The internet has turned me into a skimmer and as it has done that, my ability to focus has slowly gone down hill as well. To reverse this trend, I have started a new reading regime – 20 minutes in the morning and 20 minutes at night. I am getting through books quite quickly now so I thought “by heck, why don’t I do reviews on them so others will know if they are worth reading or not”. This is my first attempt at a book review.
The first book I have stormed through is “Why Not?”
by Barry Nalebuff and Ian Ayres.
This book provides a toolkit of methods for solving problems using everyday ingenuity. The book wants to turn us all into super problem solvers.
First, a run down of the books structure…
- Broken up into 4 main sections – a preamble and then 3 sections on the different types of problem solving techniques: “Problems in Search of Solutions”, “Solutions in Search of Problems” and “Problem Solving with Purpose”
- Within the last 3 main sections, techniques for solving problems are discussed in each chapter such as “What Would Croesus Do?” and “Would flipping it work?”
- One problem-solving technique per chapter
- There are a few problems to solve in chapter 7, “Principled Problem Solving”
- The number of case studies and examples increases the further you get into the book
I underline things which I think are important in a book so generally, if I have underlined lots of stuff in a book it is good and if I haven’t underlined much, it is bad. I didn’t underline too much in this book but that doesn’t mean it was a bad book. You see, “Why not?” is filled with a tonne of case studies throughout and I don’t, for the most part, underline bits of case studies. So although I haven’t underlined a tonne of this book, I still think it is a great book.
Why? Well, why not? Because it really gets the reader involved. The authors have made a real attempt to not only teach but to get you to do. This can be seen blatantly in the last chapter – “It is your job now to go forth, share these ideas…”. They have even built an accompanying website where you can share your ideas and get feedback from other people. Their desire to get you to go out and make a difference probably comes from their background. Both authors are Yale professors, so this book comes with plenty of academical clout as well.
Don’t be put off by that though, the content is really accesible and everything is explained thoroughly throughout.
I enjoyed the book from cover to cover. It isn’t too long at 214 pages and an average of 403 words per page. I got through it in about a week of reading it for 40 minutes per day. And anyways, it is scannable. There are lots of headings and box outs throughout to help you find the information you want – you don’t have to read the whole thing.
This is a great book from two highly respected lecturers and authors. It doesn’t just teach, it gets you involved in attempting to solve some of their sample problems. It isn’t too word heavy and is scannable. Great book.
(Book Review) “Why not?” By Barry Nalebuff and Ian Ayres
The first book I have stormed through is “Why Not?”
by Barry Nalebuff and Ian Ayres.
This book provides a toolkit of methods for solving problems using everyday ingenuity. The book wants to turn us all into super problem solvers.
First, a run down of the books structure…
I underline things which I think are important in a book so generally, if I have underlined lots of stuff in a book it is good and if I haven’t underlined much, it is bad. I didn’t underline too much in this book but that doesn’t mean it was a bad book. You see, “Why not?” is filled with a tonne of case studies throughout and I don’t, for the most part, underline bits of case studies. So although I haven’t underlined a tonne of this book, I still think it is a great book.
Why? Well, why not? Because it really gets the reader involved. The authors have made a real attempt to not only teach but to get you to do. This can be seen blatantly in the last chapter – “It is your job now to go forth, share these ideas…”. They have even built an accompanying website where you can share your ideas and get feedback from other people. Their desire to get you to go out and make a difference probably comes from their background. Both authors are Yale professors, so this book comes with plenty of academical clout as well.
Don’t be put off by that though, the content is really accesible and everything is explained thoroughly throughout.
I enjoyed the book from cover to cover. It isn’t too long at 214 pages and an average of 403 words per page. I got through it in about a week of reading it for 40 minutes per day. And anyways, it is scannable. There are lots of headings and box outs throughout to help you find the information you want – you don’t have to read the whole thing.
This is a great book from two highly respected lecturers and authors. It doesn’t just teach, it gets you involved in attempting to solve some of their sample problems. It isn’t too word heavy and is scannable. Great book.