How Would You Move Mount Fuji? Microsoft's cult of the puzzle

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Homepage: http://williampoundstone.net/Books
See Also: http://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Would-Move-Mount-Fuji/dp/0316778494

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Filled Star - Denotes One PointFilled Star - Denotes One PointFilled Star - Denotes One PointFilled Star - Denotes One PointFilled Star - Denotes One Point by martinp on 29 Jun 2007

Author William Poundstone likes to do multiple things with his books. He likes to introduce an academic subject in simple terms, give you an interesting story and teach you to think in new ways. He also likes to research; to doggedly bring things to the public that were formerly hidden. All those traits are visible in this book about the craze for "puzzle questions" in job interviews.

Puzzle questions are things like "How much does all the ice in an ice rink weigh?" "Does the sun always rise in the East?" "Why are beer cans tapered at the top and bottom?" or "How would you test a salt shaker?" A lot of these originate in intelligence tests, but whereas IQ tests are scientifically discredited and associated with racism, puzzle questions are claimed to be tests of a culture-neutral (and similarly scientifically unfounded) "general thinking-outside-the-box ability" which fits in with modern corporate culture.

So, we get a history of the craze and how it was popularised by Microsoft. We get tales of the most demanding and bizarre interview processes (how interviewing has become a power trip in some companies). We get general tips on how to approach these problems (especially under stressful interview conditions). We get advice for human resource people on how to interview most effectively for jobs whose natures are frequently changing.

A large proportion of the book is given over to example questions and answers. If you buy the book just as a "crib sheet" just before your job interview, though, it's a waste. It is a potentially joyful and engaging way to develop your logical and creative thinking skills if you have the patience with it and resist looking up the answers.

Not often is a book this fun to read and this well-founded on research and logical reasoning.

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