Get Ahead, Create a Whole New Mind | A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future

Entertaining and Informative | A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future | Daniel H. Pink

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	• A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future Daniel H. Pink Riverhead Trade, 2006 - 288 pages average customer review:based on 202 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Pink's Common Senses

"A Whole New Mind", was very enjoyable to read. Though I may not agree with everything the author suggests, it is a very accurate prediction of where our country is headed. Pink's examples and personal anecdotes make the text easy to read but also adds a little bit of humor. Coincidently, humor is apart of one of Pink's six qualities to master to get an edge in the near future. With all of the facts presented, this book is very convincing, but if you step back and think Pink only includes facts and stories that support his theory. But why shouldn't he? It's his book and he wants it to sell. Neglected to be addressed is what is going to happen when other countries are producing just as many if not more creative, artistic workers? Competition, an endless cycle which will yield to yet another shift in the workforce. How will you get an edge? Who is more empathetic than the other? Which one is prettier? Pink gives great advice on how to become a more holistic thinker but I feel that these will only prove useful temporarily. However, A Whole New Mind, though redundant at times, made some excellent points and I think it is a good "heads up" as we enter this new phase as a country
Pink develops three reasons along with personal experiences to illustrate this shift. The abundance of products has abolished the need for utility. Pink presents current trends in outsourcing. Countries in Asia are producing more and more engineers and computer programmers that are willing to work very inexpensivelyElectronic competition is also a problem addressed by Pink. If a computer has the ability to do a certain task, then there is a good chance that a computer will eventually do that task quicker and more efficiently than a human.
In this new world of abstract thinking, there are certain traits that Pink believes are worth acquiring: design, story, symphony, empathy, play, and meaning. Pink first introduces design. He believes that through design, a person is able to broaden their mind. Telling a story is more likely to have a greater impact on someone rather than stating a fact. Not only are they easier to remember, but also easier to relate to. Pink's third skill is symphony. Being able to relate two things and see the relationship between them enables a person to think holistically. Play also becomes entwined in the work field. Pink has found that playing video games and adding humor exercises and sharpens the right side of your brain. Pink's surely last but not least aptitude is meaning. The desire to be happy is creating a need for purpose. So Pink suggests why not give people something they crave; meaning

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Get Ahead, Create a Whole New Mind

Daniel Pink's book, A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future, takes the reader on a journey of brain discovery. Pink differentiates between the left and right side of the brain saying that the left is the analytical and sequential side while the right brain is creative and sees the whole picture. Pink says that through his six techniques of Design, Story, Empathy, Symphony, Play, and Meaning people can become better equipped for the future workplace.

It is easy to see that in this era design is incorporated into every part of our lives. America likes pretty things; from furniture to shoes someone, at one point, designed it.

Pink mentions that people are all about story telling in the 21st century. Stories appeal to our emotions and help us remember otherwise meaningless things. Instead of instructions, people remember facts more when used in context, through narratives.

Empathy is another concept that is needed in many jobs. Nurses, for example, will never have to worry about their jobs due to the personal contact they make with their patients. This kind of care cannot be outsourced to other countries.

Pink says that Symphony is being able to see the big picture and how things relate to one another. A concept that is very much right brained.
Play, Pink discusses, used to be such a taboo topic in the workplace, but now laughter has been shown to bring people closer together in the workplace.

Lastly, Pink talks about Meaning as the last of his six "senses." People are now trying to find the meaning in things and in life rather than doing things just because.

Throughout the book, Pink incorporates quotes from research, people, and other books, making his facts come alive. His use of easy to understand language and integration of pictures makes this book a trouble-free read. Pink's well-researched ideas enhance his concepts such as the fact that L-Directed jobs are being outsourced to low wage countries. I don't agree with all of the things Pink wrote about. I think left brained jobs are not being outsourced as quickly as Pink believes, and people should not worry. It is definitely important to pick up some right brained techniques and build up creativity, but people will still have their jobs in ten years, even if they are software engineers.

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Entertaining and Informative

Overall I really enjoyed reading this book. It was entertaining and informative at the same time. Pink organized the book in such a way that it keeps you engaged the whole way through.
Daniel Pink's book "A Whole New Mind", offers insight into methods of developing one's brain for a new era filled with creativity. This short, easy read details why we are entering this new era and skills that will be essential for success.
Pink starts off by informing his readers about the two very different sides of the brain. The left side controls logical thinking, while the right side controls more creative ideas. While it was once thought that logical thinkers controlled the workplace, Pink explains that a new era is arising in which creative thinkers will rule.
There are three main reasons for this power shift; abundance, Asia, and automation. Pink explains these reasons in more depth and provides suggestions of how to overcome these obstacles.
Pink introduces six skills that are key for individuals to develop in this new creative era. These senses, as Pink refers to them, include design, story, symphony, empathy, play and meaning. Pink then details what each sense entails and exercises you can do to develop these skills.
While explaining the skills, Pink weaves in stories about his own experiences. The stories help make the book more enjoyable.
I feel that Pink presented his arguments in a thought-provoking manner. As a college student I felt this really opened my mind and helped me realize I can have some fun with my work. Although I don't think everyone needs to read this book to be successful, I feel that it will greatly open people's minds to help them become whole-minded thinkers.

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A Good One to Read

In Daniel H. Pink's, "A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future", he gives a fresh approach to a new way of thinking. It is a witty depiction of the future in the economic world. In this book he outlines six senses that are essential to our future. They are design, story, symphony, empathy, play, and meaning. Each chapter, he goes into each sense with great detail, and even tells of ways that people can sharpen their own senses. This book is a perfect length, and stays interesting the whole way through. He has an appealing way of looking at things, and makes the reader say to themselves," I never thought of it like that before." He goes through each sense in a way that makes it easy for all readers to understand. Pink also explains L-Directed thinking; thinking geared more toward logic and concrete thoughts, and then moves on to R-Directed thinking; a more free form of thinking that is in touch with the senses.
The overall point of the book is explaining how currently humans are moving from the Information Age to the Conceptual Age, and how to be successful in making this transition. People must get in touch with their l-Directed thinking because eventually the skills that come with r-directed thinking will not be needed as badly.
Pink says there are three reasons for this shift in ages: Abundance, Asia, and Automation. Abundance focuses of the fact that in reality, nothing is really scarce and consumers have too many choices. Asia is a place where everything done in America can be outsourced by doing things faster and cheaper. Finally, automation focuses on computerization, robots, and other technological advances that humans can be easily beat at. To be successful people must ask themselves three questions about their current job; can a computer do it faster? Is what I'm offering in demand in an age of abundance? Can someone overseas do it cheaper? People who answered yes to any of these questions are the one who really need to focus more on the right side of their brain; developing creativity and thinking of unique ways to do their jobs before someone comes along and takes those jobs away. Pink stresses the need for parents and teachers to encourage creativity and individuality in students today. No longer is the desire to be an artist or a designer a frowned upon idea. Now, people are desperately in need of the unique-minded, and that's where r-directed thinking ties all together. A quick summary like this does not do the book justice. Pink gives readers a chance to have an epiphany when it comes to their careers and their futures. It is recommended to everyone to give this book a further read; no regrets will come with that decision.

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A Colleges Student's Review of A Whole New Mind

Daniel Pink's new book, A Whole New Mind: Why Right Brainers Will Rule the Future is filled with studies taken from all areas of the world, provides factual information to support his claim that our world is changing. Pink uses stories that are vivid and details that are astonishing to keep readers constantly at their feet. His writing is smooth and careful, and never challenges the mind to do anything but think about the point that Pink is trying to make. And this point was obvious, yet was surrounded by anecdotes that filled the mind with colorful stories about a changing world. Although maybe not as interesting and fun as a college student would like, this book challenged the mind to think about what their future would contain.
During the 1940's laughing while at work at a Ford Motor Company plant would be considered a disciplinary action. According to Daniel Pink's new book, A Whole New Mind: Why Right Brainers Will Rule the Future, this rule would not be acceptable in our changing world. Today, there are nearly 2,500 "Laughter Clubs" functioning across the world, operating to activate the right side of the brain by simply being playful. And according to Pink, activating the right side of the brain is necessary to keep up with the mind-boggling transformation occurring across the world. The right hemisphere of the brain controls actions and thoughts that involve synthesizing, creativity, and originality. And as Pink declares, the way people think and act is changing from an era filled with logical, analytical and clear-cut thinkers, to one where eccentric, sympathetic, and innovative thinkers lead the way. Pink blames this change in our world on three major factors; Asia, abundance, and automation. Since the "left brain" dominated jobs, that we saw in our past can now be accomplished by computers or have moved to Asia where they can be completed at a lower price, jobs of the future will obtain qualities that cannot be found in text books. Workers of our future will no longer be blue collared, logical men and women, but rather artistic designers and empathetic nurses. As said by Pink, adapting to this new and different way of life can easily be done. Daniel Pink offers six abilities, or guidelines to life, that will enable everybody to be successful in the "Age of Heart and Art." Pink believes that by being able to relate to design, story, symphony, empathy, play, and meaning, even the most simple-minded individuals will be successful in a world of creative minds and open hearts.

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