Upstream:The Quest to Solve Problems Before They Happen

Too often in life, we get stuck in a cycle of response.  We put out fires.  We deal with emergencies. In short, we stay downstream, handling one problem after another, but we never make our way upstream to fix the systems that caused the problems. Upstream delivers practical solutions for preventing problems rather than reacting to them.

Too often in life, we get stuck in a cycle of response.  We put out fires.  We deal with emergencies. In short, we stay downstream, handling one problem after another, but we never make our way upstream to fix the systems that caused the problems.

That’s why cops chase robbers, doctors treat patients with chronic illnesses, and call-center reps address customer complaints while forgetting that many crimes, chronic illnesses, and customer complaints are preventable.  

That begs the question, why do our efforts skew so heavily toward reaction rather than prevention? In Upstream, New York Times bestselling author Dan Heath answers this question.  More importantly, Heath explores how to prevent problems before they happen, drawing on insights from hundreds of interviews with unconventional problem solvers.

In the process, Upstream probes the psychological forces that push us downstream—including “problem blindness,” which can leave us oblivious to serious problems in our midst.  Furthermore, Heath introduces us to the thinkers who have overcome these obstacles and scored massive victories by switching to an upstream mindset. Upstream delivers practical solutions for preventing problems rather than reacting to them.