A Whole New Mind by Daniel H. Pink

A Whole New Mind by Daniel H. Pink

Publisher: Riverhead (March 2006)

294 pages, Audiobook (purchased myself for $4.99)

Book Rating: 5 Stars

For the past few decades, the modern workforce centralized around people who excelled at left brained activities. But due to abundance, automation, and cheap labor overseas, the modern workforce will have to excel at both left and right brain activities. This is the central argument in Daniel Pink's book A Whole New Mind. 

In the first section, Daniel Pink outlines the current migration from the knowledge age to the conceptual age by contrasting left and right hemisphere thinking, arguing that cheap foreign labor and software is devaluing left hemisphere and increasing the importance of whole minded (right and left brain) thinking. 

The second half is focused on what Mr. Pink calls the six senses, aptitudes that are essential to compete in the conceptual age:  design, story, symphony, empathy, play, and meaning. A chapter is devoted for each aptitude.  At the end of each chapter a portfolio is provided with exercises and resources. 

A Whole New Mind is an intelligent, but simplified look at the changes coming in our future economy. It's raising an important flag in a world that still over values science and engineering, and looks down on the liberal arts.

The Frontiersmen by Allan W. Eckert

The Frontiersmen by Allan W. Eckert

Winning of America Series, Book 1

Publisher: Jesse Stuart Foundation (August 2011)

652 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $9.99)

Book Rating: 5 Stars

Content Note: Includes Mild Sexual Content and Violent, Gruesome Battle Scenes

Beginning in 1755, with the birth of this story’s central character, Simon Kenton, and ending with his death in 1836, this is a non-fictional history told in the style of a novel, following three main characters (Simon Kenton, Blue Jacket and Tecumseh) and their exploits in the Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky wilderness from 1768 through the resolution of the Battle of 1812. The story is told from both the viewpoint of the Frontiersmen and the Shawnee Indians. Other notable characters such as Daniel Boone also play a large part. The story is presented in such a compelling way, that I will never again think of history as a dry subject and I had no problem at all making my way through this large book. I appreciated that all major and minor characters featured in the book either met their resolution in the course of the story or in the following epilogue, so I wasn’t left wondering what happened to anyone. This is an excellent book and I look forward to reading other books in this Winning of America series!

White People, Indians and Highlanders by Colin G. Calloway

White People, Indians and Highlanders by Colin G. Calloway

Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (July 2008)

391 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $13.72)

Book Rating: 5 Stars

This book is about the similarities in culture and history of the Scottish Highlanders and the Native Americans, particularly the commonalities of their interactions with the English, the removal from their homelands and the decline of their cultures as they knew it. An interesting look at events and perspectives usually left out of most history books. While there are obvious differences between the two cultures and their historical experience, the similarities are astounding and very thought provoking. There is also a bit of commentary at the end regarding the significance of modern day people identifying with ones ancestry or heritage; idealized, romanticized or real. Interesting read!

Silent Fields by Roger Lovegrove

Silent Fields by Roger Lovegrove

Publisher: OUP Oxford (September 2008)

415 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $16.47)

Book Rating: 4 Stars

This is the story of the decline in both abundance and diversity of the wildlife of Britain, in the name of safety, in the name of food source and game preservation, in the name of fashion and in the name of entertainment through sportsmen with a passion for hunting, trapping and collecting, but also due to environmental and land use changes through history. This isn't exactly typical pleasure reading material; this is a scholarly work, with lots of statistics, charts and exploration of minutiae, but if you have an interest in the subject matter, this is an invaluable resource. The historical and political events that led to the Scottish Highlands being something of a last frontier with regard to wildlife and wilderness and the events that led to its eventual exploitation, I found very interesting. If you have an interest, this is an excellent read!

The World Without Us by Alan Weisman

The World Without Us by Alan Weisman

Publisher: Picador (August 2008)

432 pages, Paperback (purchased myself for $10.20)

Book Rating: 5 Stars

A fascinating look at what would likely become of the world if humans as a whole were to suddenly disappear. The conclusions are based on what has happened to small areas of the world that have been abandoned for one reason or another, as well as scientific research and observations of the natural world. Without our interference, it appears the world would largely return to its natural state relatively quickly, with a few exceptions. What is expected to remain from our civilization long term, isn’t  in most cases, what we would wish to be remembered for. The thoughts on the downfall of the Mayan civilization being caused by their society getting too removed from basic necessities, definitely gave me something to ponder. Thought-provoking read!

Imagine: How Creativity Works by Jonah Lehrer

Imagine: How Creativity Works by Jonah Lehrer

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (March 2012)

256 pages, Audiobook (purchased myself for $19.95)

Book Rating: 5 Stars

Creativity has been thought of as a gift to a privileged few. Jonah Lehrer, in his new book "Imagine" tries to dispel that myth.  Using the latest studies in science and psychology, Jonah uses an array of studies and experiences to help describe the creative processes and where it comes from. 

Jonah starts out the first part of his book on looking at the different parts of the creative process and how they all fit together. He first looks at insight, and with the help of the latest research in neuroscience shows how insight is found through the making of new neurological connections which is the primary job of the right hemisphere. 

Insight, however, is not the end of the creativity process. Jonah then goes over how time is an extremely important component to the creative process, and how drugs like Benzedrine could help artists and poets refine their art by allowing them to greatly focus on their art over long periods of time. 

The last part of his book, Jonah writes on how our environment and culture affect our creativity. He cites research on how urban density, if done correctly, helps produce creative ideas. He also looks at how some highly creative companies have changed their work environments to help foster the creative processes discussed earlier in the book. 

Some more empirically driven people might not like Jonah's approach. There are many scientific studies cited in the book, but there is quite a bit of references to experiences and insight from many who do not wear a scientific lab coat. Good ideas can come from anywhere, and Jonah did an excellent job researching this book

Imagine is an insightful and readable book that will help anybody with an open mind better understand creativity and where it comes from.

Note: This book has recently become unavailable through the publisher due to allegations that the author falsified some quotations that were included in the book (specifically quotations attributed to Bob Dylan).

Gap Creek by Robert Morgan

Gap Creek by Robert Morgan

Publisher: Algonquin Books (January 1999)

335 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $8.25)

Book Rating: 4 Stars

Content Note: Includes Sexual Situations and Child Death Scenes

Julie and Hank married young after a very short courtship and left the mountain filled with the hope of a newlywed couple in love, only to be thrown almost immediately into the harsh, stark realities of life. Julie had unbelievable strength, courage and tolerance through all of the trials she faces in her new life. I didn’t like Hank through much of the story, but I think it was only because he had a fair amount of growing up to do before he truly became a man and not just a boy trying desperately to act like one. I have known many men like Hank, and I felt it was sad, but an eerily real depiction of such a person. By the end of this story I admired, Julie and Hank, and could see strength and light in them both.

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Hunger Games Trilogy, Book 3

Publisher: Scholastic Press (August 2010)

404 pages, eBook (purchased myself in a Trilogy Bundle for $18.99)

Book Rating: 4 Stars

The Capitol is growing desperate as Katniss is incorporated into the rebellion, for the most part against her will. This last book is a wonderful example of how anything taken to an extreme is sure to be a bad thing. No matter what side you are on, once the line is crossed, it pretty much looks the same from either side. I felt this book was almost entirely a slow, depressing slide to the end, and there isn’t much left at the finish, but what does remain is beautiful and powerful. Wonderful series!

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Hunger Games Trilogy, Book 2

Publisher: Scholastic Press (June 2010)

391 pages, eBook (purchased myself in a Trilogy Bundle for $18.99)

Book Rating: 4 Stars

Katniss continues to be extremely confused about the two men in her life, Peeta and Gale, while uprisings begin in many districts, the dangers of the Quarter Quell nears, and it becomes clear that the Capitol holds Katniss responsible for the unrest, making blatant threats to all she holds dear. Though she’s still not my favorite character, Katniss’s obvious bewilderment over the Peeta and Gale situation, makes me feel a bit better about her, if nothing else just to know that she isn’t just being cold out of spite. You can’t help but like Peeta, the man has few if any flaws, and he continues as such. The Capitol in all their ugliness is finally revealed in this story, and I’ll be interested to see how it all turns out in the last book in this series, Mockingjay.

Movie Adaptations/Modern Retellings/Related Works:

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)

Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth

Movie Rating: PG-13

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Hunger Games Trilogy, Book 1

Publisher: Scholastic Press (September 2009)

387 pages, eBook (purchased myself in a Trilogy Bundle for $18.99)

Book Rating: 4 Stars

Katniss Everdeen was honorable, strong-minded and courageous, but she also had a coldness and excessive pessimism about her, particularly toward Peeta, that I could not like. Even though I didn't much care for her as a character, I did enjoy this story. A very different world, presented in first person, and a story that holds you captive to the end. I look forward to reading the second book in this series, Catching Fire, and I hold out hope that I will warm to Katniss as the series continues.

Movie Adaptations/Modern Retellings/Related Works:

The Hunger Games (2012)

Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth

Movie Rating: PG-13

My Rating: 4 Stars

Adaption: Verbatim-Tweaked-Veiled

Eye Candy: Plain-Pretty-Sultry