a whole new mind

I just (finally) finished reading "A Whole New Mind", by Daniel Pink (Riverhead, 2005) which my good friend Chris gave me while I was in the US last year. It's a very insightful book, which talks about the need for us to develop "R-Directed Thinking ... [thinking] directed by right-brain attribute, toward right-brain results, focussing on developing six new "senses" - Design, Story, Symphony, Empathy, Play and Meaning.

I found it very helpful as someone who calls himself a "floater" - floating between what I would crudely (and probably terribly inaccurately) define as modern and post-modern thinking. I found myself realising that many of the frustrations I feel are because I want to function out of these senses, and yet know I need to spend time deliberately cultivating these senses, as they are not part of my "default" way of thinking. His "portfolios" at the end of each chapter, with practical ways to develop these abilities are a great way to explore which of these are natural and which need more work.

I highly recommend this book if you are spending time contemplating why you don't fit in with many of the structures and modes of thinking around you...