Book review

'A Whole New Mind – Moving from the Information Age to the Conceptual Age' by Daniel H Pink

Are you a creator or empathiser? An artisan, a designer, an inventor? Do you operate with the big picture in mind, recognising patterns and seeking meaning for yourself and others? Do you prefer to play with ideas and possibilities rather than information or technical problems?

If so, 'A Whole New Mind' will help you celebrate, or at least appreciate, those essential right-brain aptitudes, and realise their absolute importance both now and in the future.   

This is an easy-to-read, enjoyable book, taking the reader through an analysis of the personal and economic issues of recent times, and into the potentials for work and life in the future. It sets out a rationale for understanding the changes we are beginning to experience as a result of globalisation and traditional economics, and explains the shift from our current information age into a conceptual age.

Specifically, Daniel Pink outlines how we might use the two sides of our brains to function differently and successfully in this new world. He explains six essential aptitudes upon which our work-life successes might be based. They are:

• design
• story
• symphony
• empathy
• play
• meaning.

Additionally, Pink includes hands-on activities and suggestions to help the reader expand their appreciation and enjoyment of these qualities. This approach of examine and understand, then do and reflect, makes this an enjoyable, useful and resourceful book for the career practitioner.

This book definitely gives heart to how work-life might be positively different in the future, and in this there is much to look forward to.

Reviewed by Ross Jones, Area Manager Central North, Career Services