Curiosity is one of the most underrated skills in product management. It’s what keeps us learning, evolving, and digging deeper into what our users actually need—rather than what they say they want.
That’s why I try to keep a steady rhythm of reading, especially books that challenge how I think and work. The Mom Test by Rob Fitzpatrick recently made its way to the top of my list—and I’m glad it did.
It’s a short, punchy read (think 1–2 evenings) but packed with insights that changed how I approach early-stage user conversations. What struck me most is that the book clearly explains ideas I had to learn the hard way through trial and error. If I’d read this earlier in my career, I would’ve saved so much time—and probably had better conversations from day one.
If you’re building something new, validating a problem space, or just want to stop getting false positives from polite people—read this book.
Key Takeaways from The Mom Test
🧠 Talk About Their Life, Not Your Idea
Rather than pitching your idea and asking for feedback (“What do you think?”), ask about the user’s past behavior and real problems. This shifts the conversation from flattery to facts.
I once asked a potential user what they thought of a prototype. They smiled and said it looked cool. But when I asked about how they currently solve that problem, I realized they didn’t actually face it that often. That saved us weeks of work.
🎯 Avoid Compliments, Seek Facts
People want to be nice—especially friends and family. So they say things like, “Cool idea!” That doesn’t help you. Facts about pain points and actual behavior do.
🕵️ Specifics Over Generics
“The last time you had this problem, what did you do?” beats “Would you use something like this?” every time.
🤝 Commitments Over Praise
If someone’s truly interested, they’ll put something on the line—time, money, an intro. That’s the difference between a fan and a future customer.
🚨 Bad News = Good Signal
Negative feedback is gold. It shows you where your assumptions are off, and that’s where your product thinking can grow.
🌫 Fluff is the Enemy
If you’re hearing a lot of “maybe” or “sounds cool,” you’re likely not getting real data. Push for specifics—or walk away with your time intact.
☕ Keep It Casual
The best insights often come from informal chats. No slide decks, no pressure. Just curiosity and listening.
Why This Resonated With Me
Coming from an engineering background, I used to approach user interviews like requirements gathering: get input, make a spec, build. But The Mom Test helped me slow down and reframe those early conversations as learning opportunities, not just confirmation.
It’s also a great reminder that good questions are an art—and a craft we can all improve.
If you're looking for one book to shift how you think about validating ideas, this is it.
Want to Dive Deeper?
You can find more from Rob Fitzpatrick at momtestbook.com and on various podcasts—well worth a listen if you're in discovery mode.
Also: if you’ve read the book and applied it, I’d love to hear how it changed your approach. Let’s swap stories.
👉 Connect with me on LinkedIn or drop me a message. Always happy to share, chat, or recommend other reads.
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