Problem Solving 101: A Simple Book for Smart People

Ken Watanabe

Mar 2009 · Sold by Penguin

About this ebook

The fun and simple problem-solving guide that took Japan by storm

Ken Watanabe originally wrote Problem Solving 101 for Japanese schoolchildren. His goal was to help shift the focus in Japanese education from memorization to critical thinking, by adapting some of the techniques he had learned as an elite McKinsey consultant.

He was amazed to discover that adults were hungry for his fun and easy guide to problem solving and decision making. The book became a surprise Japanese bestseller, with more than 370,000 in print after six months. Now American businesspeople can also use it to master some powerful skills.

Watanabe uses sample scenarios to illustrate his techniques, which include logic trees and matrixes. A rock band figures out how to drive up concert attendance. An aspiring animator budgets for a new computer purchase. Students decide which high school they will attend.

Illustrated with diagrams and quirky drawings, the book is simple enough for a middleschooler to understand but sophisticated enough for business leaders to apply to their most challenging problems.

Ratings and reviews

The simple book you didn't know you need. Thank you for writing this. I think reading this book gives me skill to improve my life. Btw, for those who likes to read complex topic, please remember, this one is initially created for children. And the child within me needed it.

simple yet effective insight, at first I was skeptical but man for the price it does give you nice insight in how to prepare and attack your next big goal. good book, easy read. Made me more aware of my own way of thinking and how I was too much a go getter but without planning well...This will help me change. Thank you a lot and hope this book inspires a better you

It is a good book! Remind me not to be "Mr. Go-Getter". I was Mr. Go-Getter. Just do it now without break down the problems and simply get a solution. Yes i go get fix the problem effectively, but maybe not efficient. Thx to this book, i learn how to break down my goals, or my problems to get more efficient way.

About the author

Ken Watanabe grew up bilingual in Japan and studied in the United States at Yale and Harvard Business School. He was a management consultant at McKinsey & Company for six years. He is now the founder and CEO of his own education, entertainment, and media company, Delta Studio.