Upstream: How to Solve Problems Before They Happen

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.

About the Author

Dan Heath is a senior fellow at Duke University’s CASE center, which supports entrepreneurs fighting for social good. He lives in Durham, North Carolina. Dan and his brother Chip have written four New York Times bestselling books: Made to Stick, Switch, Decisive, and The Power of Moments. Their books have sold over two million copies worldwide and have been translated into thirty-three languages.

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

"Dan Heath has written the ultimate primer on the power of prevention, a work that deserves a prominent place on every leader's bookshelf. 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

"Considers our chronic failure to address our problems before they hit us." ―Financial Times

"In a style reminiscent of Malcolm Gladwell and the Freakonomics team, Heath explores fascinating case studies from the business world and beyond... Upstream just might change the way you think about problem-solving." ―Apple Books

"An elegant manifesto... With the frenetic pace of modern life, Heath observes, it's easy to become accustomed to putting out fires instead of looking for the spark that's igniting them... This is a pragmatic guide for those seeking big changes on either an individual or organizational level." ―Publishers Weekly

"Psychology meets neuroscience and self-help in this engaging study by business writer Heath... A smart, provocative book that guides readers to better decision-making when confronting seemingly intractable problems." ―Kirkus

Dimensions: 12.7 x 2 x 19.7 cm