Right view on the Right brain



Trying to figure out different ways to kill my time at the SFO airport, I went to a bookstore and was browsing through the books. I went to the ‘Management’ section where I could see all the familiar and typical business books. I was about to move on to another section when I saw this bright orange colour book - A whole new mind. The lines ‘why Right brainers will rule the future’ fascinated me and I immediately picked up the book.













I must say that this book was definitely interesting. Right from the beginning all of us have undoubtedly accepted left brains in the king’s position at least as far as career options are concerned. A lot of importance was or is still given to left brain thinking ie analytical, logical and sequential which makes a good Engineer, C.A, Doctor or a Lawyer. Even most of the schools encourage left brain thinking and students are graded on that, because these are the professions that get paid well. Our definition of ‘intelligence’ is still limited to a person who cracks JEE, GMAT, CAT, GRE or at least NTS, MTS.

On the contrary this book tells us about how business and everyday life will soon be dominated by right-brain thinkers. And why this shift?. The reason is that it is no longer the much talked about Information age but a Conceptual age. The book offers a fresh look at what it takes to excel in this new Conceptual age. Most of the left brain work can be done with the help of machines, computers and in a much better way. According to Daniel Pink(the author), in the future to succeed, the qualities associated with the right brain thinking will differentiate you and take you ahead. He tells us about the keys to success which are in developing and cultivating six senses. These are design, story, symphony, empathy, play, and meaning. All of them are associated with the right brain.

I have seen a lot of people busy making their careers and futures till the age of say 25-30. They have only used their left brains till now. But slowly when they start facing different problems at work as well as personal life they realize the importance of right brain thinking.

This book is not only for people like designers, inventors, poets, artists and storytellers but mainly for people whose work essentially involves more of left brain thinking. So now let us hope that with this new thinking the right brain will also enjoy the King’s position together with the left brain and help us become successful in the new Conceptual age.

As a student of ‘Strategic Design for Business’ I come across many business and management books but this one made me think differently. 
If you want to make a difference do read this book :)







Comments

  1. SaeeNovember 3, 2010 at 3:17 AM

    Nice review. But I think it is not as distinct as completely left and right. I think every profession needs both. Left brain gives us the logic, the planning, the attention to details (which even artists need to manage their work) and right brain gives us the ability to imagine, see the big picture, feel passion (which is essential in science too).
    Either one without the other does not complete the picture.
    Cheers
    Saee

    ReplyDelete
  2. Neha TaksaleNovember 3, 2010 at 8:40 AM

    Hey first of all thanks for reading :)
    Exactly every profession needs both but up till now only the left brain thinking was considered superior.Now at least people have started realizing the importance of right brain thinking which is also equally important.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AmeyaNovember 3, 2010 at 10:31 AM

    Hey! Nice one! I agree Neha... The age old preference to the left brain over the right, to engineers over artists, to doctors over musicians... needs a change. Its time that the world starts looking at 'intelligence' in a new, different way..
    I personally do regard the right brain much higher than the left though... Creative thinking is much more difficult than analytical thinking...
    But yes Saee.. This is surely a topic of debate...

    ReplyDelete

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