Unintended Consequences: The Science of Context

by Gary Moreau

Despite Big Data, enormous advancements in science, and the evidence-based search for truth in the internet age, our society has never been more divided and polarized. For far too many, life is a soul-crushing struggle to get by.

The reason is our failure to recognize the context of reality. It is of infinite dimension and everything that defines it is inter-related. Much of that context, however, is not accessible to measurement and calculation, the tools of hard science. It is only discovered through Socratic questioning and public debate.

Through our failure to appreciate the context of the social, economic, scientific, and political trends we live amongst, we open the door to unintended consequences that lead us away from progress and toward judgment and inequality.

This book seeks to define a better path forward.

205 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 12, 2024

About the author

I am a retired C-suite executive who worked in the manufacturing and consumer sectors for 45 years, with job titles that included financial analyst, CSCO, President, and CEO. For 14 years I was the General Manager of the Asia Pacific region of a US industrial company, living in Beijing, China.

I have also served on the board of directors of four public companies in the US and Canada, serving in various posts including Chairman, Audit Committee and Lead Director. I was selected for the 1993 class of Global Leaders for Tomorrow by the World Economic Forum. And I have worked in the private equity sector and as a management coach in the consulting sector.

An author of numerous books, my latest being Unintended Consequences: The Science of Context. I also publish a free weekly newsletter on substack called Context. You can see my latest newsletter by going to substack.com and searching for Gary Moreau.

My entire CV is on LinkedIn and you can contact me through that website. I currently live in the US.

Reviews

[Erica Kwiatkowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

I agree with much of what he was saying, but some of the references (butterfly effect, etc) were a little overplayed, and I don't think I was quite the intended audience, since I thought it was oversimplified. But it's a good introduction for those who don't know much about economics or sociology. It was a very timely read; nice and depressing on this inauguration day. Makes me ready to move abroad (he makes China sound pretty good).

I have just one question for the author:
I have my grandpa's old Lionel Train set in my attic, what do you think it's worth? :-p