Daniel H. Pink's Blog, page 19

Ngram Faceoff: Girl and boy

Here's an Ngram Faceoff between girl (blue) and boy (red) in English from 1800 to 2008. Further evidence of the end of men? (Click the chart to get a larger version.)

Ngram Faceoff: Beef, chicken, pork

Here's an Ngram Faceoff among beef, chicken, and pork in English from 1800 to 2008.

Beef is the clear champion for long while, with pork a strong second during the 19th century. But look what happens to chicken around the Watergate era. (Click the chart to see a larger version.)

Ngram Faceoff: Hope and fear

During this quiet holiday week, we've decided to roll out a new feature on the Pink Blog — something we call the Ngram Faceoff.

Earlier this month, Google Labs launched its Books Ngram Viewer, a powerful (and addictive) piece of technology. Just type in a few words or phrases — and up pops a graph showing how often those words or phrases appeared in books over a certain period of time. For instance, on the Ngram Viewer information page, you can see a chart of "nursery school," "kindergarten," and "child care" between 1950 and 200. Note how "child care" languishes for 25 years, but then surpasses both of its counterparts around 1975.

So to spark some conversations, this week — and into the future — we look at some comparisons.

We begin with "hope" and "fear" in American English from 1900 to 2008. Hope (in blue) had a clear lead for most of the 20th century, but fear (in red) has made a rousing comeback and the duo have been locked in a pitched battle for the past generation. (Click the chart to get a larger version.)

Emotionally intelligent magnet (and road rage antidote)

Patrick Burns sends this example of an emotionally intelligent magnet, which cyclists can use inform bad drivers of their sins.  BoingBoing has a great post with more info.

Interview exchange of the day

From Deborah Solomon's New York Times Magazine interview with superstar physicist Brian Greene . . .

SOLOMON: Do you think SAT scores define intelligence?

GREENE: No. They define the capacity to answer questions on an SAT test.

Who else wants to contribute to the paperback edition of Drive?

In recent weeks, I've begun working on the paperback edition of Drive. This new edition of the book, slated for release in about six months, will include up-to-the-minute studies, fresh examples, and lots more tools, tips, and exercises. But to make it even more valuable for readers, I'd love to get your input.

Here's a very short survey that asks the three questions:

How have you used the ideas in Drive?
What topic would you like me to expand on further?
What is one tool, tip, exercise, best practice, or reading that's not currently in the book that you think is worth including in the paperback edition?

If you have two minutes, please share your thoughts on any or all of these questions.

At the bottom of the survey, you'll also see a field for your name and email address. You don't have to fill those out if you don't feel like it. But if you do, as a small thank-you for your feedback, I'll mention you on the Acknowledgements page of the paperback. (We need your email address in order to verify your name, but we won't use it for any other purpose.)

Just click here to fill out the survey.

There are two kinds of people in the world . . .

Those who make your life easier — and those who make it harder.

Those whose presence helps you perform better — and those whose presence makes you do worse.

Those concerned about doing the work — and those concerned about getting the credit.

Those who leave you feeling up — and those who leave you feeling down.

Those who simplify — and those who complicate.

Those who listen when others are talking — and those who wait when others are talking.

Those who give — and those who take.

Those who last — and those who fade.

Which are you?

The power of noncommissioned work

Who are these two guys — and what can they teach you about innovation? The answer is in this month's Sunday Telegraph column.

A holiday freebie for readers

It's been a zooey few weeks, thus the radio silence from the Pink Blog. However, over the next few days I'm hoping to catch you up on a few projects.

But first . . . a freebie!

Maybe you've been planning to give Drive as a holiday gift. And maybe you think your present would be even more special if it were adorned with, say, an official signed Drive bookplate.

Well, your prayers are answered.

If you'd like a signed bookplate -– for that special someone or for little old you -– just complete this form.

We'll send you one for the low, low price of . . . nothing.

Yep, it's free. No cost. No strings. Just a small way of saying thanks for reading.

Simply fill in the form -– and we'll take care of the rest. (Warning: supplies are limited and we can send bookplates only to the US and Canada)

Three ways to spread your idea and boost your satisfaction before the year ends

One of my favorite business books of the year is The Dragonfly Effect: Quick, Effective Ways to Use Social Media to Drive Social Change by Jennifer Aaker and Andy Smith. (She's a Stanford B-School professor, he's an economist and marketing guru.)

Although shelves groan with books about the mechanics of Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook, The Dragonfly Effect takes an approach that is at once smarter and more practical. Aaker and Smith examine the science underlying social media and behavioral change. Then they use that foundation to recommend techniques not simply to collect more followers or boost your search engine standing, but to achieve a single, concrete goal — such as finding a bone marrow match, raising money for a cause, or electing a candidate.

With 2010 winding down, I asked Aaker and Smith if they'd answer a question for Pink Blog readers:

"What are three ways people can use the remaining six weeks of the year to both spread their idea and boost their satisfaction?"

Their terrific response is here on a separate page. As you'll see, the advice is savvy, sensible, and surprising. Once you've read their guidance, you'll want to pick up the book at Amazon, BN.com, IndieBound, Borders, or 8CR.