Not Knowing: The Art of Turning Uncertainty into Opportunity

by Stephen D'Souza, Diana Renner

Knowledge and expertise are highly valued in today's business world. These values are introduced at an early age by our education system, and at work, we are assessed based on what we know, on having the answers and solutions. Our need for certainty, to know what's going on, to have all the answers, exerts strong pressure in our lives. This award-winning book offers an alternative, contrarian approach to dealing with such pressures - and to embrace "not knowing" rather than fearing it. The authors argue it is by "not knowing" that we in fact develop an exploratory mindset, and we discover, engage and create new ways to deal with business and management problems and issues. The book is supported by stories of individuals and the positive change they made in their lives through "not knowing". Solving new problems with old ways of thinking are no longer useful in the new world.

Genres: Nonfiction

352 pages, Paperback

Published April 15, 2016

Reviews

[Walter Adamson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had mixed feelings. It is clearly written and has a interesting layout. To be honest, I didn't get a lot from the book, but it's definitely not a 3-star.

The book is packed with anecdotes, most of which I found to be only mildly compelling. There are a million illustrations of the worth of "Not Knowing", but I didn’t come away with any big new insights of thought-stoppers.

I found some bits a little odd. For example with reference to Rumsfeld's "known knows" news briefing they invoke an contemporary academic's explanation. Whereas the book is full of references to past scholars and originators of concepts. So I was distracted by wondering why they didn’t just credit this as Johari's Window.

I captured a few notes and enjoyed reading it.

[Gijs Limonard · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is a pretentious string of bland quotes and anecdotes with not a single original insight to be found in these highly stylized pages.
Read the real deal; the Incerto series bij Taleb.

[Marilyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title is my mantra to students and parents. The content and style of the book didn’t suit me.

[Ella87 · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's okay. You can read and learn.

[Samuel CA · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sin lugar a dudas este es uno de los mejores libros que he leído en toda mi vida. Todo los temas que abarca son concretos y tienen cero rastros de ambigüedad que para un libro, a mi opinión, tan complicado de poder escribir es que acerca del "No saber". Los autores hablan acerca de todo los ámbitos; laboral, económico, social, personal y te logran cautivar y hacer reflexionar de conceptos que nunca habías podido haber visto con diferente perspectiva. Definitivamente un libro que vale cada segundo que se le invierta al momento de leerlo.