A Whole New Mind Summary

Summary of A Whole New Mind Book by Daniel H. Pink

Name: A Whole New Mind
Rating: 4.5 (1536 reviews)
Author: Daniel H. Pink

4.5 . 1536 reviews

Short summary

The future belongs to a different set of people with a different kind of mind: artists, inventors, storytellers-creative and holistic “right-brainers” whose abilities mark the fault line between who gets ahead and who doesn't. In “A Whole New Mind,” bestselling author Daniel H. Pink outlines the basic human abilities that are absolute essentials for professional success and personal fulfillment — and explains how to master them. This book opens the door to a challenging and necessary new way of thinking about a future that's already here. Daniel H. Pink is the author of the provocative book, WHEN: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing. WHEN is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Washington Post, and Publishers Weekly bestseller. In this summary, you will learn about the most important high-concept, high-touch abilities that must be mastered to survive in the new age we're approaching. “Many popular writers have written that the right hemisphere is the key to expanding human thought, surviving trauma, healing autism, and more. It’s going to save us. It’s the seat of creativity, of the soul, and even great casserole ideas.” ~ Robert Ornstein

17 min

8 key points

11 insights

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Table of content

Summary of A Whole New Mind
About the author
What is A Whole New Mind about?
Who should read A Whole New Mind
Topics in A Whole New Mind

first key point

Over the years, the importance of the right side of the brain has been greatly undervalued

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The human brain is an extraordinary organ consisting typically of some 100 billion cells, each of which connects and communicates with about 10,000 other cells. These cells, put together, form an elaborate network that guides how we talk, eat, breathe, and move.

For all the brain’s complexity, however, its broad topography is simple and symmetrical. It is divided in the middle by a longitudinal line into two regions: the right and the left hemisphere. And until recently, scientists believed that the two regions were unequal.

The generally accepted notion was that the left side was the crucial half, the half that made us human. The right side was a subsidiary — an evolutionary remnant the modern human no longer needs. The left hemisphere, they believed, was rational, analytic, and logical, while the right hemisphere was mute, nonlinear, and instinctive.

There appear to be two modes of thinking,' Sperry wrote, 'represented rather separately in the left and right hemispheres, respectively. ~ Daniel H. Pink

It was in the 1950s when a Caltech professor, Roger W. Sperry, reshaped our understanding of the human brain. In a set of experiments on epileptic patients, Sperry discovered that the conventional school of thought was flawed.

Yes, our brains were divided into two hemispheres, but the right wasn’t inferior to the left. In fact, we humans are literally of two minds. The left hemisphere reasons sequentially, excels at analysis, and handles words. The right, on the other hand, reasons holistically, recognizes patterns, and interprets emotions and nonverbal expressions.

While the left hemisphere specializes in breaking things into details, only the right can see the big picture.

Language is one good example of the activities the left brain handles. To process language while we read or listen, the left hemisphere has to sequentially analyze symbols or words. However, the right hemisphere comes to the rescue when it's time to make complex connections in order to understand something. For example, when we encounter irony or metaphors while reading.

As much as we like talking about the hemispheres of the brain like each of them work in isolation, that is absolutely not the case. The two cerebral hemispheres are linked by a bundle of nerve fibers called the Corpus Callosum, so they are always in sync with each other. And the way these two sides of our brain relate essentially determines who we are. We'll learn more about this in the next chapter.

second key point

The relationship between the two regions of our brains determine, to a large extent, who we are

The way our cerebral hemispheres operate in relation to each other plays a big role in determining how individuals navigate their lives. Some people appear to be more comfortable with logical, sequential, computer-like reasoning. This set of people are what Daniel H. Pink calls the Left-Directed Thinkers. These people often venture into the fields of law, accounting, and engineering.

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third key point

Conceptual Age: The new age where Right-Directed Thinking is what makes the difference

fourth key point

The rise of the Conceptual Age has put a premium on design for modern business

fifth key point

We tend to recall stories far better than dry facts because they convey context and meaning

sixth key point

Being able to place facts in context and deliver them as a story is more important than ever

seventh key point

Seeing the big picture: a vital factor to staying relevant in a new age

eighth key point

Conclusion

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What is A Whole New Mind about?

In this thought-provoking book, the author explores the shift in the skills required for success in the modern world. Daniel H. Pink argues that the future belongs to individuals who possess right-brain qualities such as creativity, empathy, and intuition, rather than the traditional left-brain skills of logic and analysis. Through engaging anecdotes and compelling research, Pink presents a compelling case for the importance of cultivating a whole new mind to thrive in the ever-evolving future.

Who should read A Whole New Mind

Professionals seeking to thrive in a rapidly changing creative economy.
Entrepreneurs looking to harness the power of innovative thinking.
Students and educators interested in developing essential right-brain skills.

Topics in A Whole New Mind

Creativity Design Innovation Psychology Self-Discovery Leadership Marketing Entrepreneurship Personal Development Career Development Improving Memory Minimalism Learning Product Management Networking

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