My rating *****(2/5)
How to think from your right brain and why is it going to be important
This topic is very dear to my heart. I literally believe that I am more of a right brained than a left brained person. That's why i picked up this book.
The book has been written with a good intention and vibes, but the sad thing is it seems to manifest more on the things which will prevent Americans job losses by outsourcing rather than a creative approach to attuning a whole minded approach. This is a book which is strictly to be read in America, as author suggests subtly. Though the book has been a soggy reading with complete reference to how America can improve it's attitude, i find some of the analogies interesting. There are no other learning points and the author completely fails to mention exactly why a right minded approach is needed.
About the book:
The author enumerates on the facts of how a right minded approach will benefit from future trends and changes; seemingly because we have exhausted our left-brain and need a Whole minded approach. The six senses which he thinks needed to develop this approach are: Design, Story, Symphony, Empathy, Play and Meaning.
Some interesting parts from the book:
Continuous references to Abundance, Asia and Automation are made, out of which two seems to be an outdated fact now. Abundance no longer exists with economic crisis and things getting dearer. Asians seem to be equally capable to excel at whole minded qualities and consequently more drain can happen and eventually more outsourcing. I think author should have at least given a thought to the 2nd approach (Asia), though the 1st part(Abundance) would have looked less predictable at the time of writing this book.
The author goes on to say more on Abundance mentioning about a designer toilet brush which is a sought after item these days. However, I am not sure if people would be really willing to care about it even if it's available at $ 5.99. I guess abundance doesn't necessarily applies to misuse of resources, if people seems to be concerned with buying a designer brush I can safely attribute this as a reasons for the current economic crisis.
I agree with his concept on Automation, which would eventually trigger skills other than a routine or expert skill which a computer cannot do. However, with advancements in AI and Expert Systems, and continuous effort of research around the world (my husband being one among them), can you believe they are researching their way to joblessness; I think automation needs to be seriously thought and human skills needs to be developed which would be irreplaceable even by machines. And it's going to be a tough skill to develop.
A good analogy is presented in terms of MBA compared to MFAs. In the past decade we have seen hoards of people including me developing skills in Management which is one of the most sought after skills in companies. These are attributed to Management of resources, knowledge and people and are highly sought after at work places of our times. MFA can replace management or typically left brained thinking because not only MFA needs to have a more diagnostic skill it can also help us develop a whole minded approach in terms of convergence between disciplines. We are seeing a convergence in inter-disciplinary studies like Computer Graphics, a favorite theme in MFA. Also my favorite are convergence topics related to Computer Sciences and Arts.
Author also highlights the 6 important skills we need to develop for a whole minded approach:
Not just function but also DESIGN- It is true to a large extend that Design is essential; especially with trends like ipod, iphone, and what not. I was so inspired by the concept that I even named my site ijuhi. Design is catchy and needs to be attractive, all the good things in one package, interesting but I believe functionality is easily more important in a product. I cannot be lured by an ipod if it was not easy to use. Hence, the sought after skills would be design with user friendliness. It can be a deadly combination.
The author suggests on how to be a designer by Keeping a design book, recording what can be improved and anything catchy observed. I like this suggestion and think a quick sketch will be ever better.Also author mentions flipping design books, which I love to do, but I would rather consider it as a moronic waste of time, and a better improvisation of time would be conceiving a design.
Not just argument but also STORY- Story is important when considering how to explain things to users, if you can relate them with a story, its simpler and much more fun. This also reminds me of the Google's approach to document Chrome's user manual in form of a comic strip. A very innovative approach and surely a much sought after skill of future. Another example, though not very related but interesting in field of AI is writing online personalized books.
Not just focus but also SYMPHONY: Looking at things from a different angle, inter related angle is what would be needed. Everyone will benefit from this skill by thinking in terms of how can I make things from one discipline relate to the other. I personally would like to see a convergence of thoughts in inter-disciplinary Computer Sciences and Art. The author very well relates significance of seeing that similarity; chances are converging them with another field will not only help solve similar problems in different fields but also develop inter-disciplinary relation.
Seeing the big picture is important. Often I flip pages of a book to get an overview of a chapter, a topic and eventually a book which confirms as per author that I am seeing the big picture too and ultimately attuned with a right brain. Seriously, with diminishing borders between fields finding a co-relation rather than independently working on a single problem in a single field can ease out the work. Lots of universities also seems to be offering courses in inter related fields.
Not just logic but also EMPATHY- How good we are as face readers would be significantly important.
Not just seriousness but also PLAY- If I am able to bring in some humor or playfulness, not only my work seems easier I think it also makes us a clear thinker finding relations between things becomes easier.
Not just accumulation but also MEANING- Eventually find meaning in life applies especially when we are no more in state of abundance. Over centuries humans have exploited enough resources- fossil fuels, trees, water, minerals (most of them are basics for survival) thinking we are in stage of abundance and our resources would never exhaust how much ever we misuse them. Sadly this attitude no longer will help, finding meanings in life and relating to what we are doing will not only be an appreciated skill but also a skill which will be the only surviving factor in coming decades.
The author has pointed out some good measures and skills to develop, but I wonder if that's all we can do to harness our so much under-estimated Right Brain. Are we still not being Left Brained and deciding for the Right one to do what it needs to do. The most important thing I believe is to provide the Right Brain enough environment to develop, not criticize it, but let it nurture naturally. I am sure, it can do wonders and will eventually be the strongest link to a Whole Minded Approach.
How to think from your right brain and why is it going to be important
This topic is very dear to my heart. I literally believe that I am more of a right brained than a left brained person. That's why i picked up this book.
The book has been written with a good intention and vibes, but the sad thing is it seems to manifest more on the things which will prevent Americans job losses by outsourcing rather than a creative approach to attuning a whole minded approach. This is a book which is strictly to be read in America, as author suggests subtly. Though the book has been a soggy reading with complete reference to how America can improve it's attitude, i find some of the analogies interesting. There are no other learning points and the author completely fails to mention exactly why a right minded approach is needed.
About the book:
The author enumerates on the facts of how a right minded approach will benefit from future trends and changes; seemingly because we have exhausted our left-brain and need a Whole minded approach. The six senses which he thinks needed to develop this approach are: Design, Story, Symphony, Empathy, Play and Meaning.
Some interesting parts from the book:
Continuous references to Abundance, Asia and Automation are made, out of which two seems to be an outdated fact now. Abundance no longer exists with economic crisis and things getting dearer. Asians seem to be equally capable to excel at whole minded qualities and consequently more drain can happen and eventually more outsourcing. I think author should have at least given a thought to the 2nd approach (Asia), though the 1st part(Abundance) would have looked less predictable at the time of writing this book.
The author goes on to say more on Abundance mentioning about a designer toilet brush which is a sought after item these days. However, I am not sure if people would be really willing to care about it even if it's available at $ 5.99. I guess abundance doesn't necessarily applies to misuse of resources, if people seems to be concerned with buying a designer brush I can safely attribute this as a reasons for the current economic crisis.
I agree with his concept on Automation, which would eventually trigger skills other than a routine or expert skill which a computer cannot do. However, with advancements in AI and Expert Systems, and continuous effort of research around the world (my husband being one among them), can you believe they are researching their way to joblessness; I think automation needs to be seriously thought and human skills needs to be developed which would be irreplaceable even by machines. And it's going to be a tough skill to develop.
A good analogy is presented in terms of MBA compared to MFAs. In the past decade we have seen hoards of people including me developing skills in Management which is one of the most sought after skills in companies. These are attributed to Management of resources, knowledge and people and are highly sought after at work places of our times. MFA can replace management or typically left brained thinking because not only MFA needs to have a more diagnostic skill it can also help us develop a whole minded approach in terms of convergence between disciplines. We are seeing a convergence in inter-disciplinary studies like Computer Graphics, a favorite theme in MFA. Also my favorite are convergence topics related to Computer Sciences and Arts.
Author also highlights the 6 important skills we need to develop for a whole minded approach:
Not just function but also DESIGN- It is true to a large extend that Design is essential; especially with trends like ipod, iphone, and what not. I was so inspired by the concept that I even named my site ijuhi. Design is catchy and needs to be attractive, all the good things in one package, interesting but I believe functionality is easily more important in a product. I cannot be lured by an ipod if it was not easy to use. Hence, the sought after skills would be design with user friendliness. It can be a deadly combination.
The author suggests on how to be a designer by Keeping a design book, recording what can be improved and anything catchy observed. I like this suggestion and think a quick sketch will be ever better.Also author mentions flipping design books, which I love to do, but I would rather consider it as a moronic waste of time, and a better improvisation of time would be conceiving a design.
Not just argument but also STORY- Story is important when considering how to explain things to users, if you can relate them with a story, its simpler and much more fun. This also reminds me of the Google's approach to document Chrome's user manual in form of a comic strip. A very innovative approach and surely a much sought after skill of future. Another example, though not very related but interesting in field of AI is writing online personalized books.
Not just focus but also SYMPHONY: Looking at things from a different angle, inter related angle is what would be needed. Everyone will benefit from this skill by thinking in terms of how can I make things from one discipline relate to the other. I personally would like to see a convergence of thoughts in inter-disciplinary Computer Sciences and Art. The author very well relates significance of seeing that similarity; chances are converging them with another field will not only help solve similar problems in different fields but also develop inter-disciplinary relation.
Seeing the big picture is important. Often I flip pages of a book to get an overview of a chapter, a topic and eventually a book which confirms as per author that I am seeing the big picture too and ultimately attuned with a right brain. Seriously, with diminishing borders between fields finding a co-relation rather than independently working on a single problem in a single field can ease out the work. Lots of universities also seems to be offering courses in inter related fields.
Not just logic but also EMPATHY- How good we are as face readers would be significantly important.
Not just seriousness but also PLAY- If I am able to bring in some humor or playfulness, not only my work seems easier I think it also makes us a clear thinker finding relations between things becomes easier.
Not just accumulation but also MEANING- Eventually find meaning in life applies especially when we are no more in state of abundance. Over centuries humans have exploited enough resources- fossil fuels, trees, water, minerals (most of them are basics for survival) thinking we are in stage of abundance and our resources would never exhaust how much ever we misuse them. Sadly this attitude no longer will help, finding meanings in life and relating to what we are doing will not only be an appreciated skill but also a skill which will be the only surviving factor in coming decades.
The author has pointed out some good measures and skills to develop, but I wonder if that's all we can do to harness our so much under-estimated Right Brain. Are we still not being Left Brained and deciding for the Right one to do what it needs to do. The most important thing I believe is to provide the Right Brain enough environment to develop, not criticize it, but let it nurture naturally. I am sure, it can do wonders and will eventually be the strongest link to a Whole Minded Approach.
