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The Second Curve: Thoughts on Reinventing Society
The summation of a life's work, in which Handy considers what the future holds for society.
Britain's leading guru looks to the future.
Charles Handy is one of the giants of contemporary thought. His books on management -- including Understanding Organizations and Gods of Management -- have changed the way we view business. His work on broader issues and trends -- such as Beyond Certainty -- has changed the way we view society.
In The Second Curve , Handy builds on a life's work to glimpse into the future and see what challenges and opportunities lie ahead. He looks at current trends in capitalism and asks whether it is a sustainable system. He explores the dangers of a society built on credit. He challenges the myth that remorseless growth is essential. He even asks whether we should rethink our roles in life -- as students, parents, workers and voters -- and what the aims of an ideal society of the future should be.
Provocative and thoughtful as ever, he sets out the questions we all need to ask ourselves -- and points us in the direction of some of the answers.
Britain's leading guru looks to the future.
Charles Handy is one of the giants of contemporary thought. His books on management -- including Understanding Organizations and Gods of Management -- have changed the way we view business. His work on broader issues and trends -- such as Beyond Certainty -- has changed the way we view society.
In The Second Curve , Handy builds on a life's work to glimpse into the future and see what challenges and opportunities lie ahead. He looks at current trends in capitalism and asks whether it is a sustainable system. He explores the dangers of a society built on credit. He challenges the myth that remorseless growth is essential. He even asks whether we should rethink our roles in life -- as students, parents, workers and voters -- and what the aims of an ideal society of the future should be.
Provocative and thoughtful as ever, he sets out the questions we all need to ask ourselves -- and points us in the direction of some of the answers.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published March 12, 2015
95 people are currently reading
965 people want to read
About the author
Charles B. Handy
87 books136 followersCharles Brian Handy was an Irish author and philosopher who specialised in organizational behavior and management. Among the ideas he advanced are the "portfolio career" and the "shamrock organization" (in which professional core workers, freelance workers and part-time/temporary routine workers each form one leaf of the "shamrock").
Handy was rated among the Thinkers 50, a private list of the most influential living management thinkers. In 2001, he was second on this list, behind Peter Drucker, and in 2005, he was tenth. When the Harvard Business Review had a special issue to mark the publication's 50th anniversary Handy, Peter Drucker, and Henry Mintzberg were asked to write special articles.
In July 2006, Handy was conferred with an honorary Doctor of Law by Trinity College Dublin.
Handy was rated among the Thinkers 50, a private list of the most influential living management thinkers. In 2001, he was second on this list, behind Peter Drucker, and in 2005, he was tenth. When the Harvard Business Review had a special issue to mark the publication's 50th anniversary Handy, Peter Drucker, and Henry Mintzberg were asked to write special articles.
In July 2006, Handy was conferred with an honorary Doctor of Law by Trinity College Dublin.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
June 2, 2015
Why 5 out if 5? Definitely one of my books of the year. I thought that I would read it over a couple days. How wrong I was. The series of essays were so thought provoking, I kept pausing, assimilating what I had just read, sometimes rereading a paragraph and, most unusual for me, appraising my own life. I have been reading Charles Handy for 30 years. He is described as a social philosopher, but, is more an observer of the daily ritual of life as well as being a philosopher. He is an eminent management guru and lecturer, but, this book has a much broader appeal, exploring wider issues and trends. I especially found the chapters "The Just Society, The Golden Seeds, The Necessity of Others and The Contract with Ourselves" especially timely at this stage of my life and so personally resonating, but, this does not take anything away from the other chapters or essays. I also liked the total lack of preaching and the author's own humility in admitting that it took him 50 years (I'm 55, so, I still have time!) before he found what he really wanted to do and how he wanted to live his life. His personal experience of renegotiating the terms and practicalities of his marriage, to his best friend (is this not the key to a long lasting marriage or relationship, whatever format that union takes?), was particularly enlightening to myself and relevant to my own marriage. People change, children leave and the challenges of life intervene. I could include at least twenty stand-out quotations here, but, that would spoil the book on you! This is a humble man dispensing the wisdom of his 80 years, humble enough to admit that he often made mistakes and, like the rest of us, his journey took many turns and was a roller-coaster in many ways. What radiates from his writing of this book is an inner calm with one's self and one's life, but, as he writes at the very end, "There is always work to be done, a Second Curve waiting to be invented."
Buy it. £12.99 RRP in Sterling. Read it. Dip in and out of it! I hate recommending books and rarely do it, because, great books are like great works of art, literature, poetry, music, beautiful people and good bottles of wine. What touches one person's soul will often bypass another person's! However, if you buy this book on the most possibly current and contemporary thought, and are not engrossed by page 50 or so, which is a golden rule of mine, leave it on a park bench, or coffee table, or bus seat, for another to, perhaps, find the groove of the "Second Curve."
Buy it. £12.99 RRP in Sterling. Read it. Dip in and out of it! I hate recommending books and rarely do it, because, great books are like great works of art, literature, poetry, music, beautiful people and good bottles of wine. What touches one person's soul will often bypass another person's! However, if you buy this book on the most possibly current and contemporary thought, and are not engrossed by page 50 or so, which is a golden rule of mine, leave it on a park bench, or coffee table, or bus seat, for another to, perhaps, find the groove of the "Second Curve."
April 1, 2015
This is a book that you will get lost in. You will consult it, consider it and radiate its knowledge. Here the author gives thought to the future and examines what challenges, opportunities and problems we may face.
Is the current capitalist-led system sustainable? Are we building a society that is set to implode upon itself? What might the ideal society of the future look like and do we need to change our roles to fit into this new world? All this and more is considered in a non-hysterical, responsive, provocative and thoughtful manner.
The author has taken the opportunity to revalidate many of his previously stated arguments and predictions whilst expanding and developing new ideas. It feels to be a harmonious and sensitive collection. Society does appear to be in a permanent state of flux and the author notes that he cannot imagine how things will be in even 30 years time, so much of what we take for granted today could be viewed as a quaint, distant memory tomorrow.
“Anything that is based on information, be it books, music or entertainment, will effectively be free, but a world of free goods offers few paying jobs. If they do find or, better, create any work that pays they will need to keep doing it well into their eighties so they had better enjoy it,” notes the author, adding: “Already, as I see it, too much of all that is new favours the few and not the many. Society is out of balance. Power is unequally distributed. In business, the information economy is turning into a winner-takes-all one, where the likes of Amazon, Facebook and Google dominate and gobble up any daring newcomer.”
Central to the author’s thinking is the Sigmoid Curve, a mathematical concept that is used to project the future and – it is contended – something that tracks everything in our lives and the organisations and concepts that control them.
“There seems to be no escape from the Sigmoid Curve. The only variable is the length of the curve. The Roman Empire lasted 400 years, but finally reached its end. Other empires lasted less long before they dipped, as the British Empire did and the American one surely will. Governments and dictatorships ultimately outstay their welcome. On a smaller scale, businesses used to last on average for 40 years before they collapsed or were taken over; now the average lifespan appears to have dropped to a mere 14 years,” wrote the author, noting that the key is to leapfrog the change, implementing a so-called second curve to effectively restart the cycle. It is easier said than done.
The use of a series of mini essays is a great solution, letting the reader digest smaller elements and progress at their own pace. All too many books tend to focus on the big picture, forgetting that not everybody has the time or energy to devote to many hours of reading at a time.
So in conclusion, a highly enjoyable book that was neither alarmist nor conformist but it will get you thinking.
The Second Curve, written by Charles Handy and published by Random House UK/Cornerstone. ISBN 9781473506138, 240 pages. YYYYY
Is the current capitalist-led system sustainable? Are we building a society that is set to implode upon itself? What might the ideal society of the future look like and do we need to change our roles to fit into this new world? All this and more is considered in a non-hysterical, responsive, provocative and thoughtful manner.
The author has taken the opportunity to revalidate many of his previously stated arguments and predictions whilst expanding and developing new ideas. It feels to be a harmonious and sensitive collection. Society does appear to be in a permanent state of flux and the author notes that he cannot imagine how things will be in even 30 years time, so much of what we take for granted today could be viewed as a quaint, distant memory tomorrow.
“Anything that is based on information, be it books, music or entertainment, will effectively be free, but a world of free goods offers few paying jobs. If they do find or, better, create any work that pays they will need to keep doing it well into their eighties so they had better enjoy it,” notes the author, adding: “Already, as I see it, too much of all that is new favours the few and not the many. Society is out of balance. Power is unequally distributed. In business, the information economy is turning into a winner-takes-all one, where the likes of Amazon, Facebook and Google dominate and gobble up any daring newcomer.”
Central to the author’s thinking is the Sigmoid Curve, a mathematical concept that is used to project the future and – it is contended – something that tracks everything in our lives and the organisations and concepts that control them.
“There seems to be no escape from the Sigmoid Curve. The only variable is the length of the curve. The Roman Empire lasted 400 years, but finally reached its end. Other empires lasted less long before they dipped, as the British Empire did and the American one surely will. Governments and dictatorships ultimately outstay their welcome. On a smaller scale, businesses used to last on average for 40 years before they collapsed or were taken over; now the average lifespan appears to have dropped to a mere 14 years,” wrote the author, noting that the key is to leapfrog the change, implementing a so-called second curve to effectively restart the cycle. It is easier said than done.
The use of a series of mini essays is a great solution, letting the reader digest smaller elements and progress at their own pace. All too many books tend to focus on the big picture, forgetting that not everybody has the time or energy to devote to many hours of reading at a time.
So in conclusion, a highly enjoyable book that was neither alarmist nor conformist but it will get you thinking.
The Second Curve, written by Charles Handy and published by Random House UK/Cornerstone. ISBN 9781473506138, 240 pages. YYYYY
March 25, 2020
کتاب «منحنی دوم» یکی از جدیدترین کتابهای چارلز هندی، استاد مشهور مدیریت است که در سال 2015 منتشر شد. موضوع کتاب، همانطور که از اسمش پیداست مفهومی است به نام «منحنی دوم» که هندی آن را ابداع کرده و شرح میدهد. به گفتهی او پدیدههای انسانی نظیر پیشرفت شغلی یا مفاهیم اجتماعی را میشود با یک منحنی توصیف کرد، منحنیای که ابتدا رو به رشد است تا به نقطهی اوج خود برسد و سپس افول میکند.
ایدهی اصلی هندی این است که درست در زمان اوج میبایست منحنی دومی را آغاز کرد تا با استفاده از منابع ایجاد شده توسط منحنی اول در دوران اوج، پیش از افول کامل دوباره رو به رشد رفت. به عنوان مثال، هر شخصی در زندگی کاریاش منحنی رشد و افول را دارد، پس پیش از افول کامل در حرفهی فعلی باید منحنیهای بعدی را شروع کند تا رشد او پایدار بماند.
کتاب در شانزده گفتار کوتاه نوشته شده که هندی در آنها با استفاده از این مدل روندهای فردی، اجتماعی و سیاسی نظامهای فعلی را بررسی میکند و پیشنهادهایی برای بهبود آنها ارائه میدهد.
ایدهی اصلی هندی این است که درست در زمان اوج میبایست منحنی دومی را آغاز کرد تا با استفاده از منابع ایجاد شده توسط منحنی اول در دوران اوج، پیش از افول کامل دوباره رو به رشد رفت. به عنوان مثال، هر شخصی در زندگی کاریاش منحنی رشد و افول را دارد، پس پیش از افول کامل در حرفهی فعلی باید منحنیهای بعدی را شروع کند تا رشد او پایدار بماند.
کتاب در شانزده گفتار کوتاه نوشته شده که هندی در آنها با استفاده از این مدل روندهای فردی، اجتماعی و سیاسی نظامهای فعلی را بررسی میکند و پیشنهادهایی برای بهبود آنها ارائه میدهد.
July 30, 2019
Tudo, desde sociedades até a tecnologia, passando por gestão de pessoas, passam por uma curva de decadência. Esse momento, pode ser um momento de decadência genuína ou um platô eterno, ou um momento de transição de algo melhor, maior, com mais impacto. É aí que entra a segunda curva. Essa segunda curva começa pouco antes do momento de decadência chegar, e tem a missão de ascender para a próxima forma de trabalhar, o próximo salto tecnológico, ou a próxima forma de fazer democracia.
Nesse livro Charles Handy, ele separa uma série de ensaios que explicam exatamente esse processo, explicando que mercados e outras áreas fundamentais da sociedade devem estar nesse momento de transição e que uma segunda curva ascendente está começando, e que além disso, essa curva em S, é um padrão cíclico, que acontece sempre, então todas as áreas da vida e da sociedade.
As aplicações são diversas. Desde um negócio que está na hora de reinventar o ciclo do seu produto para crescer em outras áreas, ou você que sente que precisa trocar de trabalho mesmo quando tudo está indo perfeitamente bem no trabalho atual... o desafio da segunda curva é fazer a virada antes do declínio despontar e avançar novamente para uma nova subida... até o ciclo começar novamente.
Como não é um livro técnico, senti falta de detalhes sobre como identificar esses momentos do ciclo. Que para o Charles parece ser natural entender em que fase estamos.
Nesse livro Charles Handy, ele separa uma série de ensaios que explicam exatamente esse processo, explicando que mercados e outras áreas fundamentais da sociedade devem estar nesse momento de transição e que uma segunda curva ascendente está começando, e que além disso, essa curva em S, é um padrão cíclico, que acontece sempre, então todas as áreas da vida e da sociedade.
As aplicações são diversas. Desde um negócio que está na hora de reinventar o ciclo do seu produto para crescer em outras áreas, ou você que sente que precisa trocar de trabalho mesmo quando tudo está indo perfeitamente bem no trabalho atual... o desafio da segunda curva é fazer a virada antes do declínio despontar e avançar novamente para uma nova subida... até o ciclo começar novamente.
Como não é um livro técnico, senti falta de detalhes sobre como identificar esses momentos do ciclo. Que para o Charles parece ser natural entender em que fase estamos.
September 4, 2017
A dazzling book that contains 16 thought-provoking essays about innovation and reinvention in our age. Charles B. Handy, no doubt an excellent academic and of the best contemporary thinker has let us in a journey of thought experiments, of the "what if" questions to many of our society's current problems: education, capitalism, the rise of A.I and automatons, the breakdown of society and traditional relationships and marriages, politics, democracy, the workplace of the future, the free market...
He dare to push it to the point of radical thinking, to challenges the old ways and to invite the readers to the process of reinventing, of creating something new, before it's all too late and we've all missed the chances of our second curves, as in the "Davy's Bar" implications - a haunting and full of regret imagery that he has written in the book.
He dare to push it to the point of radical thinking, to challenges the old ways and to invite the readers to the process of reinventing, of creating something new, before it's all too late and we've all missed the chances of our second curves, as in the "Davy's Bar" implications - a haunting and full of regret imagery that he has written in the book.
April 26, 2020
Such an easy and worthwhile read form a wise old gentleman.
March 5, 2020
Sa stii sa reincepi atunci cand drumul tau pare a fi ascendent, iata secretul. Sa mirosi trendul, sa stii ca e posibil ca panta ascendenta pe care te afli este ultimul urcus inainte de coborare, o arta!
‘A doua curba’ propune un exercitiu de introspectie pentru afaceri, societate, educatie, sisteme politice si viata personala. Despre pericolul inertiei si puterea insidioasa a obisnuintei care te ancraseaza in a face acelasi si acelasi lucru fara a-ti mai pune intrebari. Iata o poveste din carte. Sau mai bine...
Puterea obisnuintei. Fabula:
‘In 1547, regele Edward al VI-lea, un rege protestant, a oferit Parlamentului posibilitatea de a utiliza capela St. Stephen din palatul Westminster drept camera de dezbateri, din moment ce capela nu avea sa mai fie folosita in scop religios. Capela avea doua randuri de scaune care erau asezate fata in fata, o intrare cu doua usi duble, la un capat, si o platforma ridicata pentru altar, cu crucifix deasupra lui. Putea gazdui 300 de oameni, doar doua treimi din membri. Membrii au utilizat capela cat de bine au putut. Au folosit usile duble ca un sistem de vot, solicitand celor care erau in favoarea unei propuneri sa iasa printr-o usa si cei impotriva, prin cealalta. Ei si-au urcat purtatorul de cuvant pe platforma de altar si le-au cerut membrilor sa se incline in fata crucifixului in timp ce intrau sau paraseau camera.
Capela a fost distrusa intr-un incendiu in 1834, a fost reconstruita si apoi distrusa din nou de bombe in timpul celui de-al Doilea Razboi Mondial. In ambele ocazii s-a decis ca aceasta sa fie reconstruita sub aceeasi forma, cu doua randuri opuse si, din nou, sa fie prea mica pentru a gazdui mai mult de doua treimi din membri. Totusi, pana in ziua de astazi, parlamentarii voteaza trecand prin aceleasi usi, se inclina inca la intrare sau la iesire, desi crucifixul nu mai este acolo, tot nu sunt locuri suficiente pentru toti si inca stau pe randuri opuse, ceea ce face mai dificila, din punct de vedere psihologic, gasirea unei variante comun agreate. Asa ca utilizarea avantajoasa a unei capele inutile, de acum 450 de ani, modeleaza inca modul in care legile sunt dezbatute si hotarate. Doar in Marea Britanie istoria are o astfel de putere.’ (Charles Handy, ‘A doua curba’, Ed. Publica, 2016).
‘A doua curba’ propune un exercitiu de introspectie pentru afaceri, societate, educatie, sisteme politice si viata personala. Despre pericolul inertiei si puterea insidioasa a obisnuintei care te ancraseaza in a face acelasi si acelasi lucru fara a-ti mai pune intrebari. Iata o poveste din carte. Sau mai bine...
Puterea obisnuintei. Fabula:
‘In 1547, regele Edward al VI-lea, un rege protestant, a oferit Parlamentului posibilitatea de a utiliza capela St. Stephen din palatul Westminster drept camera de dezbateri, din moment ce capela nu avea sa mai fie folosita in scop religios. Capela avea doua randuri de scaune care erau asezate fata in fata, o intrare cu doua usi duble, la un capat, si o platforma ridicata pentru altar, cu crucifix deasupra lui. Putea gazdui 300 de oameni, doar doua treimi din membri. Membrii au utilizat capela cat de bine au putut. Au folosit usile duble ca un sistem de vot, solicitand celor care erau in favoarea unei propuneri sa iasa printr-o usa si cei impotriva, prin cealalta. Ei si-au urcat purtatorul de cuvant pe platforma de altar si le-au cerut membrilor sa se incline in fata crucifixului in timp ce intrau sau paraseau camera.
Capela a fost distrusa intr-un incendiu in 1834, a fost reconstruita si apoi distrusa din nou de bombe in timpul celui de-al Doilea Razboi Mondial. In ambele ocazii s-a decis ca aceasta sa fie reconstruita sub aceeasi forma, cu doua randuri opuse si, din nou, sa fie prea mica pentru a gazdui mai mult de doua treimi din membri. Totusi, pana in ziua de astazi, parlamentarii voteaza trecand prin aceleasi usi, se inclina inca la intrare sau la iesire, desi crucifixul nu mai este acolo, tot nu sunt locuri suficiente pentru toti si inca stau pe randuri opuse, ceea ce face mai dificila, din punct de vedere psihologic, gasirea unei variante comun agreate. Asa ca utilizarea avantajoasa a unei capele inutile, de acum 450 de ani, modeleaza inca modul in care legile sunt dezbatute si hotarate. Doar in Marea Britanie istoria are o astfel de putere.’ (Charles Handy, ‘A doua curba’, Ed. Publica, 2016).
November 18, 2015
I started to read this book with great hopes. It seems to me that one of the great unknowns at the moment - with regards to the Three Horizons model - is what provides the momentum for change. What is it that forces us to move from our current position of H1 to the new paradigm of H3? The first couple of chapters start to deal with this question, but then the focus starts to blur away. The thread is never really taken up again, which I found disappointing.
The book consists of 16 essays and an introduction. The essays, all of which are short - about 3,000 words each, don't seem to catch that tempo of change. The quality of the essays is variable. Some seem a bit hurried with others seeming to be a bit padded. The author considers many of the issues of the day. Once again, with a variable degree of insight. There are some that provide a rallying call for action, and others where I was left thinking that I had read just a piece of special pleading.
The introduction, in my mind, is where all of the action is. For example, we are told: "The message of the Second Curve is that to move forward in many areas of life it is sometimes necessary to change radically, to start a new course that will be different from the existing one, often requiring a whole new way of looking at familiar problems, what Thomas Kuhn called a paradigm shift." You can see why I was excited by the opening pages of the book! It is all H1->H3 stuff. I was quite disappointed when that early promise didn't materialise.
The author is a distinguished writer on management and organisations. As he heads towards the end of his career, he has broadened his focus. The subtitle of the book "Thoughts on Reinventing Society" gives an idea of his ambition. I am not sure that he has achieved this, though.
The book consists of 16 essays and an introduction. The essays, all of which are short - about 3,000 words each, don't seem to catch that tempo of change. The quality of the essays is variable. Some seem a bit hurried with others seeming to be a bit padded. The author considers many of the issues of the day. Once again, with a variable degree of insight. There are some that provide a rallying call for action, and others where I was left thinking that I had read just a piece of special pleading.
The introduction, in my mind, is where all of the action is. For example, we are told: "The message of the Second Curve is that to move forward in many areas of life it is sometimes necessary to change radically, to start a new course that will be different from the existing one, often requiring a whole new way of looking at familiar problems, what Thomas Kuhn called a paradigm shift." You can see why I was excited by the opening pages of the book! It is all H1->H3 stuff. I was quite disappointed when that early promise didn't materialise.
The author is a distinguished writer on management and organisations. As he heads towards the end of his career, he has broadened his focus. The subtitle of the book "Thoughts on Reinventing Society" gives an idea of his ambition. I am not sure that he has achieved this, though.
March 5, 2016
Much of the book challenged my views on various things, which was stimulating for sure.
The idea of delaying home ownership until one is 50 is the sort of statement that perhaps holds little merit until one is 50 (I am 45) and reflects on the costs of ownership vs. renting. The costs of being tied down, indebted, locked into maintaining an asset, etc.
Although the counter argument seems also to be made in the essay on investments and pensions. Here the long term benefits of owning real estate for investment purposes shines through in my opinion.
Many other though provoking passages.
Time to take some time and examine my life as lived.
The idea of delaying home ownership until one is 50 is the sort of statement that perhaps holds little merit until one is 50 (I am 45) and reflects on the costs of ownership vs. renting. The costs of being tied down, indebted, locked into maintaining an asset, etc.
Although the counter argument seems also to be made in the essay on investments and pensions. Here the long term benefits of owning real estate for investment purposes shines through in my opinion.
Many other though provoking passages.
Time to take some time and examine my life as lived.
June 11, 2015
There's a lot of good stuff in here, as you might expect from Charles Handy, but the rather slapdash throwing together of the content and the many copy editing mistakes detracted from my enjoyment.
I'm with him on so many things but I just can't bring myself to trust him because of his early employment with Shell: you can take the man out the oil company but you can't take the oil company out the man.
I'm with him on so many things but I just can't bring myself to trust him because of his early employment with Shell: you can take the man out the oil company but you can't take the oil company out the man.
October 22, 2015
A well written set of assays on a variety of subjects relevant to todays's society. Full of insights and observations and anecdotes about politics, managements, finance, education etc. Whilst many appear reasonable I would have liked some more rigorous analysis with facts behind the author's proposals for improvements and changes needed. Still, informative book worth reading.
June 19, 2015
Excellent and thought provoking. As you'd expect from Charles Handy.
October 19, 2025
In this book Mr. Handy gives us more of his wise advice and ideas to provoke our thinking on a wide array of challenges facing (Western) societies.
Although he addresses the book to the next generation, and dedicates it to his grandchildren, it can be enjoyed at all ages, savoured, as he recommends, á la carte depending on which of the 16 topics most appeal to each reader. These apply the concept of the Second Curve (summarised below) to a wide array of areas of society: innovation, the information revolution, the workplace, the market, economic growth, capitalism, citizenship, management, financial innovation, the just society, personal growth, education, democracy, marriage and our need for community.
I confess I have a small collection of Charles Handy's books first started in the mid-90s with "The Empty Raincoat". In this book he picks up anew the important concept of the Second Curve: this is the proposition that most things in life (your career, companies, institutions, governments etc) go through a pattern of change, starting from small fresh beginnings, via increasingly widespread adoption and success, and eventually become tired, less open to changing, increasingly mired in hubris or new problems that they can no longer solve. In short, as Thomas Kuhn describes in his classic "The Structure of Scientific Revolutions", the existing paradigm becomes stale. To move forward, it become necessary to change radically. The challenge is that the ideal time to initiate experimenting with a new paradigm - a Second Curve - is when the existing Curve feels the most comfortable, having dealt with all the early doubters ('If it works, don't fix it').
What Handy does not mention is that Kuhn believed the change to a new paradigm only occurs by revolution (if you are interested, you can read Lakatos, the Hungarian philosopher of economics who described a process of change that did not require such a radical cliff edge). Handy does, however, admit that, to be implemented, some of the paradigm changes he airs in this book would likely require a benign directorship! Or, I would suggest, a seismic crisis such as a war that destroys large amounts of the financial capital (in a way that the 2008-9 crisis did not really do) and gives us reason to trust that we are truly 'all in it together'.
Although he addresses the book to the next generation, and dedicates it to his grandchildren, it can be enjoyed at all ages, savoured, as he recommends, á la carte depending on which of the 16 topics most appeal to each reader. These apply the concept of the Second Curve (summarised below) to a wide array of areas of society: innovation, the information revolution, the workplace, the market, economic growth, capitalism, citizenship, management, financial innovation, the just society, personal growth, education, democracy, marriage and our need for community.
I confess I have a small collection of Charles Handy's books first started in the mid-90s with "The Empty Raincoat". In this book he picks up anew the important concept of the Second Curve: this is the proposition that most things in life (your career, companies, institutions, governments etc) go through a pattern of change, starting from small fresh beginnings, via increasingly widespread adoption and success, and eventually become tired, less open to changing, increasingly mired in hubris or new problems that they can no longer solve. In short, as Thomas Kuhn describes in his classic "The Structure of Scientific Revolutions", the existing paradigm becomes stale. To move forward, it become necessary to change radically. The challenge is that the ideal time to initiate experimenting with a new paradigm - a Second Curve - is when the existing Curve feels the most comfortable, having dealt with all the early doubters ('If it works, don't fix it').
What Handy does not mention is that Kuhn believed the change to a new paradigm only occurs by revolution (if you are interested, you can read Lakatos, the Hungarian philosopher of economics who described a process of change that did not require such a radical cliff edge). Handy does, however, admit that, to be implemented, some of the paradigm changes he airs in this book would likely require a benign directorship! Or, I would suggest, a seismic crisis such as a war that destroys large amounts of the financial capital (in a way that the 2008-9 crisis did not really do) and gives us reason to trust that we are truly 'all in it together'.
June 29, 2018
Warning!! The average Joe is not paying attention to this critical transformation of our world. It’s happening right now! We are converting into a jobless society because of automation and robotics. The scale of this is overwhelming. It’s estimated that within the next thirty years, depending on the scalability of quantum computing, we’ll lose 40% of the current jobs that are out there.
Yes, this new world will create new jobs, but not to the extent that will support our current population let alone our larger population. The jobs lost are white collar jobs, blue collar, and service jobs. I’m not sure we can support a 10% decrease in jobs let alone 40%. This means that our children will have to adjust quickly to this threat let alone our grandchildren.
This book outlines the challenges and areas that need to be addressed but doesn’t necessary outline a solution. It gets you thinking about what’s involved and what’s at risk. We need to change our whole educational process and focus. We need to act now and prepare for this life changing dilemma.
Yes, this new world will create new jobs, but not to the extent that will support our current population let alone our larger population. The jobs lost are white collar jobs, blue collar, and service jobs. I’m not sure we can support a 10% decrease in jobs let alone 40%. This means that our children will have to adjust quickly to this threat let alone our grandchildren.
This book outlines the challenges and areas that need to be addressed but doesn’t necessary outline a solution. It gets you thinking about what’s involved and what’s at risk. We need to change our whole educational process and focus. We need to act now and prepare for this life changing dilemma.
January 23, 2021
O serie de eseuri despre întrebările pe care ar trebui să ni le punem la nivel individual, comunitar și societal. Toate pornind de la ideea unei a doua curbe de dezvoltare. Ideea celei de-a doua curbe e utilă pentru că pune lucrurile în perspectivă, te face să te gândești la dezvoltare sustenabilă pe termen lung, exploatând resursele pe care le-ai dobândit în timp ce urcai prima curbă.
Deși atacă subiecte extrem de interesante și actuale, iar întrebările puse cititorului sunt utile, unora dintre eseuril le lipsește un flow, pare că trecem din idee în idee fără a construi pe baza precedentelor.
Deși atacă subiecte extrem de interesante și actuale, iar întrebările puse cititorului sunt utile, unora dintre eseuril le lipsește un flow, pare că trecem din idee în idee fără a construi pe baza precedentelor.
April 7, 2019
At a work xmas party I mentioned this book and a colleague said 'I quit my job because of this book', her boss then mentioned he had read it too. We were all in agreement it was brilliant. Only a man in his 80s could write a book like this. CH has had so many careers. You have to invest in the next thing before the current thing is out of steam. The chapters are all laid out to be read in the time it takes to commute to work. It covers a wide range of subjects, not always so prescriptive but conversational.
November 1, 2018
المنحنى البديل أو الثاني هو منحنى يجري صعوداً ونزولاً بجوار المنحنى الأساسي غير أنه طريق بديل مبنى على ابتكارات وإبداعات.. فأنت عندما تتبع نمط معيّن في أي شئ كان من دون ابتكار فمآل طريقك إلى نهاية مسدودة.. أما وجود طريق بديل دائماً فيعني استدامة سيرك واتخاذك طريقاً بديلاً عند كل نهاية طريق.
الكتاب يشرح هذه الفكرة بشكل جميل ويضرب في ذلك الأمثلة ويتجاوز إلى بعض المواضيع الجانبية التي لها علاقة بالفكرة الأساسية مثل النمو بجوانبه والعلاقات الإنسانية.
الكتاب يشرح هذه الفكرة بشكل جميل ويضرب في ذلك الأمثلة ويتجاوز إلى بعض المواضيع الجانبية التي لها علاقة بالفكرة الأساسية مثل النمو بجوانبه والعلاقات الإنسانية.
January 4, 2019
A reasonably interesting set of fairly compact essays exploring a range of issues surrounding life and work. Handy was much stronger when talking about his specialist subject – business – than elsewhere. Although there was a general theme of his concept of the Second Curve, in general, the essays felt a bit aimless; Handy jumped from one idea to the next, never quite adequately developing any of them. Nonetheless a fairly enjoyable, accessible, and thought-provoking read.
December 12, 2024
My second and insightful book during my stay at Gladstone’s library.
The book recommends a different perspective to granted ideals. It pushes the idea of releasing fixed assets (financials, beliefs, and social life) to explore new horizons and avoid setbacks as they tend to occur at the peak of the S-curve. The book also discusses other concepts like social media, education, family values, and economics, and I encourage readers to listen and maybe apply some in their journeys.
The book recommends a different perspective to granted ideals. It pushes the idea of releasing fixed assets (financials, beliefs, and social life) to explore new horizons and avoid setbacks as they tend to occur at the peak of the S-curve. The book also discusses other concepts like social media, education, family values, and economics, and I encourage readers to listen and maybe apply some in their journeys.
March 30, 2025
This is the best book I have read in the last 2-3 years, period.
I dint know of the existence of Charles Handy, which was my ignorance and loss. But, upon bumping into this book out of serendipity, reading each page has been a treat!
I place Handy in the category of futurists such as Alvin Toffler albeit a little more philosophical / administrative in his thinking and writing.
Pick up this book and you won’t look back..
I dint know of the existence of Charles Handy, which was my ignorance and loss. But, upon bumping into this book out of serendipity, reading each page has been a treat!
I place Handy in the category of futurists such as Alvin Toffler albeit a little more philosophical / administrative in his thinking and writing.
Pick up this book and you won’t look back..
April 14, 2019
I saw Charles Handy speak a few years ago when this book was first released and I'm so glad I finally got around to reading it. The Second Curve contains 16 essays full of provocative thinking and musings about the world live in and where it all might end up. It's written well and accessibly and I was enthralled from beginning to end. Right up my street. 5 stars.
September 17, 2020
This is the first one from Charles Handy that I have ever read.
Exceptional is still an understatement.
The kind of topics chosen and the rationale provided is thought-provoking.
His concept of the Second curve seems risky, yet totally justifiable.
Recommended & definitely deserves 2-3 reads.
Exceptional is still an understatement.
The kind of topics chosen and the rationale provided is thought-provoking.
His concept of the Second curve seems risky, yet totally justifiable.
Recommended & definitely deserves 2-3 reads.
July 24, 2022
So much wisdom here. I’ve already gone back and read a few essays again. It’s a refreshing way to write a book that goes beyond regurgitating the same thesis over and over when just one essay would have sufficed (I’m thinking motivational books like Start With Why and Grit). The topics are wide-ranging and based on a rich lifetime of experience. I really enjoyed this.
February 28, 2018
One of the worst books I have ever read. Simply gives ramblings with no evidence or substance behind them. Everything he says is obvious, e.g. the internet offers opportunities but also has threats. I learned nothing new.
June 8, 2018
The musings of an author/philosopher, husband and grandfather - whose life has been spent in business and the study of organisational behaviour.
The book makes for a thought provoking, interesting read - especially the essay on education.
The book makes for a thought provoking, interesting read - especially the essay on education.
July 11, 2018
Absolutely amaizing book! If before I read books that had only described what other people did, in order to follow them as an example, here the author shows his own, objective ideas. Can’t wait to read it again and again.
April 25, 2019
A short accessible collection of essays from an ageing, mellow, philosophical management guru. Feels clichéd and underwhelming in places, but also has a kind humanistic attitude toward ideas of building a better future society with and for future generations.
December 26, 2022
He was writing in 2015, yet when I’m reading in 2022 there were so many prescient predictions that very quickly came true and everything here is entirely relevant and practical too. A must read. Simply delightful
April 15, 2019
One of the best books I ever read. Inspirational, soothing, exciting, tedious, exquisite.
May 20, 2019
How society should be changes
Thought provoking idea about how the society should be, and particularly how the individual should be to find their “true self”.
Thought provoking idea about how the society should be, and particularly how the individual should be to find their “true self”.
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