Technology+Leadership+book+summary


 * Daniel Pink - //A Whole New Mind//**

Daniel Pink has started a right brain revolution. His book //A Whole New Mind// paints a brand new picture for our society and our classrooms. It starts an era where the Right-Brain thinkers will prevail and excel in all walks of life where the Lefties did before.

Right Brained thinking will give rise to a conceptual era where things like artistry and empathy will be more important than accounting and software engineering. In this new Conceptual Era, six high-concept and high-touch attitudes, i.e. Right-Brain driven, are required. They are Design, Story, Symphony, Empathy, Play, and Meaning.

The book begins by looking at and explaining the left brain and right brain, instead of referring to a "one sided" idealogy in this PInk refers to right brain as R-directed and left as L-directed. In Pinks "L-Directed Thinking" the left brain is "sequential. literal, functional, textual and analytic." The "R-Directed thinking" means that the right side is "simultaneus, mataphorical, aesthetic, contextual, and synthetic." We see that of course both sides are necessary, but that one seems to prevail in us individually.

PInk then describes why now there is a need for R-directed thinking all around. He explains the markets in Asia and our abundant mass produced life styles have given ride to this. I particularly like this section since he really analyzes the spending habits of our era. "Only against a backdrop in overabundance could so many people seek beutiful trashcans and toilet brushes- converting mundane, utilitarian products into objects of desire." He later describes how "mastery of design, empathy, and play" are how objects stand out in our mass produced marketplace. Pink points out three basic questions: 1. Can someone overseas do it cheaper? 2. Can a computer do it faster? 3. Am I offering something that is in demand in an abundant age? While each business is unique by definition, Pink urges us to realize that high tech is no longer enough and that we need to "supplement our well-developed high-tech abilities with abilities that are high-concept and high-touch. High-concept equals the ability to create artistic and emotional beauty while High-touch is the ability to emphasize and to joy and elicit it in others.This book basically points out that anything that is repetitive, procedural and inherently left-brain, can be outsourced or programmed into a computer; leaving behind the uniquely human ability to perceive pattern and meaning using the right-brain. The rest of //A Whole New Mind// revolves around a discussion of six senses and suggested exercises and activities we can do to spur on and stimulate them.
 * 1) //Design// – more than functionality- focus on moving people by design.
 * 2) //Story// – Narrative added to products and services.
 * 3) //Symphony// – the big picture (not just details).
 * 4) //Empathy// – Beyond logic! Engage emotion and intuition.
 * 5) //Play// – Bringing humor and lightheartedness to business and products.
 * 6) //Meaning// – the purpose is the journey, give meaning to life from inside yourself.

In each of these six senses Daniel Pink himself takes art classes, does research, studies, and most importantly talks to people about these his endeavors.

What I love most of all about this book is the sweetness and heartfelt touch Daniel Pink gives to his writing. Every part of his book has some sort of great positivity in it and you cant help but believe what Pink is telling you. I do find it amusing that this type of new learning is the complete opposite of standardized testing and in all honesty how will we test or monitor it? But I do want to believe that our world is turning towards this creative minded revolution and I can't wait to see the results!