A new book by David Hawk, Human Nature and the Potential in Nurture, investigates the relationship between human behavior, social systems, and environmental decline. Drawing on academic research and international collaboration, the work argues that patterns of regulation, control, and strategic threats that govern human relationships often extend into humanity's treatment of nature, contributing to ecological challenges.
Published on June 12, 2026, the book originated from Hawk's doctoral research in systems sciences at the University of Pennsylvania, conducted in partnership with the Institute of International Business at the Stockholm School of Economics. The project involved twenty firms and six governments, providing a broad empirical foundation. Hawk examines how social structures—from interpersonal relationships to organizational behavior and public policy—shape environmental outcomes, moving beyond purely ecological analysis to address underlying human decision-making.
The book is available through major online booksellers, including Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and Walmart, in print and digital formats.
Hawk, who grew up on an Iowa farm and served in Vietnam from 1966 to 1968, brings a multidisciplinary background to the work. His career spans engineering, city planning, corporate planning, and executive education across the United States, Sweden, Finland, Japan, England, China, and other countries. He has held roles as a professor, academic administrator, and program developer, founding doctoral-level institutes focused on leadership and organizational development.
In a statement, Hawk said, “The work grew from a desire to better understand the relationship between human systems and natural systems, and how patterns of behavior influence both. The research sought to examine those connections through a systems perspective.”
The book contributes to ongoing discussions about environmental management, social organization, and long-term sustainability. By analyzing how institutions develop responses to complex problems—and how those responses can sometimes reinforce the conditions they aim to solve—Hawk offers insights for policymakers, business leaders, and citizens alike. As environmental challenges intensify, understanding the social roots of ecological decline becomes increasingly critical.
