A More Beautiful Question: The Power of Inquiry to Spark Breakthrough Ideas

Description

In this groundbreaking book, journalist and innovation expert Warren Berger shows that one of the most powerful forces for igniting change in business and in our daily lives is a simple, under-appreciated tool--one that has been available to us since childhood. Questioning--deeply, imaginatively, "beautifully"--can help us identify and solve problems, come up with game-changing ideas, and pursue fresh opportunities. So why are we often reluctant to ask "Why?" Berger's surprising findings reveal that even though children start out asking hundreds of questions a day, questioning "falls off a cliff" as kids enter school. In an education and business culture devised to reward rote answers over challenging inquiry, questioning isn't encouraged--and, in fact, is sometimes barely tolerated. And yet, as Berger shows, the most creative, successful people tend to be expert questioners. They've mastered the art of inquiry, raising questions no one else is asking--and finding powerful answers. The author takes us inside red-hot businesses like Google, Netflix, IDEO, and Airbnb to show how questioning is baked into their organizational DNA. He also shares inspiring stories of artists, teachers, entrepreneurs, basement tinkerers, and social activists who changed their lives and the world around them--by starting with a "beautiful question."

Warren Berger has studied the world's leading innovators, entrepreneurs, and creative thinkers to learn how they ask questions, generate original ideas, and solve problems. His writing has appeared in Fast Company, Harvard Business Review, and Wired. He is the author of the internationally acclaimed book Glimmer, and has appeared on NBC's "Today Show," ABC "World News," CNN, and NPR's "All Things Considered." He lives with his wife Laura E. Kelly in Westchester, New York. www.AMoreBeautifulQuestion.com.

Questions have literally moved mountains, powered rockets, and instantly developed images . . . Berger focuses on what he calls 'Beautiful Questions' . . . 'that can lead to game-changing answers and results. These are questions that, once raised, tend to get people thinking in a different way. -- Steven Heller * The Atlantic * A fascinating look at the power of questioning to ignite change--in our companies, schools, careers, and in our daily lives. * Huffington Post * One closes Berger's book newly conscious of the significance of smart questions. * The New York Times Book Review * We know that the art of asking questions is at the heart of discovery in science, philosophy, medicine--so why don't we extend that power to all areas of our lives? The thoughtful, provocative questions Warren Berger raises in this book are indeed the kind of 'beautiful questions' that can help us identify the right problems and generate creative solutions. -- Daniel Pink, New York Times bestselling author of DRIVE and TO SELL IS HUMAN This potential game-changer will help readers identify where opportunities lie and how to seize them. * Publishers Weekly * This thought-provoking book offers important insights. * Booklist * A practical testament to the significance of the questioning mind. * Kirkus Reviews * In the old economy, it was all about having the answers. But in today's dynamic, lean economy, it's more about asking the right questions. A More Beautiful Question is about figuring out how to ask, and answer, the questions that can lead to new opportunities and growth. -- Eric Ries, New York Times bestselling author of THE LEAN STARTUP In this wise book, Warren Berger shows us how crucial it is to question every aspect of our lives, from business to school to our choice of toothpaste. My question: Why wouldn't you read this book? -- A.J. Jacobs, New York Times bestselling author and Esquire columnist The genesis of many great startups is the simple question, 'Wouldn't it be cool if?' Warren Berger helps you understand the power of questions to change the world. Real men ask questions, they don't spout out answers. -- Guy Kawasaki, former chief evangelist at Apple and author of APE: AUTHOR, PUBLISHER, ENTREPRENEUR