From the linear to the abstract:
To survive and prosper in the Conceptual Age, Pink identifies a set of aptitudes – including design, pattern recognition and empathy – that are considered right-brain skills. (Although Pink provides basic neurological background, he primarily uses the brain's geography metaphorically to organize and present his ideas.) The good news is that these right-brain skills can be learned and honed, and participation in the arts supports this essential learning.
What the arts teach – and what we need to compete in a world where more and more people enjoy an abundance of material goods – Pink calls high-concept and high-touch skills. His high-concept list includes the ability to create aesthetically satisfying products, combine seemingly unrelated ideas into a novel invention, and craft a compelling narrative. High-touch skills include empathy, understanding the subtleties of human interaction, finding and creating joy and engaging in the pursuit of meaning.