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Upstream

The Quest to Solve Problems Before They Happen

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Upstream

Written by: Dan Heath
Narrated by: Dan Heath
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About this listen

 Wall Street Journal Bestseller

New York Times bestselling author Dan Heath explores how to prevent problems before they happen, drawing on insights from hundreds of interviews with unconventional problem solvers.

So often in life, we get stuck in a cycle of response. We put out fires. We deal with emergencies. We stay downstream, handling one problem after another, but we never make our way upstream to fix the systems that caused the problems. Cops chase robbers, doctors treat patients with chronic illnesses, and call-center reps address customer complaints. But many crimes, chronic illnesses, and customer complaints are preventable. So why do our efforts skew so heavily toward reaction rather than prevention?

Upstream probes the psychological forces that push us downstream—including “problem blindness,” which can leave us oblivious to serious problems in our midst. And Heath introduces us to the thinkers who have overcome these obstacles and scored massive victories by switching to an upstream mindset. One online travel website prevented twenty million customer service calls every year by making some simple tweaks to its booking system. A major urban school district cut its dropout rate in half after it figured out that it could predict which students would drop out—as early as the ninth grade. A European nation almost eliminated teenage alcohol and drug abuse by deliberately changing the nation’s culture. And one EMS system accelerated the emergency-response time of its ambulances by using data to predict where 911 calls would emerge—and forward-deploying its ambulances to stand by in those areas.

Upstream delivers practical solutions for preventing problems rather than reacting to them. How many problems in our lives and in society are we tolerating simply because we’ve forgotten that we can fix them? Personal Development Personal Success Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Workplace & Organizational Behaviour Leadership Mental Health Customer Success

What the critics say

"Author Dan Heath's narration of this absorbing audiobook sounds as smooth and self-assured as his writing. He's mastered the art of creating spellbinding narratives and questions, followed by fascinating research summaries and well-organized insights. With the sound of his youthful engagement in full song from start to finish, Heath explains how individuals and institutions can become less reactive to problems and more focused on anticipating their causes and preventing them. Heath's examples are wide ranging—from social problems like school dropout rates to management, health, and interpersonal dilemmas. . . . the audio as a whole has a curious power that will inspire listeners to become more proactive about life's large and small problems."
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Most Relevant
A real great book to help people define the real problem that needs solving, not only the consequences but the root. I've really enjoyed the step by step approach : seeing past our blindside, rounding up the problem, evaluating the costs of preventing the problem in the first place, and finally adopting an agile stance to design a solution (not the perfect one at first but a learning one with the right metrics).

A must read for who wants to change the world

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lots of good stories. a bit on the short side and a little less actionable, or rather prescriptive. he doesn't have the answers but begs for you to change your perspective. it's a tough thankless battle and he tells us as such but doesn't tell you how. gets you thinking. a good read.

good book, lots of good stories

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Compelling narrative of how to think about prevention. Heath has created another masterpiece with rich examples in an engaging way.

Outstanding: Game changer on big thinking

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This is mostly common sense. Too bad governments, companies, organizations etc are reactionary rather than preventive in nature but short term thinking is the way of the world which is why we are in a big mess.

Nott much new or revolutionary

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The only catchy thing about this book is the title. So many better books about problem solving.

Boring and unoriginal

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