I very much liked the premise of this book, especially the practical ideas at the end of each chapter, in which Pink gives resources for developing the various aspects of right-brain competence. ( )

This book is really worth reading. Its thesis is that, over the last hundred years or so, business has been dominated by left-brain thinking: logical, analytical, rational and so on. But now, because of three factors: abundance, the rise of Asia as a business power and the consequent outsourcing of jobs, and the automation of many routine tasks, Daniel Pink argues that the people who thrive in the coming years will be those who have learned to use their right brains as well, and can take a whole-brained, conceptual approach to their work. He identifies six traits that need to be developed: design, story, symphony, empathy, play, and meaning; and gives practical guidelines for nurturing each of these traits in yourself.

From my own observations of the world of business and marketing, I think Pink is spot on. I think the internet has also been a great catalyst in bringing about these changes, and would love to see a new edition that explores some of the things that are happening online. I added Dan's blog to my reader (www.danpink.com) to see what he's working on now. I would recommend this as almost a necessary read if you're in business. ( )

Because the author anchored his argument for change around "abundance, Asia, and automation," I struggled for the first few chapters to figure out the concept of "a whole new mind." Then I got a few more chapters into it, and I realized that, at the heart of things, this book is a tribute to the concept of the liberal arts education. It reads like a backlash against the engineering and B-school oriented educational tracks of the last 20 years, which is fine; but encouraging students to develop wide-ranging interests that include music, art, and other creative attributes is hardly new. This book's best use is to remind us that ultimately, it's the ability to think and analyze and change, and not any particular expertise, that will foster success. ( )

I found this book interesting. I'm a right-brainer who has tried to function as a left-brainer most of my life so it's exciting to see value in being right-brained in today's world. ( )