Radical Curiosity: Questioning Commonly Held Beliefs to Imagine Flourishing Futures

by Seth Goldenberg

A bold manifesto arguing that the most complex challenges we face today—as individuals, businesses, and a society—require us to ask deeper questions, not seek easier answers “With this beautifully written book, Seth Goldenberg awakens the gifts we all wonder, optimism, and the fearlessness to reverse destruction.”—Bruce Vaughn, vice president of experiential creative product, AirbnbIn a world with an endless hunger for innovation, why is it so hard to create audacious change? According to thought leader Seth Goldenberg, the answer to this question stems from how we, as a society, view questions themselves. In Radical Curiosity, Goldenberg argues that because we value knowing above learning and prioritize doing over thinking, curiosity has become an endangered species. Only by rediscovering the power of questions can we hope to rewrite the commonly held “legacy” narratives that no longer serve us and to remake our organizations, our politics, and our lives. With this empowering book, Goldenberg introduces the practice of Radical Curiosity through the lens of seven narratives that are going through significant Learning, Cohesion, Time, Youth, Aliveness, Nature, and Value. Along the way, he unpacks principles intended to spark our own questioning,  • Education is too big to fail, but maybe it should.• Time travel isn’t reserved for DeLoreans.• Let us now praise rural communities.• Survival economics have made imagination a luxury good. Blending philosophy, business strategy, cultural criticism, and fascinating case studies, Radical Curiosity is a new way of solving our most complex problems—one focused not on technology or science but on the power of human inquiry. By asking us to relearn how we learn, reengage in dialogue, revive our youthful sense of wonder, and rethink what we value, it reignites the curiosity needed to imagine and build a better world.

Genres: Nonfiction, Business, Philosophy

325 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 23, 2022

About the author

Seth Goldenberg is a designer, curator, and entrepreneur who harnesses the power of questioning to catalyze innovation and cultural change. He is the founder and CEO of Curiosity & Co., a one-of-a-kind bookstore, experience laboratory, and design-ventures studio, and the creator of the Ideas Salons, invitational thought-leader retreats that tackle the essential questions of our time.

Goldenberg has led high-profile projects with clients such as Apple, American Express, the Oprah Winfrey Network, and the governor of Rhode Island. He also founded Dialog:City, the civic arts festival for the 2008 Democratic National Convention. His work has been featured in The New York Times, Wired, and Fast Company. He lives on the island of Jamestown, Rhode Island.

Reviews

[Scott Ahler · Rating 2 out of 5]

Platitudes and clunky slogans don't convince me how radical curiosity will save us, let alone help me understand what the concept is. It was a bad sign early on that he quotes Elon Musk, calling him "our greatest modern thinker" but by the time he calls comedians modern philosophers, as if it's his own original thought, then spends the remainder of the chapter defending Dave Chappelle, calling him a "gladiator, challenging assumptions" I was nearly over it. He loves James Baldwin, and quotes him frequently, but fails to establish new, original thoughts to support Baldwin's. He ends nearly every one of his too-short chapters by saying "we need to do THIS!" but ironically, rarely bothers to extend the thought into imagining a world where said needed change is done. What does our Flourishing Future look like? I never found out.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF. Ironically, not that deep.

[Zee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book everyone should read to remind themselves of what really matters in life. Goldenberg points out what psychologists and sociologists have always done, but while once someone listened, today hardly anyone does. We are “too busy” to see life around us and become active participants. We don’t talk or listen to one another. Our interests are very narrow and even though we are more self-centered than ever, we don’t act in our own best interest. Goldenberg may not have all the right answers , but at least he prompts us to think and maybe find our own. And he does it in a fun and palatable format. Highly recommended.

[Tim · Rating 2 out of 5]

But he didn't say anything?? Each chapter is a small snippet of an idea on how being curious (or various other ways he interprets the phrase) will make the world better. But he always stops before he says HOW we can apply said ideas. He just says "this is what we should be doing!!!!!" and moves on. The final chapter of this book is a list of every chapter boiled down to like two or three sentences (a bizarre inclusion for sure), and honestly that may be the best way to experience the ideas in this book.

[Javier Lorenzana · Rating 3 out of 5]

some good nuggets of thought. nice reminder of what curiosity looks like. some good actionables too.

but nothing that made me go “woah”

fave ideas:

- freedom is found in our ability to reject the expectations and roles we are born into.

- curiosity is expressed by asking questions.

- there is scientific value in not going full speed all the time.

- an artist’s duty is to reflect the times.

- when the primary objective is growth, enough is never enough.

[Christopher Barry · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book-length keynote address for the TED crowd. Lots of sweeping generalizations, few, if any practical takeaways. It gets three stars for condensing some ideas well and providing a decent reading experience when dealing with topics I was less familiar with.

[J · Rating 3 out of 5]

*listened to audiobook

[Roy Kenagy]

DMPL EXAMINED 2024_11_08 Reviews mixed, scattershot but pithy, will take interpretation but worth adding IMAGINATION

[Tim Rueb · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was not worth it. The constant use of movies, gas lighting events, and astroturfed events/movements as sources for the books logic was truly pathetic.

[Sara Goldenberg · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you could look away from his socialistic tendencies, it's OK.