It's the first day of a new month, which means it's time to publish the new Book of the Month! And in anticipation of the 2026 Innovation Workshop, its longtime leading professor Dmitry Kulish shared his recommendation with us!
He recommends reading one of the most classic, mandatory, and essentially reference books for every startup founder, «The Mom Test» by Rob Fitzpatrick (written in 2014).
«The Mom Test» explains how to effectively communicate with clients and test the viability of business ideas. It provides question templates, conversational techniques, and examples of common mistakes. And, of course, it contains many practical case studies.
The title refers to a metaphor: if you ask your mom if she likes your idea, she'll probably say «yes»—but because she loves you, not because the idea is good. Similarly, people often give socially desirable answers: they want to be polite, avoid offending, they are afraid to appear incompetent. The book teaches you to recognize socially desirable answers and distinguish them from real signals: ask about the past, specific situations, and facts, not about a hypothetical future; delve into details, ask clarifying questions, and revisit contradictions.
«It's not anyone else's responsibility to show us the truth. It's our responsibility to find it» - R. Fitzpatrick
Wait for a new recommendation next month and don’t forget to write a comment when you read this book:)
#the_book_of_the_month
