The Book of Beautiful Questions: The Powerful Questions That Will Help You Decide, Create, Connect, and Lead

The book is written in an engaging style, I loved the little summaries and the downloadable PDF q-cards. Primary value was in the pragmatic nature of how to create great questions as well as the exercises.

Really liked it. Great book and concept!

'The Book of Beautiful Questions' can be summarised into 8 mental models: 1. COMMITMENT & CONSISTENCY BIAS +Jeff Bezos says 'if you have a conviction....even if there is no consensus say: "Look, I know we disagree on this but will you gamble with me on it? [can we disagree and commit?] 2. EMOTIONS: FEAR +We are happier when we make bolder choices. Steven Levitt conducted a study using people who were in the process of making a difficult decision. These people agreed to use a coin flip to decide if they would go ahead with their decision, if it landed heads they would say "yes". 6 months later he found that the "yes/heads" people were significantly happier than the "no/tails" people. When left to our devices we are too risk-averse and say no too often. +To overcome our risk aversion tendency: (instead of using a coin) use a weighted question: If I am usually better off saying yes to bold opportunities, why wouldn't I say yes to this one? 3. FIRST CONCLUSION BIAS +Scientific studies do not support the idea of following your gut instincts. You will be wrong more than you are right. +Asking: "And what else?"... encourages people to think more and go beyond the obvious answers and conclusions. 4. LANGUAGE INSTINCT +To become a better listener ask: (I) "Just to make sure I am understanding, are you saying...." (ii) "Can I try and explain what I think your position is- and then you can do the same for me? Because until we can accurately present one another's arguments, we do not know what the other is saying" (iii) Repeat back a few words that the person has said in the form of a question. 5. LIKING +If you ask more questions you become more likable. 6. NARRATIVE INSTINCT +The Journalist Mindset - Before going to a gathering tell yourself: I am going to go to this event as a journalist, looking for stories about the people I meet. +We are too short-termist in our thinking. To overcome this ask yourself: Which decision will make for a better story in 5 years? 7. NEWTON'S 3RD LAW: ACTION & REACTION +Ask Don't Sell - People put up their defenses when they think you are trying to sell them something. When you ask questions you build a relationship. 8. TENDENCY TO MINIMISE ENERGY OUTPUT +Daniel Kahneman found that "people who face a difficult question, often answer an easier one instead."

Ich habe das Buch gekauft, weil ich mich sehr für Fragetechniken interessiere und ich bin begeistert. Das Buch ist sehr umfangreich und gut verständlich geschrieben. Es zeigt auf, wie man gute Fragen in allen Lebensbereichen nutzen kann. Es hilft mir zum Beispiel durch Fragen, die ich mir selbst stelle, bessere Entscheidungen zu treffen. Im Umgang mit anderen Menschen ist es so möglich, tiefere Verbindungen aufzubauen und Dingen wirklich auf den Grund zu gehen, indem ich eben nicht die langweiligen Allerweltsfragen (z.B. Wie gehts? oder ähnliches) stelle, sondern gute Fragen, die mein Gegenüber zum Erzählen bringen. Was mir besonders gut gefallen hat: anstelle jemanden zu kritisieren, nutzt man bestimmte Fragen, um den anderen zum Nachdenken anzuregen, was nicht so gut gelaufen oder was zu verbessern ist. Also wieder etwas Neues gelernt. Ich kann das Buch sehr empfehlen.

leitura incrivel! uma otima reflexão para o trabalho e vida

The only slight downside to this book is the over use in my view of other people's views I love the index of questions at the end and that they are downloadable to. Overall I have no doubt that this book is a ever usable resource. The big beautiful question (bbq) is a classic.

This is a must read book for any questioner like me.

Great