Book 2 Post 5

            In my fifth and final reading of A Whole New Mind written by Daniel Pink, Pink wrapped up the book with his conclusion on the six senses. He described the how a person can achieve symphony, empathy, play and meaning to enhance their ability at right-handed thinking.

            For symphony, Pink says you need to be able to put together the little pieces to make a big idea.  Pink says that one of the best ways to develop the aptitude of symphony is to learn how to draw. It allows your brain to make connections in the drawing and be creative. Pink also talked about how symphony is largely about relationships. People who hope to thrive in the conceptual age must understand the connections between diverse, and seemingly separate, disciplines. They must know how to link apparently unconnected elements to create something new.

            For empathy Pink discussed how it is feeling with someone else and that you should be imagining what it would be like to be that person. Empathy provides’ self-awareness and is an ethic for living. It’s a means of understanding other human beings, a universal language that connects us beyond country of culture.

I think empathy is a cool sense but I don’t really see how it gives you an advantage towards right-minded thinking. I wish Pink did a better job of explaining this one.

Pinks description of the final two senses I found were the most important. Both play and meaning are crucial parts to human nature and essential in every human life. The search for meaning is a drive that exists in all of us. Joyfulness makes us more productive and fulfilled. These two pieces are essential to everyone regardless of how you think and Pinks points about that were really fascinating. Overall, I liked this book and thought it provided some really good insight into how the human mind works.