GREENVILLE, NC — A new book by David Hawk explores the intricate connections between human behavior, social structures, and environmental decline, arguing that the ways people govern themselves often extend to their treatment of nature. Human Nature and the Potential in Nurture is a research-based work drawing from academic studies, professional practice, and international collaboration, aiming to contribute to interdisciplinary discussions on environmental management and sustainability.
The book originated from Hawk's doctoral research in systems sciences at the University of Pennsylvania, conducted in collaboration with the Institute of International Business at the Stockholm School of Economics. The project involved twenty firms and six governments, examining how patterns of regulation, control, and strategic threats influence relationships among individuals and institutions, and how similar approaches shape interactions with the natural world. Hawk's work provides a systems perspective on how societal actions affect broader environmental conditions, moving beyond ecological outcomes to analyze underlying social structures.
Hawk incorporates observations from his extensive professional background in engineering, planning, architecture, leadership development, and higher education. These experiences inform the book's examination of how institutions develop responses to complex problems and how those responses can sometimes reinforce the conditions they seek to address. The discussion spans from interpersonal relationships to organizational behavior and public policy.
“The work grew from a desire to better understand the relationship between human systems and natural systems, and how patterns of behavior influence both,” Hawk stated. “The research sought to examine those connections through a systems perspective.”
David Hawk, raised on a farm in Iowa, pursued studies in engineering, city planning, and corporate planning. During his engineering education, he served in Vietnam from 1966 to 1968. His career has included work in the United States, Sweden, Finland, Japan, England, China, and other international settings. Over several decades, Hawk has contributed to projects involving urban planning, business management, public policy, and executive education, serving as a professor, academic administrator, and program developer.
Human Nature and the Potential in Nurture is available through major online booksellers in print and digital formats. For more information, visit the book's listing on Barnes & Noble or Amazon.
