Seller: Hidden Shelf Books, Vancouver, WA, U.S.A.
Soft cover. Condition: Very Good. R. O. Blechman. (illustrator). 1st Edition. Very Good condition. Original white pictorial wrappers retain strong black and red printing, with mild age toning, light surface rubbing, and minor shelf wear along the edges and corners. The spine remains uncreased. The text block is tight, solid, and square. The book resists opening beyond the first several pages and appears to have received very little use. Pages display uniform age-appropriate toning. The interior is clean and unmarked, with no writing, highlighting, underlining, ownership inscriptions, or bookplates observed. No loose or detached pages. A particularly well-preserved copy of this frequently read paperback edition. First Pocket Books printing, June 1978, and the first mass-market paperback edition of John Gall's enduringly humorous examination of complex systems, organizational behavior, unintended consequences, and institutional failure. Gall presents a series of observations, principles, and cautionary examples explaining why systems frequently behave in ways their creators neither intended nor anticipated. His discussion ranges across business, government, medicine, engineering, transportation, technology, and social organization, combining serious systems analysis with satire and concise aphorisms. The book is illustrated by noted artist and cartoonist R. O. Blechman. Gall's central observations?including the principle commonly associated with his name that successful complex systems generally evolve from simpler functioning systems?have remained relevant to systems engineering, management theory, organizational design, software development, and complexity studies. This copy carries the original Pocket Books cover price of $1.95 and the "Selected by Eleven Book Clubs" cover statement. An attractive, unusually tight and apparently little-read example of a sought-after systems-thinking classic. Offered for collectible, historical, bibliographic, and research purposes only. Hidden Shelf Books does not endorse or verify the claims, legal theories, political views, or instructions contained in this publication. Not legal, tax, financial, or professional advice. Seller Inventory # HSB-1068
Seller: ThriftBooksVintage, Tukwila, WA, U.S.A.
Paperback. Condition: Good. No Jacket. First edition THUS. Shelf and handling wear to cover and binding, with general signs of previous use. Covers show wear and scuffing. All pages intact, binding is sound. Clean and unmarked. Secure packaging for safe delivery. Seller Inventory # 1880673777
Seller: ThriftBooksVintage, Tukwila, WA, U.S.A.
Paperback. Condition: Good. No Jacket. Shelf and handling wear to cover and binding, with general signs of previous use. Covers may have fading and nicks and other signs of wear and imperfection commensurate with age. Binding is tight and structurally sound. Underlining inside text. Sealed in plastic for shipping. Secure packaging for safe delivery. Seller Inventory # 1596401636
Seller: ThriftBooksVintage, Tukwila, WA, U.S.A.
Paperback. Condition: Good. No Jacket. First edition THUS. Shelf and handling wear to cover and binding, with general signs of previous use. Covers show wear and scuffing. All pages intact, binding is sound. Clean and unmarked. Secure packaging for safe delivery. Seller Inventory # 1884399797
Seller: The Book Garden, Bountiful, UT, U.S.A.
Paperback. Condition: Good - Cash. Light reader wear and rubbing to the edges, corners, covers, and pages. The book is in great condition! Previous owner's name(s) inside. The text has underlining and/or notations. Stock photos may not look exactly like the book. Seller Inventory # 1200941
Seller: ThriftBooksVintage, Tukwila, WA, U.S.A.
Paperback. Condition: Good. No Jacket. First edition THUS, first printing. Shelf and handling wear to cover and binding, with general signs of previous use. Covers have light shelf rubbing with scuffing and smudging as well as bumping. Interior covers have age-toning and smudging with foxing. Page edges have age-toning and smudging. Interior pages are age-toned and smudged with foxing. Secure packaging for safe delivery. Seller Inventory # 1679510159
Seller: ThriftBooksVintage, Tukwila, WA, U.S.A.
Paperback. Condition: Good. No Jacket. First edition THUS, first printing. Shelf and handling wear to cover and binding, with general signs of previous use. Wear commensurate with age and use. Clean unmarked copy. Light bumping visible to corners of covers and ends of spine strip. Light scuffing to spine strip. Light creasing along exterior hinges. Secure packaging for safe delivery. Seller Inventory # 1884606039
Seller: The Book Garden, Bountiful, UT, U.S.A.
Paperback. Condition: Good - Cash. General reader wear to the corners, edges, and cover. The covers/corners have some creasing. The pages show some general reader wear as well. There is hi-lighting to the text in red pencil. Black marker to price on front cover. Creased spine. Stock photos may not look exactly like the book. Seller Inventory # 1175442