blink: Introduction

     From what I've read so far, blink by Malcolm Gladwell is sizing up to be an interesting and enjoyable read. I didn't get a chance to view Malcolm's TED talk, but I always enjoy books that are more didactic, as I can take away something from the book in addition to learning about something astounding, and judging from the introduction, blink looks like it will be one of those kinds of books. What I'm particularly interested in is how we I can cultivate my "adaptive unconscious" and make better instinctive judgments. And I feel like a book like this has the capacity to change the way I live and conduct myself, for the better, by making me look at my intuitive decisions more carefully. All in all, I am very excited to continue reading this book.

Paul Bennett finds design in the details

Don Norman on 3 ways good design makes you happy

Own TED Talk possibilities

     What I liked most about the TED talks I've viewed were the ones that surprised you about something that people don't usually give much thought to, such as the crows talk and the expectations talk. And since music is a big hobby of mine, I figure a talk about music would be fun to make and present, and enjoyable to watch if I pick the right topic to talk about. Some topics I've been considering, in order of most attractive first:


1. The science of mashups: Mashups have been becoming increasingly popular in contemporary music.What does it take to create one?

2. Common elements across popular music genres: Is there a "formula" to make the perfect song? By comparing similarities between hit songs, possibly I can find one.

3. Evolution of music with technology: How music has changed over the past decade in conjunction with technology, and what is in store for it in the future.

Top 3 Book Preferences

     My top 3 book choices are:

1. Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything by Steven D. Levitt & Stephen J. Dubner

      Levitt's talk on the economics and business side of the crack cocaine trade was easily one of the most interesting and entertaining talks I've seen so far. And I love being enjoyably surprised, so if his book is more of this type of bewildering analyses, then I am all for reading his book. I've also heard a lot about this book from friends and teachers but never got the chance to read it.

2. The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything by Ken Robinson & Lou Aronica

     Ken Robinson's talk on schools and creativity was also one of the talks I found most interesting and eye and mind opening. While Stephen Levitt's was surprising data, Ken's was a surprising argument with surprising data, and as a musician myself, I did agree with him on his points. I like the fact that he deals with creativity and passion, as I feel like these two are very important in someone's life in dealing with appreciating themselves for what they are, and thus I would enjoy reading this book.

3. Stumbling on Happiness by Daniel Gilbert

     I also found Dan Gilbert's talk on mistaken expectations very intriguing. I really liked the fact that his examples would make me say to myself, "I would have been one of those people," or "I would have done exactly that." And after reading the Amazon review, it sounds like the book is an extension of his presentation, in the way that we are most likely wrong in what we think we want or like, and therefore I would definitely want to read this book.

    

Ken Robinson says schools kill creativity

     Ken's TED talk raised some interesting points. He argued that schools place arts at the bottom of the educational hierarchy, when they should instead be taught with just as much importance as the bigger subjects such as math and language. And his example with the dancer was very strong and really hit home is argument, especially with the fact if given the same situation today, the girl would have most likely just been diagnosed with ADHD and given medications for it. I agree with Ken's opinion, but I think it's even worse than he pictures it. Sometimes, art is even looked down upon or laughed at. To some people, if you told them that you were going to school for music or to an art school, they would tell you that you wouldn't be able to find a job. And there's the classic "band geek" stereotype. This, coupled with the existing educational conditions for the arts, is what makes the arts all the more buried, and it shouldn't be.

Benjamin Zander on music and passion

     This TED talk was very eye-opening and inspiring. If I had to pick a category, I would probably say that I've listened to classical music before, but only the most well known pieces because I had to learn them or listen to them in band. But I never gave it the thought that Benjamin pointed out, and that is the range of emotions and feelings it can conjure up, and how some pieces can be like a story. I've always heard a piece of classical music and just thought of it as fast, slow, major, minor, but the way Benjamin pointed out the details of suspense like in a Shakespearean play made me look back on the classical music I've learned and how he makes a very true point.
     What I also like about these music TED talks is that it I feel like they get a different part of your brain involved. I would classify it as passive thinking, since while your brain is working, it is just working off of what you feel and not necessarily what you already know. Like in the Bobby McFerrin talk, Benjamin also got the audience involved when he asked them what note would come next, and even though you may not have studied music before, you can still passively feel that note. I find that very enjoyable, and enjoyable in a different way, since, like I said, it is more passive.