The Power of Why

Simple Questions That Lead to Success

  • Language:
    Publisher:
  • English
    HarperCollins Canada
About The Power of Why:

The urge to question is natural for small children—just ask any parent. But few of us are aware that it is also one of the most vital tools for success. In The Power of Why, Amanda Lang shows how curiosity and the ability to ask the right questions fuels innovation and can drive change not just in business but also in our personal lives.

Weaving together the latest research with in-depth profiles of innovators from around the world, Lang explores how to harness and develop the power of curiosity. She reveals how a major retailer set out to discover what really makes men happy—and was stunned by the results. She finds out why, at one particular hospital, nurses think it’s better if they don’t wash their hands. She learns why the most common methods of brainstorming don’t actually work and discovers a new soccer ball that could change the world.

A book that challenges conventional wisdom and offers practical, inspiring advice, The Power of Why shows how it’s possible to reignite your innate curiosity and overcome long-standing barriers—leaving you more creative, productive and fulfilled in your job and happier in your relationships.

Awards, Nominations, and Distinctions:

Finalist – National Business Book Award

Critical Praise:

A wonderful book, The Power of Why demystifies the tricky subject of innovation. It is a must-read for all innovation policy types and every budding innovator,

Roger Martin, Dean, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto


The Power of Why changes the way you think. It gives you a new perspective, one that leads to positive change. This is a truly great book.

David Chilton, author of The Wealthy Barber and The Wealthy Barber Returns


Packed with insights, analysis, and examples drawn from a wide range of individuals and companies, The Power of Why will convince readers of the profound value of the spirit of curiosity.

Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Project


There are books filled with anecdotes about innovation or you can read academic theories about innovation. Neither get you very far. What Amanda has done is offer interesting stories that are linked together in a way that teaches us the theories and just how to innovate.

Clayton M. Christensen, Harvard Business School professor and author of How Will You Measure Your Life


The ability of a company to innovate is critical for survival let alone growth and The Power of Why provides great insights into how individuals can transform organizations and industries. A great read on how to find success.

Gordon M. Nixon, President and CEO, RBC

About the Author(s):

Amanda Lang is a bestselling author and an award-winning business journalist who has been covering business in North America for twenty years. She is the producer and anchor of Bloomberg North on Bloomberg TV Canada, and for six years Lang was CBC’s senior business correspondent, reporting for its flagship nightly news program, The National, as well as the host of The Exchange with Amanda Lang, a daily business program airing on CBC News Network. A popular speaker on the topics of business and economic trends, she lives in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter @AmandaLang.

Other Books by Amanda Lang:

  • The Beauty of Discomfort

“
Whether you're a CEO looking to grow your business or a frazzled parent hoping to improve your relationship with your kids, asking the right questions, in the right way, at the right time greatly increases your chances of thinking innovatively so that you can solve problems and spot new possibilities.
”

Amanda Lang, from the Introduction