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Are Your Lights On?: How to Figure Out What the Problem Really is
by
Partial Contents
Part 1: What is The Problem?
1. A Problem
2. Peter Pigeonhole Prepared A Petition
3. What's Your Problem?
Part 2: What is The Problem?
4. Billy Brighteyes Bests The Bidders
5. Billy Bites His Tongue
6. Billy Back To The Bidders
Part 3: What is The Problem Really?
7. The Endless Chain
...more
Part 1: What is The Problem?
1. A Problem
2. Peter Pigeonhole Prepared A Petition
3. What's Your Problem?
Part 2: What is The Problem?
4. Billy Brighteyes Bests The Bidders
5. Billy Bites His Tongue
6. Billy Back To The Bidders
Part 3: What is The Problem Really?
7. The Endless Chain
...more
Paperback, 156 pages
Published
January 1st 1990
by Dorset House Publishing Company, Incorporated
(first published 1982)
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Showing 1-30
Written with obvious and playful humour, a short book on problem solving. "A problem is a difference between things as desired, and things as perceived" - and this book goes on to arm you with a number of problem solving techniques, from the venerable "ignore the problem" to understanding just what the problem is, whether the solution is desirable, whether people will believe you've solved the problem, who's problem it actually is, and defining problems well.
Some funny lines too: "On ...more
Some funny lines too: "On ...more
I like the point of the book, but it gets repetitive and most the examples are (purposely?) contrived.
It's been a while since I read it, but I think some of my takeaways were:
- who's problem is it (who cares)? that will usually give you a clue on how to get it solved
- should you be the one solving it?
- if you cannot solve it, then make it a problem for the person who can (make that person care)
- does it needs to be solved / is it a real problem?
- don't jump to a so ...more
It's been a while since I read it, but I think some of my takeaways were:
- who's problem is it (who cares)? that will usually give you a clue on how to get it solved
- should you be the one solving it?
- if you cannot solve it, then make it a problem for the person who can (make that person care)
- does it needs to be solved / is it a real problem?
- don't jump to a so ...more
Jan 29, 2018
John MacIntyre
rated it
really liked it
Shelves:
tech-software-dev-process,
bus-process
This book is such an easy read it catches you off gaurd, then walks you through a series of fictional short stories, each teaching a certain lesson.
A nice way to re-frame your approaches to solving problems. Written in the style a book from 1982 could only produce.
Some nice tales, but not a great eye-opening book.
Dec 27, 2012
Rob
marked it as to-read
As a book on general problem solving, it was pretty entertaining. It was thought provoking, but I didn't learn anything too dramatic.
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
An engineering classic delivers vignettes from the world of 1960's computers, academia, society, and business to model problems where the solution (and the problem) isn't what it first appeared to be.
Pleasure to read.
Pleasure to read.
Could stand to be updated for sure. And some editing with a vision for the finished product. It *could* be really useful if it had some love. But I do not see that happening.
Characterisation of the classic 'have you tried restarting your computer' use case. Good for high school freshmen. Disliked the narrative format.
Insightful, funny, inspiring. Lot's of stories from the trenches to learn from, garnished with some theoretical background. Co-authored by the brilliant Jerry Weinberg.
Provisional three star. Lots of mildly witty stories, but hard to mine the practical advice inside on the first attempt.
Will update if I try it again.
Will update if I try it again.
Nothing too earth shattering
An easy short read on a problem solving but compared to other works by the same author didn't get as much as I had hoped.
The problem is not always what you think. Keep thinking. Very good book.
A book about what is your problem and is it really your problem and are you sure that you have a correct definition of the problem? And... of course, if you solve it too fast no one will actually believe you that it's solved - and tons of other stuff related to problem solving.
In the beginning I thought it's not gonna be useful to even finish reading it, but it was entertaining and now that I finished it, I have to admit it was also enlightening.
I can only recommend you t ...more
In the beginning I thought it's not gonna be useful to even finish reading it, but it was entertaining and now that I finished it, I have to admit it was also enlightening.
I can only recommend you t ...more
Discusses problem-solving in the abstract, with various flippant/goofy parables and images. Seems somewhat intended for a business audience, but I found it way too general to be useful.
Some quotes I liked:
- “designers — special people whose job it is to solve problems, in advance, for other people”
- “to get a fresh point of view, we can call upon almost anybody as our ‘consultant’”
But overall just couldn't get into it. Gave up a little over halfway ...more
Some quotes I liked:
- “designers — special people whose job it is to solve problems, in advance, for other people”
- “to get a fresh point of view, we can call upon almost anybody as our ‘consultant’”
But overall just couldn't get into it. Gave up a little over halfway ...more
This short booklet about problem-solving reviews important philosophical questions to consider before to search for solution These questions include for instance "What is the problem?", "Whose problem is this?" or "Do we really need to solve it?".
Although it reads very well, I did not find it as much thought-provoking as its reviews say.
Although it reads very well, I did not find it as much thought-provoking as its reviews say.
This is a book anyone who is ever asked to solve a problem should read. It's a quick read, entertaining, and disarmingly insightful. Too many people go about addressing the issues they are presented with and not actually solving core problems, and this book is a good start to thinking about how to change that.
i tend to pick this book up again after a few months to just get back on the path of enlightenment. the author presents a way of thinking that in hindsight seem so logical that you're left wondering why you never did it in the first place.
this is one of those books you hand down to others as one of those 'must reads' if you're looking into consulting.
this is one of those books you hand down to others as one of those 'must reads' if you're looking into consulting.
One particular thing to keep in mind when solving a problem: If you can't think of at least two other problems that the solution will cause, then you probably do not understand the problem well enough. Sure, you create other problems with the solution, but hopefully they are smaller, more tolerable, or easier to solve.
Extremely simple arguments structured around twee little narratives where everyone's name is consonant. I wasn't really convinced or engaged, and by the end of the book I felt a bit talked-down to. Meh, I say, and fie.
Almost all of the suggestions for how to get at the root of a solution to a problem revolved around viewing the problem from other points of view. While it is very good advice, I didn't find it particularly insightful.
A classic that reminds us that the problem we think we're solving isn't always the problem we need to solve. A good reminder to keep searching for the actual problem - then the solution will be obvious.
Very insightful and funny. I really enjoyed the book and the simple problem-solving methods it advocates.
I also like their definition of problem (delta between desired and perceived state) and it's implications.
This was a very thought provoking book.
I also like their definition of problem (delta between desired and perceived state) and it's implications.
This was a very thought provoking book.
Extraordinary book on problem solving, I not only enjoyed this book but enjoyed applying the concepts in real life.
I think I am a better problem solver, more non-engineer, than before due to this book.
I think I am a better problem solver, more non-engineer, than before due to this book.
Meh. I think this book could have been condensed to 10 pages. The nuggets of wisdom for expanding your problem-solving mindset are trapped beneath pages of fluff and caricatured examples that aren't entirely applicable to the real world.
"Brevity is the soul of wit" - Shakespeare
While I think there are good tips in the book, I did not like the story format of the book. The book could have been a lot shorter and/or presented differently. A bit disappointed for a being a career/personal development book.
While I think there are good tips in the book, I did not like the story format of the book. The book could have been a lot shorter and/or presented differently. A bit disappointed for a being a career/personal development book.
Quick, light and interesting read. Full of good advice for consultants, software developers and other "problem solvers".
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“There's two kinds of people in the world, those that do work and those who take credit. Keep in the first group—there's much less competition there.”
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