A Whole New Mind
By Daniel H. Pink
Chapter 1: Right Brain Rising
We live in a world the demands a new perspective, a new set of rules, a whole new mind. In the first section Daniel Pink discusses the functions and characteristics of the left and right hemispheres of the brain and which kinds of thinking spring from those hemispheres. The right hemisphere controls the left side of the body, the left, the right side. The left brain is sequential, serial and responds to comprehension of events in a chronological manner, and operates speech, writing, reading; the right brain is simultaneous, geometric and instantaneous in comprehension and meaning, seeing many things at once. The left brain recognizes faces, interprets meaning from facial expression. As Pink says, the left brain is the picture, the right brain is the thousand words. In terms of language, the L-brain decodes the text; the R-brain decodes the context. An interesting detail about this is that in some languages like Hebrew and Arabic, words have no vowels, so meaning is anchored on to the context. In some ways, the L-brain looks at the dots, while the R-brain connects the dots. The R-brain also interprets metaphors.
Chapter 2: Abundance,
A few decades ago, we relied heavily upon the results of assessments like the SAT test and highly revered the education of MBAs for success in the business world. Pink argues that that age is dying and more creative thinking is in demand because L-brain resources are abundant in places, like India, for instance, where a majority tech support calls are funneled through from US companies in order to save big money hiring low-paid, highly-educated L-brain people.
We live in a world of extreme abundance (well, some of us…) We can buy designer products at discount prices because of the sheer abundance of available goods.
Automation is changing the need for the dominantly L-brain people. A computer can beat a world-class chess champion, an electronic law site can deal with many straightforward legal actions at a fraction of lawyer’s wages, a database can solve many ailments and diagnose medical conditions without the need of a physician because there are thousands of repeatable scenarios that can be computed and accurately assessed automatically. All of these conditions lead to the necessity for us to adapt to a new way of thinking with a more R-brain emphasis to tackle problems that 1. cannot be done more cheaply by someone else overseas, 2. cannot be done faster by a computer and, 3. transcends the materials needs and provides fellow humans with empathic solutions and comfort.
Chapter 3: High Concept, High Touch
Pink talks about the evolution of modern society from the age of agriculture, industrial, information, to the new 21st century: the conceptual age. Skills that are in most need now are conceptual, big-picture, creative, and empathetic. We need to have the ability to detect patterns and speak differently. In schools of medicine, it has been discovered that patients heal more quickly when treated by doctors who deal with them in a narrative manner, by learning their stories, not just their ailments. This approach yields better understanding of the patients and affords a deeper empathy for the patients.
Big business is starting to realize that creative, artistic types can better solve problems that the L-brain MBAs they had historically hired. Others traits for successful business managers are a sense of humor and playfulness. In this age more and more people are turning away from material desires and now seek meaning over the material.
No comments:
Post a Comment