Radical Curiosity

Questioning Commonly Held Beliefs to Imagine Flourishing Futures

By: Seth Goldenberg

Narrated by: Gary Tiedemann

A bold manifesto arguing that the most complex challenges we face today—as individuals, businesses, and a society—require us to ask deeper questions, not seek easier answers

“With this beautifully written book, Seth Goldenberg awakens the gifts we all possess: wonder, optimism, and the fearlessness to reverse destruction.”—Bruce Vaughn, vice president of experiential creative product, Airbnb

In a world with an endless hunger for innovation, why is it so hard to create audacious change? According to thought leader Seth Goldenberg, the answer to this question stems from how we, as a society, view questions themselves.

In Radical Curiosity, Goldenberg argues that because we value knowing above learning and prioritize doing over thinking, curiosity has become an endangered species. Only by rediscovering the power of questions can we hope to rewrite the commonly held “legacy” narratives that no longer serve us and to remake our organizations, our politics, and our lives.

With this empowering book, Goldenberg introduces the practice of Radical Curiosity through the lens of seven narratives that are going through significant transformation: Learning, Cohesion, Time, Youth, Aliveness, Nature, and Value. Along the way, he unpacks principles intended to spark our own questioning, including:

• Education is too big to fail, but maybe it should.

• Time travel isn’t reserved for DeLoreans.

• Let us now praise rural communities.

• Survival economics have made imagination a luxury good.

Blending philosophy, business strategy, cultural criticism, and fascinating case studies, Radical Curiosity is a new way of solving our most complex problems—one focused not on technology or science but on the power of human inquiry. By asking us to relearn how we learn, reengage in dialogue, revive our youthful sense of wonder, and rethink what we value, it reignites the curiosity needed to imagine and build a better world.

©2021 Seth Goldenberg (P)2021 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Seth Goldenberg’s deep commitment to curiosity taught me how important it is to ask essential questions. The right questions connect our minds and hearts, and that’s how we achieve greatest outcomes.”—Denise Young Smith, former vice president of worldwide human resources and talent, Apple

“This book is a new operating manual for humankind that everyone needs to read. It engages both your brain and your heart in wonder and possibilities.”—Ivy Ross, vice president of design for hardware, Google

“A book that I hope gets widely read.”—Jaime Herndon, BookRiot

Some good points. but very politically leaning

I read this book in an effort to expand my leadership profile and business decision thought process. Some of that was accomplished, but half the book was about getting across the author's political agenda for better or worse