“The Problem-First Method by Kevin Scott is a perfect book for managers, entrepreneurs, businesspeople, and leaders to dig down into the real problem before the solution. He provides strategies, tools, and techniques. He also discusses real case studies to avoid struggle and the real cause of the problem. He guides against purposeless effort and provides guidance, deep understanding of the problem, and a path to get rid of it. He guides us to keep looking at the problem until it gets resolved.”
“‘The Problem-First Method: A Framework for Innovative Product Builders’ by Kevin Dias explains how builders can identify real problems instead of rushing into solutions. It clearly separates problem statements from solution statements using real examples such as Autopay by SimplePractice and Juicero, showing how customer requests can easily mislead teams into building the wrong thing. It introduces the Feature Alignment Document (FAD), a tool that helps builders confirm they are solving the right problem.”
“Strong reflection on product-market fit. It clearly shows how copying competitor features can waste time if you don’t understand customer context. The lesson is sharp and practical: build for real workflows, not surface-level requests. Great reminder that speed means nothing if you’re solving the wrong problem.”
“I really enjoyed reading this book because it seems it was written by someone who has been through the ups and downs of building products, not someone trying to sound like a guru. The author is honest about mistakes, and that made the lessons much more real. I found this useful.”
“This was an insightful and engaging non-fiction read for any business or data-driven readers out there. The author finds a perfect balance between concise writing and a more personal tone, allowing them to reach the audience more quickly. Rather than feel like a lecture from a tech guru, the book feels more like a conversation between two people, as one relays their experiences and the lessons they’ve gleaned over a cup of coffee.”
“The Problem-First Method by Kevin Scott Dias is a fantastic manual designed to help people solve problems quickly and effectively and not chase their own tails. Solving the problem is not necessarily the answer because what is really important is solving why the problem is taking place. This book is a guide and a reminder to make sure you address the why, to take your time when coming up with solutions, and to make sure you are using your time in the best way possible.”
“‘The Problem-First Method’ is a refreshing reminder that great products start with understanding problems, not building features. Using his experience creating Ambiki, Kevin Dias shares practical lessons on why even the most talented teams often invest in solutions nobody truly needs. Through honest stories, industry examples, and proven strategies, he shows how to make problem-first thinking a lifelong habit. I liked the book’s straightforward and realistic approach on decision-making and problem-solving and how relatable the examples are. Highly recommend for anyone determined to build meaningful products that last.”
“The Problem-First Method offers a practical and insightful approach to product development, emphasizing the importance of understanding problems before rushing to solutions. Drawing from real-world experiences, Kevin Scott Dias presents useful frameworks and relatable examples that highlight common pitfalls faced by founders, product managers, and innovators. Clear, engaging, and grounded in practice, this book provides valuable lessons for anyone looking to build products that truly meet customer needs.”
“‘The Problem-First Method: A Framework for Innovative product Builders’ written by Kevin Scott Dias draws on his real world experience building Ambiki to make a convincing case for solving actual problems before jumping to solution. The hardest lesson is how to maintain discipline when customers hand you solution, sales want features by Friday and your ego whispers that of course you can build that. This book is highly recommended for founders and anyone tired of building things nobody actually need.”
“The book’s message is simple. Take an effort to find the actual problem and then you can create a solution that adds value to your customers. The author is articulative and shares real-life incidents of how he or some other company wasted their time in working on a solution by misreading a problem or just to catch up with their competitors, only to be rejected by their users. The author patiently guides his readers on steps to identify real problems which makes it easier to work on solutions that have sustainable value which customers would love.”
“If your team keeps shipping features nobody asked for, this book is the wake-up call you need. Kevin Dias draws on his real-world experience building Ambiki (a niche EMR for pediatric therapy) to make a convincing case for solving actual problems before jumping to solutions. The book opens with a gripping look at how even smart, well-resourced teams repeatedly fall into the same traps — and the real costs that follow. Dias backs every point with candid stories from his own product journey alongside some well-known industry disasters you’ll likely recognize.”
“What makes this stand out from typical product books is its lack of hype. There aren’t any revolutionary frameworks or big promises here. Just a clean slate and some really useful tools to help you figure out problems before you commit to answers. Clear, conversational, and self-aware. Highly recommended for founders and anyone tired of building things nobody actually needs.”
“Having spent almost 40 years in the B2B technology industry across both Sales and Customer Success leadership, I found The Problem-First Method to be one of those rare books that immediately resonates because it’s grounded in reality rather than theory.”
“This book is very insightful, helpful, filled with new ideas, honest and thought provoking. I ordered 4 more books to give to friends.”
“I work in IT, not as a builder, and picked this up because the author’s a friend. Turns out the method applies anywhere people bring you problems disguised as solutions. ‘The share is slow’ is never about the share. ‘We need SMS reminders’ is never about SMS. Problem-first is something most teams know they should do and somehow never do. This book is a clear, honest guide to actually getting there.”
“Excellent book. Kevin’s book really helps you to work through your business problems with various tools and stories and to help prevent you from drifting away from those problems. I highly recommend this book.”