It's Not About the Shark
How to Solve Unsolvable Problems
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- $11.99
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
In the spirit of The Tipping Point and Freakonomics, David Niven presents a new way of decoding the riddles of the everyday choices we make.
It's Not About the Shark opens the door to the groundbreaking science of solutions by turning problems—and how we solve them—upside down. When we have a problem, most of us zero in, take it apart, and focus until we have it solved. David Niven shows us that focusing on the problem is exactly the wrong way to find an answer. Putting problems at the center of our thoughts shuts down our creative abilities, depletes stamina, and feeds insecurities. It's Not About the Shark shows us how to transform our daily lives, our work lives, and our family lives with a simple, but rock-solid principle: If you start by thinking about your problems, you'll never make it to a solution. If you start by thinking about a solution, you'll never worry about your problems again.
Through real-life examples and psychology research, Niven shows us why:
*Focusing on the problem first makes us 17 times less likely to find an answer
*Being afraid of a problem is natural: we're biologically primed to be afraid
*Finding a problem creates power – which keeps you from finding a solution
*Working harder actually hides answers
*Absolute confidence makes you less likely to find the answer
*Looking away from a problem helps to see a solution
*Listening only to yourself is one of the best ways to find an answer
Combining hard facts, good sense, and a strong dose of encouragement, Niven provides fresh and positive ways to think about problem solving.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In this useful tome, Niven (The 100 Simple Secrets of Happy People) gives unusual, yet eminently practical, problem-solving advice. His solution? Ditch traditional problem-solving techniques and get creative. "We limit what we think is possible based on the boundaries the problems set for us," Niven asserts. "We stare at our problems and cannot see anything else." Niven uses Steven Spielberg as an example, explaining how the malfunctioning mechanical shark built for Jaws forced the director to suggest, rather than show, his story's antagonist for most of the movie. According to the book, focusing on a problem can make it harder to find an answer; conversely, looking away from a problem often makes it easier to find a solution. While it's natural to be scared of failing, particularly when trying new things, Niven advises readers to "fail with joy," and relish the freedom to explore new alternatives that present themselves with failure. He also recommends that readers not "follow the leader" but instead rely on their own counsel. This fresh, enthusiastic approach to problem-solving will encourage readers to open themselves up to opportunity and make for a valuable addition to anyone's self-help shelf.
