A truly wonderful book has just hit the stands: Ken Watanabe's Problem Solving 101. If you like The Back of the Napkin's approach to looking at the world, you owe it to yourself to get this book.
I don't know Ken, but I was introduced to his book through my own publisher, who sent me a review copy a few months back. The moment that I looked at it, I felt I had found a kindred spirit. Ken is a former McKinsey consultant who decided to take a consultant's holistic problem-solving approach and apply it to the Japanese education system.
Apparently, there has been a lot of discussion in Japan these last few years that much of that nation's economic stagnation can be blamed on a school system that relies almost entirely on rote memorization. Rather than learning "how" to think, many in Japan thought their kids were only being taught "what" to think. The result is poorly developed innovation and critical thinking skills.
So Ken wrote Problem Solving 101 as an inspiring way to show kids the fun of solving problems. What no one expected was that the book would so appeal to grown-ups in business that it would instantly become a business bestseller in Japan. After 350,000 copies sold in Japanese in the first months, the book was picked up by Portfolio in the US. And now we have a great new resource.
It's always potentially questionable to so enthusiastically promote something from one's own company. In this case I'm willing to take the risk. This is a book we should all read.
I hadn't seen this book yet, but it is definitely needed here in Japan. Both in the school system and in business.
Posted by: Common Japanese words | April 13, 2009 at 09:33 PM
Nice :-).
Posted by: BAE | March 24, 2009 at 06:18 PM
I pick one from bookstore..
simply because :
1. Dan Roam Comment..
2. one of visual thinking book must-have..
;)
Posted by: Syaiful from Jakarta (Indonesia) | March 23, 2009 at 08:20 AM