Discourse on Winning and Losing
• Goldenberg, Jacob. Roni Horowitz, Amnon Levav and David Mazursky. 2003. Finding Your Innovation Sweet Spot
• Kim, W. Chan., and Renée Mauborgne. 2005. Blue Ocean Strategy
• Morrison, Alex. 2019. Competitive Advantage for Entrepreneurs
• Morrison, Alex. 2020. Four Rules of Good Strategy
• Rumelt, Richard. 2011. Good Strategy/Bad Strategy: The Difference and Why It Matters
• Shrage, Michael. 2012. Who Do You Want Your Customers to Become?
• Van Creveld, Martin. 1985. Command in War

Systems Thinking

• Beer, Stafford. 1985. Diagnosing the System for Organizations
• Davies, Dan. 2024. The Unaccountability Machine: Why Big Systems Make Terrible Decisions
• Hoverstadt, Patrick. 2025. The Grammar of Systems II: From Order to Chaos and Back Again
• Meadows, Donella. 2008. Thinking in Systems: A Primer

Different Perspectives

• Deren, Maya. 1953. Divine Horsemen: The Living Gods of Haiti
• Fisher, Mark. 2009. Capitalist Realism
• Gell, Alfred. 1998. Art and Agency
• Han, Byung-Chul. 2020. The Disappearance of Rituals
• Hickel, Jason. 2021. Less is More
• Kohn, Eduardo. 2013. How Forests Think
• Seaford, Richard. 2009. Money and the Early Greek Mind
• Wall Kimmerer, Robin. 2020. Braiding Sweetgrass
• Waring, Marilyn. 1988. If Women Counted