You and I are participating in a magnificent experiment to see whether Nature's latest wrinkle, the human species armed with its new weapon, intelligence, has survival value. Considering the 100 million species of animals that are estimated to have become extinct since life first appeared on this planet and the large number of other species such as the opossum and cockroach that have survived essentially unchanged for millions of years, even a preliminary celebration by Homo sapiens, with its paltry three hundred thousand years of existence, is premature. If this experiment fails (and the mental health of our species, unbridled terrorism, genetic engineering, pollution, and overpopulation suggest it may), I doubt that Nature will give more than a majestic shrug.

This disinterest is not good enough for me, and I doubt it is good enough for you. As an engineer, I am interested in the most effective way to cause the changes I feel are desirable. Would you establish global peace or squelch an impending family feud? Would you improve your nation or modify your local government? Would you feed the one quarter of the world population that goes to bed hungry or decide what to serve for dinner? If so, the world is not as you would have it, and you too are interested in a method for change.

The overall goal of this book is to develop a compelling definition of the universal method that is, to define the method you should use, indeed, the one you...