I once heard someone say that the point of a question isn’t to find an answer. Its true purpose is to help us find the next question. I found that fascinating and insightful. It is certainly true for me and right in line with how my analyst’s brain works.
But at some point, we do need to reach a conclusion, even if it doesn’t take the form of a fully developed answer.
That being the case, what we need may not be more questions but different ones. Better ones.
This brings me to one of my favorite books by Warren Berger.
A More Beautiful Question: The Power of Inquiry to Spark Breakthrough Ideas
I was recently asked about my library and how I knew which books to keep, since I had to significantly reduce its size. We were talking about my move and how daunting a task it has been.
At first, it seemed like an impossible choice and task. Even if there was a move involved. But eventually, I realized that, in any case, the books themselves held the answer.
If the book was one I return to repeatedly, find myself gifting often, or that created a watershed moment or two for me, only then could it remain. Surprisingly, that group included far less than I had imagined.
And Warren Berger’s book was definitely on that list.
The question led me right to that place Mr. Berger encourages us to visit, where we can create forward movement by finding a more beautiful question.
You see, I love books. Even thinking about not being surrounded by them puts my heart into a tailspin. And yet, the right question shifted that and helped me find another way to explore the possibilities.
According to Mr. Berger, simply knowing answers may help you in school, but they will do very little for you beyond the classroom. His position is that what creates champion thinkers is knowing how to question.
That’s the distinction for him. It’s not just about “a question,” it’s about questioning.
If we want to unlock a deeper understanding and create movement that matters where it counts, we must be willing to challenge even the question.
His framework breaks it into three kinds of questions.
- Those that help you better understand the problem (why)
- Those that lead you to imagine possible solutions (what if)
- Those that will help you create a plan to implement those solutions in an optimal way (how)
Here are my top three notes from the book that went into my journal:
The most creative, successful people have mastered the art of inquiry, raising questions no one else is asking—and finding powerful answers.
A beautiful question is an ambitious yet actionable question that can begin to shift the way we perceive or think about something—and that might serve as a catalyst to bring about change.
The future belongs to the curious. The ones who are not afraid to try it, explore it, poke at it, question it, and turn it inside out.
The question moved from which books I should let go of to which books I should keep and why. That shifts the entire inquiry.
If you’re looking for your next read, this one is definitely a worthy option.
In the meantime, let’s all begin challenging our questions so that we can discover better answers. Let’s craft beautiful questions that will be stunning catalysts for change for ourselves and our world.
An Invitation
As always, if you are navigating your own moment of needing better questions as you explore who you are becoming next and want support, clarity, or partnership in that process, I can help.
This is the work I help founders, solopreneurs, and possibility-seekers do every day.
We can explore together what matters now and what will take you into your next season of life, work, or both.
