Power Of Why, The

by Amanda Lang

The urge to question is natural for small children—just ask any parent. But few of us are aware that it is also one of the most vital tools for success. In The Power of Why, Amanda Lang shows how curiosity and the ability to ask the right questions fuels innovation and can drive change not just in business but also in our personal lives.

Weaving together the latest research with in-depth profiles of innovators from around the world, Lang explores how to harness and develop the power of curiosity. She reveals how a major retailer set out to discover what really makes men happy—and was stunned by the results. She finds out why, at one particular hospital, nurses think it’s better if they don’t wash their hands. She learns why the most common methods of brainstorming don’t actually work and discovers a new soccer ball that could change the world.

A book that challenges conventional wisdom and offers practical, inspiring advice, The Power of Why shows how it’s possible to reignite your innate curiosity and overcome long-standing barriers—leaving you more creative, productive and fulfilled in your job and happier in your relationships.

Genres: Nonfiction, Business, Psychology, Self Help, Canada, Leadership, Personal Development

288 pages, Paperback

First published October 9, 2012

Reviews

[Vikki VanSickle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I saw Amanda Lang speak and was immediately charmed by her. I am so pleased that her book is just as inviting as Lang is as a person. The book has a conversational, friendly tone and is full of interesting anecdotes about innovation in business that Lang then applies to everyday life. I don't read a ton of business books, and while business types will enjoy this book, THE POWER OF WHY fits more in the Malcolm Gladwell niche of narrative non-fiction with mass appeal. I found myself jotting down notes and things I want to apply as a writer and in my job. A breezy, interesting and insightful read for anyone who is curious about innovation and creativity.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ever just had to know? Does your child end every conversation with “why?” The Power of Why by CBC correspondent Amanda Lang explores the connections between curiosity and innovation. From shrimp farmers to Canadian Tire, Lang explains how curiosity-driven enterprises find success. Lang opens with a gripping story of an inventor who couldn’t resist testing his invention before she embarks on a whirlwind tour of contemporary innovators, including some great Canadian success stories like Lululemon, Roots, and the Four Seasons. There's so much in here that the book reads like a wide-ranging conversation with an enthusiast for curiosity. No doubt Lang's day-job working with businessmen and entrepreneurs contributes to her own curiosity, but she does a great job of sharing her enthusiasm and pushing her readers to question their work and lives. Check out this book. I think it's going to become a Canadian classic.

I'm on Twitter: @Dr_A_Taubman

[Patrik Bystrom · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the first 80, or so, pages of this book - after that it became to business-y for me. I totally understand this transition as Lang is a business correspondent. However, for me as an educator and a parent the opening third was fascinating.

The educational thinking echoes that now famous through people like Sir Ken Robinson about today's school being yesterday's and not the school of the future. It was particularly interesting to follow her argument about how our Ivy league schools are losing their quality because of the type of students they attract. Students who are taught to master the game of "intellectual hide-and-seek" (trying to find the answer their teacher is looking for rather than think for themselves) gain great grades and attend Ivy league schools. At these schools they attend lectures where one professor holds all the knowledge and releases pieces of it to 300 students at a time in giant lectures. This does not create innovative, risk-taking, future-focused individuals. Consequently as a parent we may be better off choosing a lower-tiered university.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and well researched and annotated book about innovation. Many relevant anecdotes from the world of business are well used in the book

[Maisie Harrison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good ideas in a stories and motivational format. Could use more details and critique.

[Madelle Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an accessible book that describes how several companies successfully incorporated innovation into their corporate cultures, and describes what happened to those that were complacent. The author names names.

The key takeaway for me was Amanda Lang's proposition that creative thinking is suppressed from a young age due to the focus on grades in our schools and universities. Those kids grow up to be compliant employees who are reluctant to take the risk of "being wrong", question rigid corporate processes, or speak out against the general consensus of their peers and management.

All is not lost for the person who has gone through the Canadian education system, however. Amanda says that people can develop divergent thinking by living in another country for a period of time. Apparently travel to foreign climes is not sufficient - one has to be immersed in the culture. My proposition to Canadian business students: no need to go overseas. Study in Quebec for a semester or two!

Managers in businesses that are still owned by Canadians need to read this book, if only to avoid being one of Amanda's case studies of failure in her next book.

People who invest their hard-earned money in company stocks need to read this book. Innovative companies are survivors in a world that's constantly changing.

[Chantal Boudreau · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fortunate enough to receive a copy of this book because Ms. Lang was a keynote speaker at this year’s CMA conference in Nova Scotia. The book discusses the importance of innovative thinking, which includes trying to recapture the type of curiosity we had as a young child before the industrial-era-developed school systems we still have place in our innovation-era world killed that curiosity. It touches on the need for divergent thought, the ability to explore many answers rather than just focussing on the one “right” answer and the freedom to fail in order to be able to create.

I love the concepts in this book as well as the case studies of a variety of innovators and examples where divergent thinking and a willingness to move beyond accepted norms allowed for new inventions that did change or may change entire industries.

My only minor complaints is that I did find the book a little repetitive in places (possibly for the sake of reinforcing important points) and I didn’t like the emphasis on competitiveness over cooperation - I guess because I have “too Canadian” a mentality.

-A very good read for someone studying business, interested in innovation or just looking for some inspirational and positive stories.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a easy to read short book on the importance of business innovation and how it is driven by curiosity and hard work. The Canadian slant is a nice change since it offers a refreshing variety of anecdotes that likely haven't appeared in other books on this topic.
The importance of curiosity, the need to identify and challenge your assumptions as well as the status quo are all addressed in this book. I especially enjoyed the end section on Quest University in British Columbia where the teaching style is designed to curiosity instead of memorization. It would be interesting if these students are tracked and see if they have an impact on the work they do in the future.

[Julia Cheung · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lang explores an idea that in itself isn’t really new. It’s fascinating and can be consistently reapplied: the idea that if we don’t ask “why”, we are dead in the water. I get a little stuck when she parallels Eve’s “innocent exploration” of how an apple tastes with an “innocent drive to innovate”. But for the most part, Lang makes valid points about the necessity of innovation. When we stop experimenting and asking questions, we fail to grow, thrive and move forward. Technology is accelerating—so must we.

Her book is full of personal anecdotes (she ‘innovated’ a way to jog up a long hill without stopping: she stops before the ascent to catch her breath) and stories of entrepreneurship (why didn’t the new Coke work? Why did Kodak fail? How did shrimp researcher Addison Lawson figure out a way to increase production and thereby contribute towards the problem of world hunger? Why did Toronto business, Prairie Girl Cupcakes, succeed?). Lang is at her best when she traces her journey through a momentous career change as a young adult. It took a lot of experimentation, self-reflection and the asking of hard questions for Lang to make the leap from architecture to journalism. Evidently, we the reader get to benefit from the effects of that particular innovative moment. Point made.

It’s an inspiring read. Mind you, the book critiques current educational systems without really showing the long-term gains of innovative educational systems (it only gives one example of ‘innovative education’: BC’s Quest University) and Lang sometimes mixes up causation with correlation. Nevertheless, she makes you want to look at life with eyes wide open. You never have to throw your hands up in frustrated defeat because according to studies, creativity is a learned trait, not just an inherited one.

She encourages us to be analytical and to dream beyond the bounds of reality — minus cynicism, minus pessimism. This is, in fact, a very biblical mindset and a drive that reverberates the wisdom of Phil 4:13, “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead”.

As Christ-followers, we must of course negotiate the very delicate balance between submitting to authority and asking challenging, innovative questions to figure out how to make life better for society at large. It’s in our ethic and our worldview to value both tradition and innovation. And it’s dangerous to demonize one or the other. May God give us wisdom to wield both wisely.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book. Curiosity is key to creativity and innovation. Lots of interesting anecdotes although some of them don’t quite fit. It seemed like the editing could have been better. Curiosity needs to be used to take action.

It reminds me of the freakeconomics book chapter around thinking like a child. Asking why and seeing the world with the curiosity of a child but the abilities of an adult to take action is one theme.

It also touches on a number of innovation research in an approachable way. For example, it talks about the pioneer vs builder innovation questionnaire. Do you prefer to create some5hing new or improve something that already exists?

Overall, it’s been helpful in encouraging me to continue to be curious and clarifies that creativity and innovation comes in different flavours.

[Marc · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an outstanding book - exceedingly well written - and made interesting with lots of short demonstrative stories that are easy to relate to. I was especially impressed with all that Amanda Lang had to say about education and how it affects us later in life. We’re all programmed to spew out whatever answer teachers and professors want to hear, yet discouraged from asking questions. Schools and universities have been turned into diploma mills instead institutions of education. They’ve lost their way. The results are clear: we’ve lost our sense of curiosity and innovation. We have all become risk averse, afraid to stick our necks out ... in case we fail.

This is a book I plan to re-read in a few weeks. I’m convinced that I’ll get even more out of it then than I have on first reading. Now one of my favorite business books. Highly recommended.

[Marilyn Gardiner · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not enjoy this book. I read it only because someone recommended it to me. It certainly is a well-researched book and has some interesting stories in it. I’m not saying it’s a bad book - just not my cup of tea. My use of the English language is pretty clean and so it was hard for me to read quotes by people whose choice words add no value to conversations. That being said, I found some ideas intriguing which gave me food for thought and I’m thankful for that!

[Mark Donovan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well written book. Lots of great examples to back up her generalizations. The Canadian examples were neat because I hadn't heard many of those stories before. (Eg. Canadian Tire marketing chapter) However, there are too many accessible business/sociology/psychology books with better stories and better researched: Gladwell, Grant, Thinking Fast and Slow, Nudge, Grit, Quiet etc. I'd recommend first.

[Gordon Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very engaging and easy read but backed by a great deal of research. Amanda is a skilled story-teller and uses those skills effectively to weave together a collections of short biographies supported by the single theme about some extraordinary people who dared to question the conventional wisdom/theories and by doing so broke through what had been considered barriers. Very inspirational and thought provoking. A very good read.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

finally a good book I can get behind. This book reignited my love for learning and for reading as well. this will forever be on my bookshelf and has an index at the end which I love. I can't wait to raise my kids with the knowledge I acquired from this book, and to help others understand the importance of asking questions. I felt like the book was directed for people like me as the audience. love it

[Jacob Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

The difference between a good life and a bad one, is asking the right questions.
Don’t be a blockbuster.
Great examples of unlocking the mind, unleashing creativity, figuring yourself out, divergent thinking, playing, having fun, and actually making a difference in whatever you do and b life.
Wouldn’t need to read this twice, but loved the read.

[Clay Nichols · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good insights. Too many anecdotes for me

It's s standard formula these day: give an insight and then a supporting anecdote . The anecdotes were good but I didn't need them and they were 90% if the book.

[Niko Hyppönen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Miksi uteliaisuus on hyödyllistä? Siihen tämä kirja pyrkii vastaamaan ja samalla ravistelemaan keksimiseen liittyviä myyttejä. Vaikka joku asia olisi aina tehty tietyllä tavalla, sille ei välttämättä ole perusteita. Toisaalta pelkkä muutos ei ole hyväksi. Vain muutos parempaan on hyväksi.

[Sasha Gollish · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book over the course of the fall in between some other reads. I enjoyed Ms Lang’s direct approach with stories along the way. Curiosity is one of my favorite traits and values so enjoyed reading her view on this topic.

[ATHAR · Rating 4 out of 5]

GOOD BOOK

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thought provoking, insightful, inspiring.

[Alexander K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some amazing stories to back up the power of why.

[Dan T · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great collection of Case Studies from inventors, scientists, marketers, and business who wanted to innovate the world.

[Jeff Cripwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book for personal life and or business. every parent should read this.

[Kelly Greenwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full of good suggestions to keep us from being confined by what has worked in the past. Ask lots of questions; challenge assumptions and the status quo; be an innovator.

[Katherine]

susan's rec

[Logan Pike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read! Definitely has some good lessons for thinking innovatively and invoking your curiosity that might’ve been lost growing out of childhood.

[Jeff Smyth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amanda is one who think in the outer limits. She is a trailblazer and this book is a good reminder to remain focused on the big picture while accomplishing the minute details/tasks of the goals. Some what preachy but overall a fun read.

[Umugaba · Rating 4 out of 5]

Taking paragraphs from the book:

One thing is for sure: without self-compassion, it's much more difficult to move beyond assumptions and think innovately about problems. It feels risky and uncomfortable to press control-alt-delete because it's almost certain you're going to make some errors, and that would be embarrassing. But paradoxically, the less willing you are to make mistakes, the more likely you may be to make them because you've narrowed your mind and drastically reduced your openness to new opportunities. This is one mistake innovators don't make.

more to come

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

When do we lose that sense of curiosity and wonder that we had when we were children? You know, that constant questioning of "why?" and the ability to fail without fear?

Amanda Lang explains, "Curiousity declines from one grade to the next ... The reason is that, by and large, the education system (aided and abetted by many parents and governments) doesn't celebrate, much less tap into, children's hunger to explore, inquire and discover. The system simply isn't set up to do that. School were designed at the turn of the nineteenth century to meet the needs of a completely different economy, which required workers who'd been equipped with a reliable, standardized package of knowledge."

In today's world of very fast paced changes and technology, there's a huge need for creative innovation, for questionning the way things work and coming up with something new. It's time to look outside the box.

But, if our children are having their natural curiousity trained out of them, then how can we encourage it to continue?

This book is packed with example after example of free-thinking innovators and their experiences in creativity, grabbing at you and keeping you turning page after page, as they are painted by Amanda's pen in full-colour. You get to hear about people/companies like Canadian Tire, a man determined to make saws safe, a shrimp farmer, elevator experts and more - all who developed and redeveloped new ideas and ways to do things. The stories are captivating, interesting, inspiring, and leave you trying to think of how you can follow their example in your own life.

"...[A]llow yourself to dream big, forgive yourself when you don't quite get there and then try another path."

This book has given me pause as a homeschooling parent to make sure that I encourage the questions, feed their curiousity, support their efforts for finding solutions, and remind them that failure doesn't mean the end.

I think this quote from the movie Meet The Robinsons is exactly what this book is encouraging us to do:

"Around here, however, we don't look backwards for very long. We keep moving forward, opening up new doors and doing new things... and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths. - Walt Disney"