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Upstream

Upstream

How to solve problems before they happen

Summary

'Informs, engages and, above all, entertains' Charles Duhigg, bestselling author of The Power of Habit

New York Times bestselling author Dan Heath asks what happens when we take our thinking upstream and try to prevent problems before they happen.

What happens when we take our thinking upstream and try to prevent problems before they happen?

Most of us are pretty good at dealing with problems – we’re used to being resourceful and improvising solutions. But we also tend to focus on reacting rather than preventing, which costs us unnecessary time and money.

Across business, politics, and society, bestselling author Dan Heath shows us that we have the capacity to solve some of our thorniest issues – we just need to start to think about the system rather than the symptoms. Drawing on hundreds of new interviews with unconventional problem solvers, Heath shows the huge gains to be made when we stop dealing with symptoms and start to deliver practical solutions.

'Packed with vivid stories and practical examples, Upstream is the rare book that can both revitalize your business and make our world a better place.' Daniel H. Pink, No. 1 New York Times bestselling author of When, Drive and To Sell Is Human

Reviews

  • Upstream contains research and storytelling that informs, engages and, above all, entertains. If you want to stop firefighting problems and prevent them from happening in the first place, then you should read what Dan Heath has to say.
    Charles Duhigg, author of bestsellers The Power of Habit and Smarter, Faster, Better

About the author

Dan Heath

Dan Heath is the #1 New York Times bestselling co-author/author of six books, including Made to Stick, Switch, and The Power of Moments. His books have sold over four million copies worldwide and been translated into thirty-five languages. Dan also hosts the award-winning podcast What It’s Like To Be…, which explores what it’s like to walk in the shoes of people from different professions (a mystery novelist, a cattle rancher, a forensic accountant, and more). He lives in Durham, North Carolina.
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