David Hawk’s new book, Human Nature and the Potential in Nurture, investigates the interplay between human systems, industrial growth, and environmental conditions. Published in June 2026, the work draws on Hawk’s doctoral research in systems sciences and professional collaborations with businesses, governments, and academic institutions to examine how technological advancement and institutional structures have reshaped societal interactions with the natural world.
The book focuses on the transition from naturally occurring systems to increasingly engineered environments. Hawk analyzes how industrialization transformed the production of shelter, food, transportation, and other essential systems, creating what he describes as an expanding “science of the artificial.” The discussion covers historical developments and contemporary structures that influence human activity on a global scale, including how societies organize resources, regulate behavior, and interact with ecological systems.
A central theme is the relationship between technological advancement and governance. By applying systems-thinking principles, Hawk investigates how institutions attempt to manage complexity and how those approaches affect social and environmental outcomes. The analysis spans multiple disciplines, including planning, management, engineering, policy, and organizational development.
Hawk, who grew up on an Iowa farm before pursuing engineering, city planning, and corporate planning, brings extensive professional experience to the work. His career includes service in Vietnam, urban planning projects in Europe and North America, and academic appointments across several countries. He has worked as a professor, consultant, academic administrator, and program developer, contributing to educational programs in engineering, business management, architecture, planning, leadership, and public policy, as well as doctoral-level institutes for executive education in Sweden and Finland.
The book is available through major online booksellers, including Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and Walmart, in print and digital formats. Hawk’s research aims to illuminate how human-created systems emerged, evolved, and influence relationships between society and the environment, offering insights for policymakers, planners, and scholars.
