[Questions] A Whole New Mind - pg.36-47

1. What surprised you?
-It is scary to know about possible future job loss. I had never heard of John Henry, maybe because he is not Canadian, but it was surprising to know a man like that (although he probably is imaginary) existed. I also did not know who Garry Kasparov was. It was interesting to find out about his defeat against the world's most powerful chess computer.

2. What did you already know?
- I knew that India has a lot of workers who work for big companies in US, UK and other major industrial countries, but I did not know that numbers are that high. Similarly, I knew that difference in salaries for US and more poor countries differ, but I had no idea the differences can be that large. ($5000 and $300 !!)

3. Brand-new words
-Bejeezus: mild expression of anger
-Battalions: ground force unit (army)
-Outstrip: surpass, excel
-Prowess: exceptional bravery or ability
-Parable: a short allegorical story designed to illustrate or teach some truth, religious principle, or moral lesson
-Egomaniacal: psychologically abnormal egotism
-Enfant:
-Tacit: understood without being openly expressed
-Preliminary: preceding and leading up to the main part
-Purveyor: a person who provides, or supplies
-Mystique: a framework of ideas, beliefs

4. What changes will you make after reading?
-I think I should start looking for a job that I can be safe with. I don't want to lose my job so quick.

5. What questions has this left with?
-Aren't we, by trying to create better and smarter technology that can do all the work without humans' guidance, putting ourselves into danger?

6. Other
-He kept on calling the L-Directed workers 'white-collar' workers. I don't think it's very nice to say that...
-The "tilting of R-Directed Thinking" may not occur that soon...

7. What connections have you made in real life?
-This section of the book has a lot of 'numbers'. It is scary to realize those numbers and think over whether what humans are doing is right or not. It leaves me with uneasiness and a lot of thoughts........

[Questions] A Whole New Mind - pg. 28-36

1. What surprised you?
-I was surpised that the clothes cost less now compared to two, three decades ago. I thought it would be more expensive or similar. Also the fact that America spends more money on trash bags that ninety other countries spend on everything.

2. What did you already know?
- It is not that much important, but I knew about the scholastic aptitude tests (PSAT, SAT, GMAT, etc) and that they are used to measure L-Directed thinking.

3. Brand-new words
Yesteryear - old fashioned
Stranglehold - Forceful situation
Excursion - A short trip
Swank - ostentatious
Unfathomable - difficult to understand
Quintessentially - relating to the nature of being typical
Unslaked - unsatisfied
Transcendence - surpassing others
Prosperity - flourishing
Bevy - A large group

4. What changes will you make after reading?
Although it is not very much book related, I think I will start to reduce the money spend on useless things and start saving the environment!

5. What questions has this left with?
How much can we depend on these facts that abundance is effecting our society to need more right-brainers?

Why is it that decade after decade, paradox of prosperity has risen, but personal, family, and life satisfaction haven't?

6. Other
The whole toilet brush talk was funny.

7. What connections have you made in real life?
- The book says that US in 1970's had parents who were expecting their children to go to college and become doctors, lawyers, and accountants. I can really related to this, because almost all Asian (at least Korean) parents are just the same.

[Questions] A Whole New Mind - pg.17-27

1) I learned about Amygdalas, which play crucial role in processing emotions, especially fear. I was surprised by the discovery that if it is something we've learned from experience, our left hemisphere works. It was interesting to read about L-Directed thinking and R-Directed thinking.


2) I knew that left hemisphere can rapidly go through sequential reasoning. I also knew that both left and right hemispheres always work together.


3) disdained - to regard or threat with haughty contempt; despise
transcendent - exceeding usual limits


4) I think I will start to look at things at a different angle, seeing things more right-brain way and different; intead of simply looking at what it looks like to me. I actually want to know more about neuroscientist, too.


5) -If our brains are all same in general shape and they function the same way, why do some people tend to prefer computer-like reasoning and others prefer non-linear reasoning?

- What is it that will be the turning point of this "change" from Information Age to a whole new mind?


6) I like the way this book is organized. Leading sentences from one chapter to another makes me curious.


7) I think I am more of a L-directed thinker. I tend to feel comfortable with strict, detailed plans and definite answers.