Problem Solving 101: A Simple Book for Smart People

Problem Solving 101: A Simple Book for Smart People by Ken Watanabe is a delightful guide to developing problem-solving and decision-making skills. Originally intended for Japanese schoolchildren, the book has now become a hit with American businesspeople. Watanabe's goal is to help shift the focus of education from memorization to critical thinking, and he achieves this by using imaginative sample scenarios and easy-to-follow techniques. For example, Watanabe uses a rock band to illustrate how to drive up concert attendance, an aspiring animator to budget for a new computer purchase, and students to decide which high school they will attend. Watanabe's techniques include logic trees and matrixes, which are simple enough for middle schoolers to apply, yet sophisticated enough for business leaders to use in their most challenging problems. The book is enriched with quirky drawings and diagrams to illustrate the concepts, which makes reading it fun and enjoyable. Overall, this book is highly recommended for anyone looking to improve their problem-solving and decision-making skills. It is suitable for both students and working professionals, and can be used as a reference guide to solve any problem, big or small.