Are Your Lights On?: How to Figure Out What the Problem Really Is Paperback – March 1, 1990

To often it's easy to get into problem solving mode once a problem has presented itself. This book shows you to take a step back and consider what the problem really is and who's having the problem. Often you'll find that a problem is not just a single problem but multiple problems which each may require multiple solutions. It's a quick and entertaining read that would change how you will approach problem solving in the future.

This book is a gift that keeps on giving. I have read it twice and I am working on my third read-through, and I am seeing new insights that I didn't see the first two times I read it. The book does not contain specific advice for specific situations. However, when dealing with ambiguity and nuance, this book provides new of ways of looking the problem that you might have otherwise passed over.

This book is good at reminding us not just to solve the problem logically, but to put it into a context of an organization (any interrelation with people). Who has the problem? Does he want the problem to be solved? What is the problem (as in example with toy factory)? If you are not you, but someone else, what would you do? These questions are, although common sense, were not at all obvious to me before reading this book.I give 3 stars for 2 reasons:1) The problems in the book could be stated in a more realistic fashion, so that one would have a solid interest in giving it a try to solve on his own2) Make main statements less ambiguousI give one additional star for the fact that I haven't seen any other book of this kind.George Polya wrote a wonderful book on problem-solving. His focus is on mathematics, but can be applied as a guide to any thought process. He also stresses the need to clearly understand the problem by asking yourself questions, like: "What is the unknown?, "What are the data?", "What is the condition?". He goes further into showing methods of finding a solution, devising a plan and drawing lessons from solved problems. This book also gives a chance to practice with easy mathematically, but nevertheless not standard puzzles in the end of the book.

Problem and solutions always depends on the perspective. DHH recommended this book.

I work with problem solving methodologies and I expected to see something new when I bought this book. I must admit that its logical but I didn't identify the added value of its information.

It made sense up to the end of chapter 5. Then, things don't start adding up.The authors use a "cute" hypothetical scenario that was appropriate until the story started losing its thread. That happened, as far as I'm concerned, in chapter 6.In that chapter, Billy, one of the protagonists, figured that "you can never be sure you have a correct problem definition, even after the problem is solved." After an intermediate lesson, Billy figures out that "you can never be sure you have a correct definition, but don't ever stop trying to get one."And there the chapter ends.That's where I started to grouse. Those are their words of wisdom!? Chapter 7 is entitled "The Endless Chain." It sounds like the correct sequel to the wheels that the authors started spinning in the preceding chapter. "Each solution is the source of the next problem." Really!? Draw me an Ishikawa diagram and I'll get to the source of the problem faster than the banal platitudes offered in this book.I read my copy shortly after buying it. I was going through my bookshelf, recalled my unsatisfactory impression of this book, and decided to reread it. Well, I'm throwing it away and this is its tombstone.

If you read this book five times the meaning of life will become clear to you! I have purchased many copies of this book and shared them with colleagues that have all sorts of problems. One person with a Ph.D. read it twice and refused to read it again and did not get it. All others got the message. Some after three times of reading. some after four. It took me five times to understand the underlying message. I almost have a Ph.D. Oh, it is fun after dinner reading from two of my heros.

I manage a team of business systems analysts whose job it is to solve problems. No, not the problem as stated by the user, but the underlying problem that is often unseen. And to find the solution that was never obvious. That's where this book excels. It does not teach problem solving, it is not a heavy read, it offers no formal methodology. Instead, it uses many humorous and thoughtful examples to involve the reader in thinking about the real, unstated, problem or opportunity. This is one of those rare books that you can read again and again.