Ask More: The Power of Questions to Open Doors, Uncover Solutions, and Spark Change

by Frank Sesno, Wolf Blitzer (Foreword)

Questions help us break down barriers, discover secrets, solve puzzles, and imagine new ways of doing things. But few of us know how to question in a methodical way. Emmy-award-winning journalist and media expert Frank Sesno aims to change that with Ask More. From questions that cement relationships, to those that help us plan for the future, each chapter in Ask More explores a different type of inquiry. By the end of the book, you'll know what to ask and when, what you should listen for, and what you can expect as the outcome. Both intriguing and inspiring, Ask More shows how questions convey interest, feed curiosity, and reveal answers that can change the course of both your professional and personal life.

Genres: Nonfiction, Business, Self Help, Psychology, Leadership, Communication, Audiobook

272 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2017

About the author

FRANK SESNO is a former CNN anchor, White House correspondent, and Washington bureau chief, and is now director of the School of Media and Public Affairs at The George Washington University. He has interviewed dozens of world leaders, including five U.S. presidents, and is the creator of Planet Forward, an innovative forum seeking solutions to some of the world’s toughest challenges.

Reviews

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an executive business coach and consultant I work hard to continuously improve my ability to ask powerful questions so I was really excited when I read about this book. The author, Frank Sesno shares his vast and deep knowledge based on his experiences as a journalist, talk show host and professor. After finishing it I found it a good basic primer for why and how to ask questions that is written in an engaging manner with interesting anecdotes to support the author’s recommendations. The book outlines a broad array of opportunities to hone your question asking skills from the obvious such as interviewing or being interviewed to solving challenging problems to unleashing creativity in yourself and others or hosting an engaging dinner party. I especially enjoyed the section on listening as it included some great questions to ask yourself to uncover what type of listener you are. What was missing was how to overcome your current listening challenges. One acronym I recently learned was W.A.I.T - Why Am I Talking. I have a post-note with this acronym on my laptop as a constant reminder.

I thought the last chapter, a summary of the types of questions to ask for different situations, was a great reference tool as you work to incorporate this new skill into your daily life. If you want to be a better leader, host or everyday conversationalist I recommend reading this book and then I recommend reading a good book on how to change a behavior and create a new habit. Asking powerful questions and becoming a stronger listener requires a behavior change. Behavior changes are very hard; fortunately there are many great books on this topic!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an early release of this book.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the idea what we can use questions strategically. His categories are very thoughtful. My big beef is that the book promises it is teaching how to use questions, when really, it just proposed a lot of ideas. Most of the stories/anecdotes he uses don't really go in-depth enough to see how the person used questions to achieve their goal; they mostly just highlight how connected the author is.

Anyway, an interesting read. I find myself thinking about it a lot after finishing, but was disappointed as I read.

[Ronald J. · Rating 2 out of 5]

My expectations were much higher for this book, since Warren Berger, author of A Better Question blurbed it. I recommend you read Berger's book instead of this one. Sesno is a former CNN anchorman and his leftist political views bleed through this book, which is especially funny on climate change since he has a chapter on asking scientific questions and explains that science is all about doubt (except for climate change, where it seems to be about consensus).

[Yaryna Zhukorska · Rating 3 out of 5]

Хм, це, напевно, крайня книжка російською, яка ще загубилася з давніх часів на моїх полицях)

Якщо відверто, посередня.
Її, можливо, цікаво буде читати людям, які мало комунікують з іншими, мають проблеми в комунікації, не цікавилися ближче тематикою комунікацій та дотичних з нею (наприклад, конфліктологією чи методикою проведення допитів 😅).

Люди, які отримували від мене в месенджерах запитання «А як ти ставишся до одностатевих шлюбів?» та «Як ти думаєш, американці літали на Місяць?», дякую за терпіння та розуміння))
Я знала, кого таке можна спитати ні з того, ні з сього 🙈
Це по ходу книжки у мене виникали суперечки з автором😅 (це відповідь на твоє питання «з чого такі теми»)))

📌 Задавайте прямі питання, щоб отримати прямі відповіді.

📌 Що би ви робили, якби знали, що не можете програти?

#451deepreadig

[Darren · Rating 4 out of 5]

You should love questions and never be afraid of posing them (or receiving them)! This reviewer takes every oppoity to ask something, even if there is not a goal or specific purpose in mind. Idle curiosity can be enough. That said, the right question at the right time can be the spark that sets off change and leads to better things.

This book could be described as a guide to questions, explaining why you should not fear them. It encourages you to use questions, pointing out how smart and successful people get ahead and, yes, you’ve guessed it, questioning is part of it! It may seem obvious to a curious person, such as this author, and perhaps the love of questioning and being nosey helped steer his career path, but for others asking a question can be a somewhat fearful event. By the end of reading this book, hopefully the reader will be disabused of this notion and will start to want to ramp up their questioning habit or refine their habit to greater effect.

Many questions can be strategic, others are more background-building. The answers hopefully given can inspire further questions, research, fire curiosity and focus a future path of action. They can also work to help pour deserved cold water on an idea or notion. Sometimes the best answers are negative ones to a question that you had perhaps hoped should have been greeted with enthusiasm and positivity. It might be a bit like the old comment about body odour, only a best friend or partner may honestly answer a direct question about your freshness.

This reasonably priced book can give a lot, should you need what it has on offer. For some, such as this reviewer, it is preaching to the converted yet it did not come over as boring, talking down to the reader or patronising. Clearly it can be capable being of a great help and inspiration to many and certainly worthy of closer consideration.

Let me ask a couple of questions… What is there not to like about this book? What do you have to lose by checking it out?

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is for individuals who really want to hone their questioning techniques and delve into topics (like a reporter). There are chapters for the different categories of questions: diagnostic, strategic, empathy, bridging, confrontational, creativity, mission, scientific, interview, entertaining, and legacy. Within each chapter are profiles of individuals (many well-known), how they employ various questioning techniques, and the successful outcomes of persistently asking the right questions. There is a wide variety of examples spanning different industries and circumstances. Not all the chapters will be pertinent to a reader but it does illustrate how good questions can get the heart of a situation.

[Kim Staley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had mixed feelings about this book. I liked that Sesno categorized the question types. I like to ask a lot of questions, but hadn't really thought about categorizing them in that way before. I also found the short descriptions at the beginning of each chapter, along with the example questions, to be useful. However, as too often happens in these combination business/self-help kind of books, I didn't find the anecdotes to be especially enlightening. In fact, I wish that I had looked at the table of contents sooner. I probably would have skipped most of the book and just read the summary at the end. It would have saved me time and trouble!

[Jezzeri]

Diagnostic questioning is the ground floor of inquiry. It is the foundation on which other questions are built. It pinpoints a problem and provides a roadmap for response. Diagnostic questioning identifies a problem then burrows down to its roots, especially when those roots are not instantly obvious.

Strategic questions are deceptively simple questions that illuminate complex decisions characterized by great risk or uncertainty. They are healthy questions that call for answers about purpose and the big picture.

Empathy questions focus unselfishly and spring from genuine interest. The simple act of asking, of listening without comment or judgment and letting a silence linger, invites a person to reflect or think out loud. It might even prompt a revelation. Empathetic questioning helps you connect with others. Use this when you want to want to reach out to someone who comes from a different place, background, or perspective. Try new shoes (take the perspective of another person), leave running room (start with big broad questions to get people talking), listen beyond words (listen for cues, tone, mood; pauses and hesitation also have meaning; so do body language, facial expressions, and eye contact), and establish intimate distance (convey compassion and interest, but maintain enough distance and detachment so you don't judge and can offer objective questions or advice).

Bridging questions get a closed person to open up. Use periodic "micro-affirmations" to keep the other talking and on track by signaling interest in almost imperceptible movements, gestures, or sounds. These micro-affirmations reinforce without interrupting or distracting. They signal that you are engaged and sympathetic. Some questions work best when they don't end in a question mark (Tell me more; explain that to me; go on; that's remarkable; fascinating). Use echo questions to use the other person's own words for emphasis and as a followup question. Add inflection to suit the mood--sympathy, surprise, and humor. Bridge-building questions work best when people are at cognitive ease and feel they have a receptive audience. You can achieve this effect without questions by making use of words or expressions you have just heard, by listening for entry points, and by careful affirmation of difficult or irrational thoughts. You build the bridge, one piece, one question at a time.

Confrontational questions must be approached from a position of strength. If you've done your homework, are prepared to stand up to the pressure of the encounter, and have crafted your questions so that you succinctly express the problem and the challenge, you can take the high ground and demand answers. Effective confrontational questioners have to be fast and uncompromising listeners.

Creativity questions prompt our imaginations. Creativity questions have an almost magical capacity to transport people to a different time, place, or perspective. Creative, disruptive thinkers are unafraid to ask questions that push the bounds of the present and the possible. They see the world differently and challenge it profoundly. Creativity questions are daring, liberating queries that invite you to stick your head in the clouds, ask more of everyone, and imagine just how far you can go.

Mission questions ask more of everybody. They help you draw people into a genuine conversation about shared goals and what everyone can bring to task. They help you convey your priorities. They require you to talk less and listen more. Connect passion to mission and you can generate excitement and meaningful involvement.

Scientific questions drives a process that revolves around data, experimentation, and observable fact. Steps: 1. Observe a problem, frame a question 2. Offer an explanation (put together a clear hypothesis that could explain the situation) 3. Put your hypothesis to the test (experiment and measure over time).

Job interview questions fall into two constructs: what you have done (behavioral) and what you will do (situational). Behavioral questions dig into lessons that time and experience have imparted. Situational questions seek to reveal how a candidate would look forward and respond to a potential decision or situation.

Entertaining questions allow you to engage your audience and keep the conversation interesting and lively. Start with open-ended questions, then ask about examples and encourage stories. Make room for reflection, humor, and emotion.

Legacy questions ask what we've accomplished or changed and inquire about the lives we've touched. They are questions about meaning, spirituality, lessons learned, gratitude, regrets, people and purpose. By asking them early and often, we take stock of our lives and check our bearings and seek balance. These questions open the door for reflection and resolution. They can be existential or spiritual. They seek context. Legacy questions ask about meaning and gratitude, mistakes and adversity. You gain perspective from these questions by starting at the end. Legacy questions travel with us. If we have the courage to ask them, they help us get the bearings and write out story. If we listen closely to our answers, we gain perspective.

In conclusion, questions are our way to connect with other human beings. Inquiry is the sincerest form of flattery. Ask a good question and you convey interest. Slow down, listen closely, and ask more and you engage at a deeper level. You show that you care. You generate trust. You empathize and you bridge differences. You become better, and you shape the future.

[Susan Csoke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ask More>>The Power of Questions is a very good read. Gaining power and knowledge is as simple as asking the right question at the right time. You will get answers>>solutions>>discover secrets>>solve puzzles and break down barriers. THANK YOU GOOD READS FIRST READS FOR THIS FREE BOOK!!!!!

[Kathy Cowie · Rating 3 out of 5]

To be reviewed in the May-June issue of Global Business and Organizational Excellence.

[Mukesh Gupta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book about the power of questions.. WOuld recommend this to anyone who has to ask as part of their jobs or want to become interesting...

[Steva Vasara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh would be a compliment. Pompous and self-aggrandizing.

[Chris Esposo · Rating 2 out of 5]

A light overview on the craft of asking questions, mostly in a formal setting, business meetings, interviews, other professional exchanges etc., though it touches on personal domains as well, like end-of-life questions for an ailing person and a few other challenging interpersonal exchanges.

The author is a former reporter for CNN, and is fairly comprehensive in his typology of conversations, which includes queries for discovery (like a general practitioner trying to diagnose cause of pain), queries to extract information from direct reports, different types of interviewing techniques dependent on purpose, from a Terry Gross type interview, a negotiation, or interrogations, queries for scientific inquiry, blue-sky queries, job interviews etc.

The real issue with these scenarios is that in almost all of the cases, the author has implicit that the power between the interviewer and the interviewee is balanced towards the side of the author, or balanced more or less equally. However, the most important types of interactions in people's lives will be how they navigate the opposite dynamic. Even entrepreneurs or CEOs have to navigate their investors or board.

Because the book has little material on negotiating/discussion tactics from a position of perceived weakness, I feel this book is less practical than it could have been. For instance in business, either as a consultant or as a member of a firm, one is constantly trying to sell to some counterparty, often that counterparty can enable something you want, resources for a project, capital, authority to do something etc. In most of these scenarios, you will be put in an inferior position, and a lot of the tactics listed here will be much less effective. Unless you explicitly set up a workshop environment for your mark, its unlikely the counterparty will allow themselves to be "interviewed", so parsimony is inquiry is key. The efficiency of conversation is not covered here, and this is unfortunate.

The closest example of power disparity in this way the author mentions is when he was interviewing Yasser Arafat of the PLO, where he was just a journalist and the counterpart was a leader of a nation or people. Yet even this was a weak example, as Arafat only agreed to be interviewed because he was soliciting for help to western think-tanks and NGOs during the 2nd Intifada. If the author attempted to "dive deep" with any leader who possessed real power, it is very likely he or she would just be ignored, as was the case when Western journalist attempted to interrogate Xi Jinping a few years ago during a joint presser with Obama. In that case, Xi Jinping literally just ignored the questions, and the journalist was not able to move their chips forward, thus failing. A similar dynamic can be seen in current Trump interviews.

This book could be useful for an exec, though I'd think any successful exec would have mastered these skills already. Not sure who the book would be most suitable for functionally. It's a decent book on its own, but if you're looking for something more practical look elsewhere

[Vicki Gibson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pleasant surprise. Very enjoyable.

I had mediocre expectations for this book (sorry Mr. Sesno!) but I was pleasantly surprised. Much more than a self-help or business book, Frank Sesno knows how to tell a good story and woven throughout the book are interesting examples from notable people. For instance, in the chapter on Strategic Questions Sesno tells the story of Gen Colin Powell, who got it right when Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait by asking eight strategic questions, but his failure to press decision makers on those same eight strategic questions during the run-up to the second Gulf War caused things to go horribly wrong. Powell also discusses the terrible price he and America paid for his failure to ask the right questions of the right people regarding Iraq's weapons of mass destruction.

"Taking responsibility for failure and screw-ups is not a common trait. It's too easy to accuse someone else, duck the tough questions, or change the subject. Powell didn't do that. He acknowledged when an operation had gone wrong and he took responsibility where it mattered. He should have been a louder voice and insisted that difficult but strategic questions got asked along the way. Whether anyone would have listened to him is another matter. But he knows he should have tried. That's a lesson from him and for the rest of us."

Chapters include:
Why ask?
Diagnostic questions
Strategic questions
Empathy questions
Bridging questions
Confrontational questions
Creativity questions
Mission questions
Scientific questions
Interview questions
Entertaining questions
Legacy questions
I'm glad I asked

There is a handy Question Guide at the end of the book which is more than a simple summary. It includes what to listen for, what to try, and much more for each of the 11 types of questions.

Whether you're looking to improve the conversation at your next dinner party, applying for a job, confronting someone, or trying to learn your family history, questions can help you in nearly every area of life. This book tells you how to ask the right questions and what to listen for when people answer.

I first listened to this book when it was an Audible Deal of the Day and decided it was so I good I needed the Kindle version too.

Good stuff. A quick read. I highly recommend it.

[Arnaldo Neto · Rating 3 out of 5]

O QUE APRENDI COM O LIVRO "ASK MORE"

Resumi essa semana para o @Resumocast o livraço "Ask More", de autor Frank Sesno, que tem como objetivo nos despertar para o poder das perguntas.

Segundo o autor, existem 11 tipos de perguntas que variam entre perguntas de diagnóstico, perguntas de estratégia, entre muitas outras.

Diante de tantas possibilidades, as que mais me chamaram atenção foram:

Perguntas de Criatividade e Perguntas de Legado.

As perguntas de criatividade, nas palavras são as que transportam o interlocutor para um mundo mágico de possibilidades.

O que você gostaria de fazer agora com sua vida?

A pessoa questionada antes de responder certamente vai ponderar prós, contras e riscos da eventual mudança.

O que você faria da sua vida se soubesse que não pode falhar?

Agora sim, o interlocutor foi convidado a entrar em um universo de magia no qual tudo é possível.

Já as perguntas de legado são aquelas que usualmente são feitas no final da vida.

O autor nos revela que em uma pesquisa que fez com enfermeiras, as pessoas que se mostravam mais em paz diante de uma morte iminente eram as que conseguiam
enxergar com clareza o impacto que deixaram no mundo através de perguntas como:

Qual legado você acha que deixou pros seus netos?

Se a sua vida fosse um filme, o que as pessoas aprenderiam com ele?

A grande dica dessa parte do livro é a seguinte:

Não espere o fim da vida.

Se questione agora sobre a contribuição que vem deixando para as pessoas e certamente essas perguntas serão respondidas com muito mais leveza em um estágio mais avançado da sua jornada.

Resumindo, comece se fazendo perguntas de legado:

O que eu gostaria que falassem sobre mim no meu aniversário de 70 anos?

Qual diferença eu gostaria de fazer no mundo?

E pra colocar esse legado em prática, siga para as perguntas de criatividade:

O que eu faria com minha vida se soubesse que não posso falhar?

Qual desejo eu faria para o gênio da lâmpada?

Como é a minha vida em 5 anos se tudo o que eu espero que aconteça de fato se realize?

Faça isso e responda a pergunta mais importante de todas:

Qual é o meu propósito?

Conte comigo no caminho!

Hoje e sempre, #VivendoDePropósito

[Ryan Rodriquez · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's no question...our ability and willingness to ask meaningful questions connects us as human beings. From "what do you want for dinner?" to "what do you think about climate change?", questions allow us to identify where we stand on a topic and express our opinions. It is our ability to ask questions that allow us to serve others as well.

Frank Sesno has been a journalist for years and has done a great job of profiling the different types as well as the importance of questions. Questioning styles and techniques are broken down to better understand how to use questions to get to a desired point, whether that is understanding or manipulation.

At first, I found this book to be pragmatic, but as I went further, Sesno showed his obvious bias. Which, to me, negates true inquisitiveness. Questions for the sake of knowledge and understanding are what I'm after. Not questions that help support a biased narrative of misinformation or subjective opinion not based on factual evidence. There are a lot of people pushing a narrative in today's news and are doing their best to create news. I found Sesno's book a great example of just how that is being accomplished. I found this book enlightening ONLY in that sense and no other.

I would recommend this book ONLY as a case study in how news is being manipulated and perpetrated as the truth. If someone wanted to know how fake news is created, this would be a good study guide in just how to do it.

[Sergio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Muy buen libro, divide sus capítulos según los tipos de preguntas que se pueden hacer dependiendo del resultado que se busque con ellas, y mezcla en cada uno historias humanas con detalles que refuerzan lo que pueda tener de teórico el enfoque hacia la preparación de preguntas y el manejo de entrevistas y conversaciones. La grata sorpresa que me llevé, y que pensé mientras leía el libro que iba a tener que hacer por mi cuenta, fue la “Guía de Preguntas” al final y que destila en un par de páginas para cada capítulo lo más relevante y deja tareas al lector para practicar por su cuenta.

Quizás, personalmente, hubiese agradecido más tiempo en el aspecto teórico detrás de la concepción de las preguntas, cómo leer situaciones para determinar las preguntas más apropiadas y mantener un buen ritmo en la conversación, etc., pero los relatos compensan, complementan y colorean el libro y lo hacen más fácil de leer.

En resumen, le doy 4 estrellas simplemente porque no me volvió loco y el sistema no permite dar 4.5 estrellas pero lo encontré “redondito”, muy bien logrado. La mezcla de las múltiples historias personales, incluyendo las del propio autor, con el enfoque teórico y práctico entrega finalmente un conjunto de información útil para los que queremos mejorar nuestras habilidades conversacionales. Y la “Guía de Preguntas” al final es el broche de oro, lo que se agradece.

[William Schram · Rating 3 out of 5]

In an era marked by the constant influx of information, the ability to ask meaningful questions has become more critical than ever before. Frank Sesno's "Ask More" serves as a guidebook for sharpening our questioning skills, enabling us to navigate complex situations, broaden our perspectives, and unlock deeper insights. Drawing from his extensive experience as a journalist and educator, Sesno offers a compelling exploration of the art and science of inquiry.

Sesno meticulously breaks down the process of asking questions into distinct categories and provides a comprehensive framework of questioning techniques. From "Diagnostic Questions" that probe for details and gather facts to "Confrontational Questions" that challenge assumptions and expose inconsistencies, each category serves to shape the conversation. By providing real-world examples and explaining when and how to employ each technique, Sesno equips readers with a practical toolkit for different situations. This framework not only enhances our ability to ask better questions but also empowers us to become active participants in any dialogue.

I enjoyed the book. Thanks for reading my review, and see you next time.

[Brigitte Ayerves Valderas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Questions give us information. They help us to learn. They help us to make choices, and some of these choices define our lives. As a journalist, I value the fact that I am inquisitive, curious, and I always wanting to learn more. However, I find myself not asking enough questions. I also realize that I am not alone. Many people aren't taking a moment to stop and ask questions.

Formulating questions is an art form, and this author definitely realizes the significance of this step.
As I read the book, I kept thinking: This book should be apart of journalism school curriculums. It should be included in law schools. It should be apart of a school teacher efforts to encourage critical thinking. I currently work at an organization where we are developing a curriculum for professional development. This is one book that I would definitely include as a resource and an author who I would love to connect for workshops and webinars.

[Bruce Moffat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this work by a long-time friend, in which he harvests his experience as a professional journalist, educator, and family man to explore the nature of inquiry. He creates a typology of questions to fit different uses of well-chosen questions: interrogating, scientific, entertaining, legacy, and the like. Such well-crafted questions can range from holding public officials accountable to enriching our personal relations. He also asks the reader to listen more and talk less, using a mix of interviews with high-visibility figures such as Colin Powell and Anthony Fauci, as well as next-door neighbors, family members, and subject experts. As a trainer and facilitator, I particularly like the strategic, mission, and creative questions he frames. I also appreciated the way he combines rigorous thought process and approachable language in this practical, how-to guide.

[Joanne Fate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since 2020 has been so random I decided to pick random books from my Audible library. I don't know why I have this - I'm just assuming it was on sale. I don't do advice books often.

This book was better than I expected. The anecdotes supporting the types of questioning were my favorite parts of the book. I think I learned some things, but I won't really know for a while if it's helped me at all. If I find myself using questioning methods successfully I might bump this up to five stars. I think this will need to be listened to in another year or two again. The author read it and he did an excellent job

[Meadow Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a curious person. I believe the questions we ask are fundamentally more interesting than the answers we give. That said, I often find myself in a question rut or asking a question in a way that does result in the type of answer or interaction for which I was hoping.

This book is an excellent resource that I will reference in the future. I even look forward to asking myself some of the prompts.

Sesno also spends a great deal of time encouraging the interviewer to be an effective listener and highlights what that does and does not look like.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sesno is a very good storyteller with a great voice. In this book, he highlights how we need to ask questions - and listen to the answers we receive. Although I enjoy much of the material, there are many other books that cover how to ask questions and why they should be phrased in certain ways. Two that come to mind are Simon Sinek's Start with Why and all the work based on Kahneman and Tversky's work. The examples often involve world-changing events. That is not very approachable and often feels like he is bragging.

[Juvoni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ask More examines the art and power of asking questions. Frank Sesno infuses his journalistic approach into dissecting other journalists, radio hosts, company executives, politicians and entrepreneurs go about asking the right questions to reveal the right answers. The examples used are rich and engaging and the book does a good job of highlighting patterns and potential principles of different categories of questions. I learned a lot from ask more and plan to read it again soon as there are more questions I have for the book.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this on audible, but found the last thirty minutes so valuable to me as an educator and coach that I ordered a physical copy so that I could have it as a quick reference. Frank Sesno delves not only into how along the right questions can build relationships and delve into deeper truth, but also into the "whys" of gifted questioners from roofing repair contractors to job interviewers to professional journalists. This has already inspired my own understanding on how to ask questions more deliberately and authentically.

[Jeff · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not sure what I expected from this book, but I did not find it. It professed to explore how questions can uncover solutions and spark change. The book does cover many types of questions. It was written by a reporter, so many of the question types refer to interview techniques where one is trying to draw information out of a reluctant or guarded interviewee. I am more interested in how to use deep questioning to get insights from teams of experts who are willing to offer their knowledge. This is an excellent book for those interested in adversarial questioning.

[Tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

A practical book on how to good ask questions effectively. The author interviews people to give you examples of how to ask good questions but the people he interviews are so big that there isn't really a way to use the information in your everyday life. What am I supposed to do with questions asked of world leaders, politicians, AIDS scientists, etc. The most useful part of the book was the very end where is sort of summarized the different types of questions and have some actual examples of questions.

[Nicole Robinson]

The author explains he decided to write this book in part because one of his undergrad students suggested the idea. That makes sense. This book would be quite useful for that age group, especially if pursuing journalism, politics, etc.

I read this as part of the reading list for a masters course on infrastructure. Even after I finished it I still don't know why the professor assigned it. Chapter 8 is easily the most (or actually only) one in which I felt I'd read something new or valuable, although not for reasons related to the built environment.

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Frank Seno has had a storied career - White House correspondent, CNN anchor, go to media personality. The guy knows a lot about interviewing and his personal experience cannot be questioned. I would have loved for this book to draw more from that personal experience. Instead, he created a
typology of questions that is interesting but not mind blowing. (I suspect his stories might have been mind blowing.) That said, if you’re doing a deep dive into how to ask good questions (as I am) this is a book worth reading.

[John Hash · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a good pause to contemplate the many aspects of asking questions. Frank Sesno created a useful guide in using questions for various purposes. His experience as a journalist and the many interviews with successful people shed light on how asking appropriate questions has benefitted society in bringing about major changes in government, medicine, and technology. I particularly liked his highlights on General Colin Powell, Terry Gross, and Anderson Cooper.