If you’re looking for the best problem solving books, you’ve come to the right place.
In this article, we’ll cover the top 5 troubleshooting books you can use to help you solve problems faster, easier, and better. I have personally read each one and recommend them.
You are reading: Best books on problem solving
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top 5 problem solving books
1. stop guessing: the 9 behaviors of great problem solvers by nat greene
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stop guessing teaches 9 main actions to take when solving problems. it doesn’t teach a “method” of troubleshooting, but rather the steps you need to take in order to solve the problem correctly and solve it well.
the 9 behaviors/actions are:
- stop guessing
- smell the problem
- accept your ignorance
- know what problem you are solving
- dig in the basics
- don’t rely on experts
- believe in a simple solution
- make decisions based on facts
- stay on target
I personally enjoyed this book and found it very informative. If you’re not necessarily looking for a method, but rather the steps you need to take to solve problems more effectively, then this book is for you.
See Also: 5 Essential William Gibson Reads | Tor.com
you can get it on amazon here.
(note: amazon links are affiliate links. thanks!)
read more: the 5 best books on decision making
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2. think smarter: critical thinking to improve problem-solving and decision-making skills by michael kallet
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As the title says, thinking smarter is about using critical thinking to improve problem solving and decision making.
What sometimes hurts us in our problem solving is that we don’t really take the time to think critically. kallet gives 3 main steps to solve problems and make a decision:
- clarity
- conclusions
- decision
If you want to learn more about critical thinking as it pertains to problem solving and the steps to take to really clarify your problem and come to better conclusions and ultimately decisions, this is a good book. for you.
See Also: 5 Essential William Gibson Reads | Tor.com
you can get it on amazon here.
See Also: Inspector Wexford – Book Series In Order
problem solving 101: a simple book for smart people by ken watanabe
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Problem Solving 101 is a great little book on problem solving. It was originally intended for a younger audience, but has become appealing to all ages for people who want to become better problem solvers.
In the book, through some simple examples, Watanabe teaches how to find the root cause, how to establish and test hypotheses, how to make better decisions, how to use a logic tree, and more.
If you want a simple and easy book on problem solving for yourself or your children, this is for you.
See Also: 5 Essential William Gibson Reads | Tor.com
you can get it on amazon here.
See Also: Inspector Wexford – Book Series In Order
the thinker’s toolkit: 14 powerful problem solving techniques by morgan d. jones
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In the Toolkit for Thinkers, the author provides detailed information on methods you can use to better solve problems and make better decisions.
too often we use “trial and error” to try to solve problems, and that’s incredibly inefficient. jones teaches about the mistakes we often make when solving problems, how our brains sometimes work against us, and 14 techniques we can use to better solve our problems.
If you want a detailed guide on how we often get it wrong and the different methods you can use to better solve problems, this book is for you.
See Also: 5 Essential William Gibson Reads | Tor.com
you can get it on amazon here.
See Also: Inspector Wexford – Book Series In Order
systematic problem solving and decision making by sandy pokras
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Systematic Problem Solving and Decision Making is an old book (published 1989); however, it is still packed with excellent information.
In the book, Pokras walks through, step by step, the steps you can take in your organization to solve problems.
not only discusses the steps to do it, but also how to do it together as a group so everyone understands what the problem is and how to solve it.
There are 6 main steps he recommends diving into:
Step 1: Problem Recognition Step 2: Problem Labeling Step 3: Problem Cause Analysis Step 4: Optional Solutions Step 5: Decision Making Step 6: Action Planning
If you’re looking for a step-by-step guide on how to solve problems within an organization (and even by yourself), this book is a great resource.
See Also: 5 Essential William Gibson Reads | Tor.com
you can get it on amazon here.
See Also: Inspector Wexford – Book Series In Order
bonus book
why not?: how to use everyday ingenuity to solve problems big and small by barry nalebuff and ian ayres
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why not? it is, as the title suggests, how to use everyday ingenuity to solve problems.
The authors dive into different methods and tools you can use to help solve problems, including:
- ask what croesus would do
- feel the pain of others
- see where else would work
- and turn it around
you can get the book here on amazon.
See Also: Inspector Wexford – Book Series In Order
which decision making book will you choose?
We’ve covered 5…err…6 books on problem solving. I have personally read each one and recommend them.
I would also recommend consulting books on decision making, as the topics are intertwined and related.
now you: what do you think? have you read any of these? Are there any that we are missing?
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