Powerful ideas from top nonfiction
Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.
Start your free trial
Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
Listen to the Intro
Find Out Anything From Anyone, Anytime summary
James O. Pyle
Maryann Karinch
Secrets of Calculated Questioning From a Veteran Interrogator
15 mins
Brief summary
'Find Out Anything From Anyone, Anytime' by James O. Pyle and Maryann Karinch is a guide that teaches readers the skills and techniques necessary for successful information gathering through effective questioning and active listening.
Table of Contents
Find Out Anything From Anyone, Anytime
Summary of 7 key ideas
Audio & text in the Blinkist app
Key idea 1 of 7
Questions that start with who, what, where, why, when and how produce the best answers.
Do you get frustrated when people reply to your questions with a simple yes or no? To encourage a person to respond with full, illuminating answers, you need these six magic words: who, what, why, where, when and how. Let’s call them W-words.
Questions that begin with W-words are excellent because they don’t allow for simple yes/no answers. Consider this conversation between Jennie and her friend:
Jennie: “Did you go somewhere last night?”
Friend: “Yes.”
J: “Where did you go?”
F: “The cinema”
J: “But you hate the cinema, don’t you?”
F: “No”
J: “Why did you go?
F: “I was on a date with Bob, but it was raining, so we decided to go to the cinema.”
Did you notice that certain questions made it much easier for Jennie’s shy friend to reply with either a simple yes or no? When Jennie didn’t begin her question with a W-word, her friend was inclined to give a yes or no answer. Contrarily, when Jennie did use a W-word, her friend gave fuller, more satisfying responses – Jennie even managed to gather some juicy gossip about her date!
Questions that employ W-words are better because they’re less leading and confrontational.
The worst question that Jennie asked is, “But you hate the cinema, don’t you?” This question is very confrontational, forcing Jennie’s friend to disagree in order to respond.
In most situations, the person responding will merely agree with a leading question such as this. That’s because it’s the easiest way to respond and it often gives the questioner the answer they expect.
Want to see all full key ideas from Find Out Anything From Anyone, Anytime?
Key ideas in Find Out Anything From Anyone, Anytime
More knowledge in less time
Read or listen
Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
Find your next read
Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
Shortcasts New
We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.
What is Find Out Anything From Anyone, Anytime about?
Find Out Anything From Anyone, Anytime (2014) is a guide to asking questions that will elicit the responses you seek. The authors draw on decades of experience to show that everyone – from teachers to journalists to doctors – can benefit from asking the right questions in the right way.
Find Out Anything From Anyone, Anytime Review
Find Out Anything From Anyone, Anytime (2014) is a valuable resource for acquiring essential skills in information gathering and communication. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- It provides practical techniques that can be applied in various settings, allowing readers to become effective conversationalists and acquire valuable knowledge.
- With its emphasis on human psychology and understanding behavioral patterns, the book equips readers with the tools to ask the right questions and elicit useful information.
- The authors' wealth of real-life examples and practical tips make the book engaging and accessible, ensuring that readers can easily apply what they've learned in their daily lives.
Who should read Find Out Anything From Anyone, Anytime?
- Journalists, lawyers or anyone whose job involves asking a lot of questions
- People interested in the sociology of language
- Those wishing to improve their conversational techniques
Categories with Find Out Anything From Anyone, Anytime
Book summaries like Find Out Anything From Anyone, Anytime
People ❤️ Blinkist
Sven O.
It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.
Thi Viet Quynh N.
Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.
Jonathan A.
Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.
Renee D.
Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.
People also liked these summaries
4.7 Stars
Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
33 Million
Downloads on all platforms
10+ years
Experience igniting personal growth
Find Out Anything From Anyone, Anytime FAQs
What is the main message of Find Out Anything From Anyone, Anytime?
The main message of Find Out Anything From Anyone, Anytime is the power of effective questioning to gather information and build relationships.
How long does it take to read Find Out Anything From Anyone, Anytime?
The reading time for Find Out Anything From Anyone, Anytime varies depending on the reader's speed, but it typically takes several hours. However, the Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Find Out Anything From Anyone, Anytime a good book? Is it worth reading?
Find Out Anything From Anyone, Anytime is a valuable read for anyone looking to improve their communication skills. It provides practical tips and strategies for effective questioning and information gathering.
Who is the author of Find Out Anything From Anyone, Anytime?
The authors of Find Out Anything From Anyone, Anytime are James O. Pyle and Maryann Karinch.
What to read after Find Out Anything From Anyone, Anytime?
If you're wondering what to read next after Find Out Anything From Anyone, Anytime, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Dangerous Personalities by Joe Navarro
- Mindreader by David J. Lieberman
- Spy the Lie by Philip Houston
- Born Liars by Ian Leslie
- Everybody Lies by Seth Stephens-Davidowitz
- What Every BODY is Saying by Joe Navarro
- The First Minute by Chris Fenning
- Mind Magic by James R. Doty
- The 3-Minute Rule by Brant Pinvidic
- The Power of When by Michael Breus