This book began in the research of the relations between humans and nature. It was set up to examine the relation between human disrespect, even desecration, of the wilderness, and then allowing human activities to deteriorate the larger natural environment. It went into issues of how humans relate to each other, via regulation as threats, then how that carried over into how humans attempt to regulate their relations to nature, via threats. The research evidence showed how strategic threats in fact solved no problems, and in fact worsened relationship problems between humans. This weakness was seen to carry over into worsening human relations to nature.
Much of his book comes from research carried out for his PhD dissertation in systems sciences, University of Pennsylvania. The research was based in Sweden at the Institute of International Business, Stockholm School of Economics. Twenty firms and six governments collaborated with the project. Worked on 1972 Olympic Competition winner in Stuttgart, Germany, then as a city planner for Westminster City Council in London, then as a city designer for a Philadelphia firm. Served as a professor in various universities in the US and Sweden, Finland, Japan, England, and China. Was an associate Dean of a US architecture school for its first accreditation. Served as dean of a US business school where it was awarded most improved AACSB business school. Developed many university programs and courses. Developed and taught courses in engineering, materials, architecture, planning, corporate leadership, business management and public policy. Developed PhD granting Institutes for executives leading companies: one in Sweden called IIB, the other in Finland called EXIMA.
