In A Whole New Mind, Daniel Pink argued that America’s need for left-brain (logical, linear) skills has largely been replaced by automation (software) -- just as physical skills were replaced by machinery in the industrial revolution -- and he described what right-brain (creative, empathic) thinking adds that makes it critical to today’s business success. Now in Drive, Pink tackles how to motivate these creative workers (hint: think intrinsic empowerment, not extrinsic rewards and punishments).

His first 130+ pages rate 5 stars; they’re filled with highlighter-worthy content that’s developed logically and presented simply. They're followed by a 70-page “toolkit” for applying the principles that, while helpful and interesting, is laid out with huge fonts and lots of white space and feels frankly padded and dumbed-down.

Drive is recommended reading for anyone involved in motivating people in the workplace, school, or home ... though I wonder if Pink’s message might have reached even more readers if it had been published as the short, succinct book it really is. ( )