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A Thirst for Reality
How to see the real task, find strong solutions, and act without self-deception
Anton Minin Baranovskii
Many problems stay unsolved not because of too little effort. Often the task itself was named wrong from the very start.
- Introduction, 12 chapters and a finale
- · Practical exercises
What the book is about
A Thirst for Reality is a book about not rushing to the first solution, but first seeing the real task.
It doesn't retell methods or stack them into a list. It collects them into a single practical route: from a vague tension to a precisely named task, from the first version of a problem to a strong solution, from an elegant idea to a test against reality.
At its core is TRIZ as the engineering heart of strong thinking: contradictions, resources, the ideal result, and finding the solution inside the system itself. Systems thinking, CBT, NVC, JTBD, and Lean Startup are used as additional layers: to see more clearly, frame more precisely, account for people, and test ideas in practice.
The route of the book
- 01
See the task
Separate the real task from the first, convenient version of the problem.
- 02
Clear your perception
Sort out what is fact, what is interpretation, and what is fear, a guess, or a habitual conclusion.
- 03
Find the contradiction
See where the requirements collide, and stop settling for a weak compromise.
- 04
See the system
Understand the links, constraints, delays, and rules that hold the problem in place.
- 05
Test the solution against reality
Run a small, honest test instead of trusting an elegant scheme.
This is not a set of scattered methods. It's a single route: from a vague sense of a problem to a precisely named task, a strong solution, and a test against reality.
Who it's for
For people who work on hard problems and don't want to spend their effort in the wrong place.
- Founders
- Developers
- Product people
- Managers and leads
- Writers
- Anyone making hard decisions
What's inside
Introduction
Why the first version of a problem is almost always incomplete, and where a thirst for reality begins.
12 chapters
The path from event, thought, and reaction to the real task, contradictions, resources, the system, and testing the solution.
Finale
The cycle of a strong solution: how to assemble the book's tools into one working route.
Practical exercises
In every chapter you work on a real task, not an abstract test for the sake of it.
Chapter summaries
A short map of the book, to refresh the meaning quickly and return to the right place.
How to apply
A concrete translation of the chapter's idea into action.
Where it may not work
The honest limits of the tool and the situations where it can mislead.
A 5-minute check
A quick test: has the solution drifted back into self-deception?
Preorder
The preorder is open to those who care about clear thinking, strong solutions, and testing ideas honestly against reality.
The full PDF edition, every update before release, and the final version after launch.
The same, plus extra support for the work on the book.
The same, plus meaningful support for independent author's work.
If Leanpub or PayPal aren't available in your country, write to me and I'll suggest an alternative.
Frequently asked questions
When does the book come out? +
The book is in progress. I'll share the exact release date with everyone who preorders. Updates on the progress will arrive along the way.
What do I get with a preorder? +
The PDF edition at the fixed preorder price, and every update at no extra cost.
Which payment methods are available? +
The main preorder goes through Leanpub. You can also support the project via PayPal. If these methods aren't available in your country, write to me and I'll suggest an alternative.
What if the payment doesn't go through? +
Write to me using the contact provided. I'll look into it and suggest another payment method.
Is it a finished book or a work in progress? +
It's a work in progress. The introduction and structure are ready; the chapters are being written and refined. A preorder gives you access to the final PDF edition after release.
Will there be updates? +
Yes. Everyone who preorders receives updates before release and the final version of the book.
What if the book never comes out? +
If the book doesn't come out for any reason, I'll refund the preorder. Honesty toward the reader matters more than the sale.
A Thirst for Reality
How to see the real task, find strong solutions, and act without self-deception
Preorder on Leanpub for $9