A More Beautiful Question
February 28, 2017

A More Beautiful Question
By: Warren Berger
What is the Topic or Central Idea?
Berger’s 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.
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. The author takes us inside 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”.
How did you hear about this book?
Amazon recommendation based on previous purchases.
Did this book hook you immediately or take you time to get into?
Because I was looking for better “Why” questions, as well as questions to spur innovation, I was already a motivated reader.
Do you have a favorite quote or passage in the book? Why is this your favorite? What did you learn and take away from this book?
The book outlines a practical Why/What If/How system of inquiry that can guide you through the process of innovative questioning.
I particularly enjoyed the “What if” questions and the results those questions produced. Lots to think about there!
**** Some good take-aways. Not a thrilling read, but worth the time.
Review Submitted by: Jim Watson, Hanson Watson Associates