'A hymn to deviance and scrappiness and a rich repository of stories about how to work around
rules and norms to solve complex problems . . . Entertaining' Financial Times 'An original and
inspiring read for anyone interested in non-traditional problem-solving approaches' Olivier
Sibony bestselling co-author of Noise'This book helps us live happier successful and more
fulfilling lives' Jenn Lim CEO and co-founder of Delivering Happiness and bestselling author
of Beyond HappinessReal-world problems need real solutions. Often 'perfect' isn't an option
and we need something easy smart and quick: we need a workaround. In this groundbreaking book
Oxford University professor and award-winning researcher Paulo Savaget shows how the most
valuable lessons about problem-solving can be learned from the scrappiest poorest groups.
Savaget draws examples from organizations dedicated to social action that have made an art form
out of subverting the status quo proving themselves adept at achieving massive wins with
minimal resources. They do this by employing four particular workarounds: the piggyback the
loophole the roundabout and the next best. From remote Zambia to the waves of the North Sea
Brazilian mines to American biohackers The Four Workarounds shows how seemingly intractable
problems have been solved using unconventional tactics. Through these remarkable cases -
spanning public urination to the challenges of delivering life-saving medicine to remote
communities - we see how some of the world's most admired companies are already using Savaget's
research to transform the ways they do business. And they can revolutionize how we approach the
real challenges we encounter in our everyday lives.
