A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future by Daniel H. Pink
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Book Reviews of A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future
Book Review: A Whole New Way of Thinking
Summary: 4 Stars
Keeping a usually uninterested college student intrigued is a feat that many books do not overcome. But Daniel Pink's "A Whole New World" is chock full of stories and tips that keep even the most inattentive on their toes. With complex ideas put in easy to understand terms, Pink's book offers a new way of thinking and acting in order to achieve success.
By embracing the six "money-making" senses Pink provides, any individual can pursue a successful future. Design, story, symphony, empathy, play and meaning make up these characteristics. If these new "right brain" ways are not taken and incorporated into your everyday life, your job may suffer. According to Pink, Abundance, Asia and Automation are three additional threats to your job security. Can your job can be done cheaper overseas? Can it be done faster by a computer? Is your job one of many providing the same service or product? If yes is the answer to any of the three questions, you might be in danger.
Although I believe that Pink's six aptitudes can be applied in order to achieve success, it is not true in all circumstances. Some of them are more socially and culturally directed. For example, story can impact the way of life in a more primitive and traditional culture than our own. In a particular African culture, a story may tell how the wind and sand came together to create mankind. To us, their stories may sound ridiculous and would not have a profound effect on our everyday lives. Another example would be design. A design that we find delightful and aesthetically pleasing might offend another culture.
Pink wisely crafted "A Whole New Mind" to cater to the younger population as well as making it pleasurable and hard-hitting for the older generations as well. It will be interesting to see if Pink's predictions are correct in the time to come.
Book Review: Into the Future
Summary: 4 Stars
From my standpoint I can see where Daniel Pink is formulating all his thoughts concerning logistics (left brain) versus imagination (right brain), but I don't entirely agree with all of his comments in A Whole New Mind. His tone sounds as if there will be no jobs for anyone with analytical strengths. It seems as if there is a sense of "machines will take over the world" drama. Pink's reasons are very convincing and factual about creativity rising within the job market but it doesn't necessarily mean that everything stated in his book is actually going to occur. Pink's methods may contribute to making more money in the future, but not all jobs want their employees to be the creative types. Some may strictly want employees who execute as they are assigned.
The book challenges people to simulate their minds in logical reasoning and creative purpose. Through deep analysis of the brain's workings Pink states his thoughts on the future and how humans should use their brains in preparation for the future. Pink states that the right brains are rising to balance out the artistic, emotional, and purposeful side of humans that isn't utilized often.
Abundance, Asia, and automation are the set reasons for the arousal of the right brain. The standard of living is higher than ever before. Asian countries can execute left brain jobs for cheaper wages. Machines are more precise and less emotionally attached; hence jobs will also go to the cheap machinery that can do it better, rather than an inconsistent human. The Conceptual Age, as Pink calls it, has sparked because of these three reasons.
There are six specific impressions that Pink believes would greatly benefit human brains as a whole and improve job security. Design, story, symphony, empathy, play, and meaning are those six impressions. By assimilating Pink's justifiable reasons and six impressions anyone can be a force in the Conceptual Age.
Book Review: A Whole New Analysis of a Whole New Mind
Summary: 4 Stars
Read the book ... even if you don't agree with the topic
Have you ever read a book and felt like the author was writing directly towards you? If not, Daniel Pink's book "A Whole New Mind" is a perfect example. Not only does Pink write, but he predicts and acts upon what he believes readers will be thinking or doing while reading his book.
Pink uses interactive portfolios to provide as a distraction from the consumption of information. I personally find little enjoyment in reading long winded books, but Pink made the time fly by. His writing is informal, but yet somewhat profound at the same time. I do not get the impression that he is trying to convince everyone to convert to his style of thinking. Instead, he seems to only want to suggest that his ideas are plausible and could give readers an advantage if proven accurate.
Just as a heart defibrillator can restart a heart, Daniel Pink's self help book "A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future" tries to revive the half of the brain in which we have deprived of attention. According to Pink, we can no longer rely on the abilities of out left-brain in order to find success. He claims the Industrial Age thrived on left-brain abilities similar to those that can be measured by the SAT. Now that the country is transitioning into a new era, Pink declares we, as a generation, must alter our way of thinking.
He advises readers to use their "whole mind" instead of only thinking rational, analytical, and logically. Strengthening the right-brain involves mastering what Pink considers the "six senses." They include design, story, symphony, empathy, and play. Why are these "senses" important? It is because the world is shifting into an age in which creativity thrives. Creativity is unique to each person, and it is one of the few advantages people have over computers.
Pink exclaims we must ask ourselves three questions in preparation for this shift in ages. Can someone overseas do it cheaper? Can a computer do it faster? Is what I'm offering in demand? Pink shows statistics backing up his arguments that jobs are being moved overseas, computers are replacing workers, and that products that merely function are not being bought.
Pink also stresses the importance of right brain thinking, but continuously points out that it alone will not suffice. He claims the right and left hemisphere of the brain work as compliments; each offering a different point of view. In theory the "whole new mind" Pink speaks of is the same old mind, but with its potential activated.
Book Review: Mike and Ike
Summary: 4 Stars
Daniel H. Pink's book "A Whole New Mind" discusses how design, story, symphony, empathy, play, and meaning can change how we view and function in the world. As new technology and theories of thought are introduced almost daily, the previous and upcoming generation of doctors, artists, software programmers, and housewives alike must reevaluate their perspectives on how things are "traditionally" or "typically" done. Pink states that there are two types of thinking involving the left and right hemispheres of the brain that determines how we remember details, work through problems, and explains our emotions in certain situations.
"A Whole New Mind" by Daniel H. Pink tells the tale of an author trying to convey his thoughts, as well as those of renowned doctors, Nobel Prize winners, and major corporate CEO's, in a revolutionary way that is sure to bring at least a tiny shock to the system. Pink states that the two halves of the brain, the left and right, are capable of functions that are different from the other. Despite the fact that the two halves can and do work in harmony, they are complete opposites. Like a hippie vying for the legalization of weed, and a stiff necked senator fighting for the banning of same sex marriages, the right and left hemispheres of the brain see the world in contrasting shades. Pink gives accurate descriptions of how the left-brain deals more with sequential events, speech, and understanding what is spoken, while the right brain deals with fine details and is portrayed as the more "liberal" and "artistic" side that allows us to accurately identify facial expressions. Pink states that the day is coming when right brained thinking will over rule and outdate left brain thinking because corporations are looking for people who are capable of delivering accurate statistics and data, as well as be able to display their artistic side through design and concept.
With corporations sending work that provided high paying salaries to citizens in the United States to countries like Asia and India, employees must step up their game in order to beat out their fellow brothers and sisters over seas. "A Whole New Mind" proved an easy read in language and concept. I have no complaints or criticisms about how Pink created the layout of his book, and it gave me a feel for his writing style and flair. Pink writes with a sort of quirky humor and speech that often made me pause when reading. His words are simple and easily understood. The length of the book was just perfect in my opinion about the topic he discussed. Pink neither overworked his point, nor did he leave the reader feeling lacking about the topic. Throughout the book are examples, pictures, and quotes from time and history. Pink gives his book and content a sense of validity and credibility with mentions of professors from prestigious universities such as Columbia and Carnegie Mellon. When reading "A Whole New Mind," the reader is able to walk away with facts about design, symphony, play, meaning, empathy, and story, and how these six words can bring a new meaning to your life by leaning more towards right-brained thinking.
Book Review: Thoughts From My Old Mind
Summary: 4 Stars
Imagine you sit down for a job interview at a big corporation, nervous about the tense questioning. Instead, the interviewer hands you a piece of paper and a pack of crayons. He then informs you to draw something imaginative and creative. Sounds crazy, doesn't it? Well in Daniel Pink's book, "A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future," he shows the reader that this may not be too far away.
It may sound ridiculous, but in his book, Pink utilizes facts, surveys, and accounts from a variety of sources in order to show that America is facing a change. As a freshman at Drexel University, I was assigned this book in my English class. At first, it appeared to be slightly preachy and repetitive. But after a while, the book grew on me, and I began to enjoy his theories about the workforce. He uses plain language to translate the scientific "stuff" that backs up his statements. Simply, put, anyone could read and understand the book.
Pink begins by explaining the duality of our brains, stating that the right side is the imaginative half, while the left is the logical part. He then carries this theme throughout the book as he explains how abundance, Asia, and automation are slowly forcing America to become much more design oriented and conceptual, rather than systematic. Contrary to prior beliefs, Pink states that the right side is just as important as the left side. He shows that we should combine the skills of both halves, to have a much more successful and enriching life.
He then lays out his master plan of the book; the six senses. They are: Design, Story, Symphony, Empathy, Play, and Meaning. Pink believes that these six skills will be integral in the workforce of tomorrow. Each one is discussed in depth, in plain old English, with easy to follow guides on how to change one's life. For example, he discusses the importance of play in the office, and how many companies allow their employees to play with toys to promote a stress-free environment. Overall, these senses appear to be very practical and useful in life today.
I enjoyed most of Pink's book, and to an extent, I agree with it. However, I have a few issues with Pink's views. While I do agree with his statements about the changing of times, I feel that his future is slightly exaggerated. He seems to he put too much emphasis on creative thinking, leaving no room for the book smart individuals. In ten years, I think mathematicians, engineers, and computer programmers will still be able to obtain great jobs, despite the change. I'm also unsure of his ideas about other countries. He seems to think that America is the only country capable of innovation and creativity. I feel that these few issues hurt his arguments, but overall do not ruin the book.
As a whole, I enjoyed his book. It offers many fresh new ideas that can be extremely helpful to any person. His six senses are valuable to today's occupations, and I feel that even if this "right-brain revolution" never happens, these senses would still help people greatly. I would recommend this book to a friend, or anyone who wishes to find a new outlook on life, or a little fuel for the creativity fire.