Q - by Lani Watson (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

A transformative and philosophical investigation into how we ask questions, full of practical advice on how we can harness the power of questions for ourselves

We live in a world that wants answers. Answers provide solutions to our problems, teach us about the world, and help us navigate our lives. But we rush toward answers forgetting, that it is questions that set the course.

Questions are a form of power, as well as a vital, everyday tool. After all, if you don't ask the right questions, you won't get the right answers. In Q, philosopher Lani Watson examines the history of question-asking, analyzes our answer-oriented present, and offers a path forward toward a question-oriented future. Along the way, she asks us to consider what a question is, why we ask the questions we do, when we first start asking questions, and where we want our questions to take us.

The shift from prioritizing answers to focusing on questions is not easy, and it requires careful attention and practice. Q also includes practical tips called Q Tools, inspired by the historical, philosophical, and cultural material of each chapter that offer readers exercises and advice for becoming better question-askers. There are real-world benefits to creating a question-oriented future, and it will require a personal, social, political, philosophical and technological transition. In Q, Lani Watson provides us with the knowledge and tools that we need to implement this change in our own lives and communities.

Review Quotes

"Humans are constitutionally questioning mammals; to thrive personally, societally and politically we need to interrogate ourselves and our worlds properly. In this exhilarating, humane, rigorous and wise book, Lani Watson exhorts us to act in accordance with our constitution, and shows us how. This is what philosophy should be - fizzing, sparking and catalytic." --Charles Foster, author of Being a Human: Adventures in Forty Thousand Years of Consciousness

"Answers are only as good as the questions you ask. In fast-moving workplaces fixated on answers and output, Lani Watson helps us harness the power of asking the right questions."--Elaine Lin Hering, author of Unlearning Silence: How to Speak Your Mind, Unleash Talent, and Live More Fully

"Will you find this book fascinating, thoughtful, enlightening? No question. Q is one of those rare books that alters how you interact with the world - an excellent read."--David Edmonds, author of Death in a Shallow Pond: A Philosopher, a Drowning Child, and Strangers in Need

"By teaching us to value inquiry over certainty, Lani Watson shows us how we can use the radical, transformative potential of questioning. An essential guide for anyone committed to the collective quest for a more just and curious future."--Kate Pickett, co-author of The Spirit Level: Why Greater Equality Makes Societies Stronger

About the Author

Lani Watson is a philosopher and Honorary Fellow at the University of Edinburgh and a world-leading expert in the philosophy of questions. She is fascinated by the art and science of asking questions and understanding how we can harness their power for good. Her research focuses on questioning in everyday life and she is passionate about applying her expertise to help everyone make the most of asking great questions, having worked with businesses and organisations around the world. Follow Lani on social media @thequestionsdr