A More Beautiful Question
How can we re-acquire the faculty of asking questions that we had as children in order to innovate and make progress?
Author(s): Warren Berger
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Date of publication: 2014
Manageris opinion
This book explores the power of asking questions to generate ideas. The journalist and innovation expert Warren Berger points out the utility of asking questions to solve problems, innovate and progress in our professional and personal life. “The spark of questioning” makes it possible to take a fresh look at things. Children have this faculty, but gradually lose it, as schools unfortunately do little to encourage it. This book is wholly devoted to helping us re-acquire this ability in order to capitalize fully on the power of questions--a widespread practice in creative and flourishing companies such as Google, Netflix and Airbnb.
The first chapter shows the utility and the power of asking questions, while encouraging us to ask the question “why” before considering “how.” The second chapter, which reconsiders our capacity to ask questions as children, is more descriptive. We particularly recommend chapters 3 and 4, which describe the steps to follow to ask stimulating questions, as well as applications of this approach in business. The book is illustrated throughout with many examples and concrete cases, making it both interesting and pleasant to read. Highly instructive material for anyone who wishes to master the deceptively simple art of asking questions!
