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Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Farrar, Straus and Giroux (2006), Edition: Expanded and Updated, Hardcover, 616 pages
Description
When scholars write the history of the world twenty years from now, what will they say was the most crucial development at the dawn of the 21st century--the attacks of 9/11, or the convergence of technology and events that allowed India, China, and so many other countries to become part of the global supply chain for services and manufacturing, creating an explosion of wealth in the middle classes of the world's two biggest nations, and giving them a huge new stake in the success of globalization? And with this "flattening" of the globe, has the world gotten too small and too fast for human beings and their political systems to adjust in a stable manner? Friedman explains how the flattening of the world happened; what it means to countries, companies, communities, and individuals; and how governments and societies can, and must, adapt.… (more)
Media reviews
Friedman describes his honest reaction to this new world while he's at one of India's great outsourcing companies, Infosys. He was standing, he says, ''at the gate observing this river of educated young people flowing in and out.… They all looked as if they had scored 1600 on their SAT's."
On an ideological level, Friedman's new book is the worst, most boring kind of middlebrow horseshit. If its literary peculiarities could somehow be removed from the equation, The World Is Flat would appear as no more than an unusually long pamphlet replete with the kind of plug-filled, free-trader
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leg-humping that passes for thought in this country. It is a tale of a man who walks 10 feet in front of his house armed with a late-model Blackberry and comes back home five minutes later to gush to his wife that hospitals now use the internet to outsource the reading of CAT scans. Man flies on planes, observes the wonders of capitalism, says we're not in Kansas anymore. (He actually says we're not in Kansas anymore.) That's the whole plot right there. If the underlying message is all that interests you, read no further, because that's all there is. Show Less
User reviews
LibraryThing member PuddinTame
I read the "updated and expanded" edition. Friedman's next should be the "updated and severely editted". There is some very good material in here, but it gets lost in the mass of the verbose, repetitive, inconsistent, misleading, self-indulgent, and superficial.
Friedman starting losing me on page
Friedman's research for this book consisted largely of visiting various CEOs and gushing: "We know you do an outstanding job. Why don't you tell us just how wonderful you are?" Since I avoid dealing with three of the companies that Friedman worships, I can't help but think that maybe everything isn't quite as rosy as the CEO chooses to present it as being.
Friedman praises the lean and mean, like Wal-Mart, but then thinks that we will all be saved in the future by companies paying to keep their always temporary employees employable by someone else. What possible incentive could they have?
What happens when one country is beat out by another is the cheapest labor market, as Mexico has been by China? Are constant dislocations going to lead to stability? If all those wonderful Indian IT jobs also going to China, are the Indians then unemployed going to remain happy in their worsening economic plight? Friedman answer seems to be that this will just have to work out somehow in some vague yet concrete fashion. Friedman occasionally acknowledges that there may be little problems, but he always bounces back to his gee-whiz gushing enthusiasm. What are apparently some of the added parts towards the end are a bit more sober, but I think that they need to be integrated in with the rest of the book, and Friedman's ideas.
Friedman calls for people to be passionate about their job, and on call all the time. Memorably, he praises people who work 14-15 hours a day and on weekend. He also wants us to be well-rounded, attentive parents, and constantly learning new things. Reminds me of Hermione Granger's ability to be in two places at one time in Harry Potter, and probably about as realistic.
Friedman claims that out-sourcing helped prevent war between Pakistan and Indian. But what if Pakistan, which is not in the global-sourcing network, had simply attacked. The damage to companies relying on Indian would have been catastrophic. This is the problem with countries giving up proficiencies and capacity: there has to be a back-up somewhere, or we all go down the tubes together.
Current events can be cruel to pundits. Friedman gushes about China's fabulous meritocracy and it's ability to produce high-quality, low cost goods. He is also rather fond of authoritarian governments, since they can so much more easily implement wise policies. All this is laughable in the face of China's production of poisoned pet foods and lead-paint toys for export. And the air pollution in Beijing that s so bad that apparently many athletes, if they compete at all, intend to stay somewhere else and only show up for their specific events. And in the last few days, the Chinese army is moving to control the Tibetans, who have been expressing their approval of their beloved government in the form of riots.
Friedman starting losing me on page
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29. Trying to soothe concerns about the outsourcing/off-shoring of jobs to India, he tells us that exports to India doubled from 1990 to 2003, and that India uses many products produced by American-based companies. That "based" is the important weasel word. As he will admit a couple of hundred pages later, the fact that a company is based in the US doesn't mean much as far as jobs go, since they may also have been off-shored. And if his figures for 1990 and 2003 aren't adjusted for inflation, and he doesn't say that they are, then there are misleading. In constant dollars, the exports increased by less than one-half.Friedman's research for this book consisted largely of visiting various CEOs and gushing: "We know you do an outstanding job. Why don't you tell us just how wonderful you are?" Since I avoid dealing with three of the companies that Friedman worships, I can't help but think that maybe everything isn't quite as rosy as the CEO chooses to present it as being.
Friedman praises the lean and mean, like Wal-Mart, but then thinks that we will all be saved in the future by companies paying to keep their always temporary employees employable by someone else. What possible incentive could they have?
What happens when one country is beat out by another is the cheapest labor market, as Mexico has been by China? Are constant dislocations going to lead to stability? If all those wonderful Indian IT jobs also going to China, are the Indians then unemployed going to remain happy in their worsening economic plight? Friedman answer seems to be that this will just have to work out somehow in some vague yet concrete fashion. Friedman occasionally acknowledges that there may be little problems, but he always bounces back to his gee-whiz gushing enthusiasm. What are apparently some of the added parts towards the end are a bit more sober, but I think that they need to be integrated in with the rest of the book, and Friedman's ideas.
Friedman calls for people to be passionate about their job, and on call all the time. Memorably, he praises people who work 14-15 hours a day and on weekend. He also wants us to be well-rounded, attentive parents, and constantly learning new things. Reminds me of Hermione Granger's ability to be in two places at one time in Harry Potter, and probably about as realistic.
Friedman claims that out-sourcing helped prevent war between Pakistan and Indian. But what if Pakistan, which is not in the global-sourcing network, had simply attacked. The damage to companies relying on Indian would have been catastrophic. This is the problem with countries giving up proficiencies and capacity: there has to be a back-up somewhere, or we all go down the tubes together.
Current events can be cruel to pundits. Friedman gushes about China's fabulous meritocracy and it's ability to produce high-quality, low cost goods. He is also rather fond of authoritarian governments, since they can so much more easily implement wise policies. All this is laughable in the face of China's production of poisoned pet foods and lead-paint toys for export. And the air pollution in Beijing that s so bad that apparently many athletes, if they compete at all, intend to stay somewhere else and only show up for their specific events. And in the last few days, the Chinese army is moving to control the Tibetans, who have been expressing their approval of their beloved government in the form of riots.
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LibraryThing member melydia
(unabridged audiobook read by Oliver Wyman): This book, while a reasonably interesting discussion of globalization, is way too long and repetitive. I can summarize it in a few bullet points:* Outsourcing grunt work saves money and frees up Americans to be innovative and specialized. It also
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improves the standard of living in the countries receiving the new jobs.* The internet = teh awesome.* Collaboration benefits everyone.* OMG they have computers in Asia!* Americans need to buckle down in science and math education or they will be left behind.* Change is difficult but inevitable.* Knowledge-based work is like an ice cream sundae.* Sometimes companies in one country have employees in other countries, or they work with companies in other countries.* Terrorists have access to the same technologies we do.* The world is flat. The world is flat. The world is flat.Okay, so maybe I'm being a tad flip. This was probably far more groundbreaking when it came out in 2004 and the off-shoring/outsourcing panic really started picking up speed. Though I didn't come away with any major new insights, I did enjoy a lot of the little nuggets of information, like the Indian school for untouchables and JetBlue's housewives in Utah. And there was certainly no shortage of anecdotes.Basically, if you're new to the globalization game and want a general overview with lots of specific examples, this is a good book for you. However, if you're already reasonably familiar with just how multinational your average multinational corporation is, you might want to look for something more in depth.One final note: the narrator was okay, but it was a little strange how he gave everyone he quoted a subtle Indian accent. Show Less
LibraryThing member jwhenderson
This is a stimulating look at the changes in the competitive world of business enterprise at the beginning of the twenty-first century. Thomas Friedman has filled his book with examples of the changes taking place, in particular those special ones that are "flattening" our world, i.e. bringing us
Change in business is not new and the main features of the changes noted by Friedman that are different than previous eras are 1) the speed with which the changes are taking place, and 2) the medium, primarily information technology. The book seems to be more a catalog of these events which the author neglects some fundamental ideas and does not clearly provide serious overall conclusions. One example of a fundamental element that is neglected is the importance of the consumer in motivating and validating the changes. All the new technology in the world will not survive if it is not used. The supply chain revolution of Wal-Mart is driven ultimately by consumers who have chosen to shop at these stores.
A consumer glancing at the cover of this book would see the subtitle "a brief history of the twenty-first century". Hopefully he would explore a little further before purchasing the book because it is neither brief nor "history". Interesting as it may be it is merely an extended foray into business journalism that provides some information about our current world, but leaves a bit more to be desired.
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closer together in time and space. When I was working in systems support at a large bank I would tell my team that we were working to reduce the time and space needed for the operations that our systems supported. Friedman is telling us this on a global scale with this book. His style is easy to read and he has a compelling narrative with fascinating examples. However the more of the book that I read, the more I have the feeling that he is focused primarily on the superficial, the symptoms of change, without really examining the true basis for these events.Change in business is not new and the main features of the changes noted by Friedman that are different than previous eras are 1) the speed with which the changes are taking place, and 2) the medium, primarily information technology. The book seems to be more a catalog of these events which the author neglects some fundamental ideas and does not clearly provide serious overall conclusions. One example of a fundamental element that is neglected is the importance of the consumer in motivating and validating the changes. All the new technology in the world will not survive if it is not used. The supply chain revolution of Wal-Mart is driven ultimately by consumers who have chosen to shop at these stores.
A consumer glancing at the cover of this book would see the subtitle "a brief history of the twenty-first century". Hopefully he would explore a little further before purchasing the book because it is neither brief nor "history". Interesting as it may be it is merely an extended foray into business journalism that provides some information about our current world, but leaves a bit more to be desired.
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LibraryThing member the_awesome_opossum
In 2006, Time named "You" its Person of the Year - an acknowledgment that user-generated content is increasingly driving the decentralization and spread of information today. Technology has empowered everyone who is connected to be a provider, not just passive consumer, of their own information.
He's wrong, of course, and he's too in love with his own free market capitalist narrative of a flat world to be able to see so. Perhaps a more honest title would be 'The Market is Flat,' or 'First World Industrialized Countries are Flat.' He brushes off such criticisms in the introduction with "I know the world is not actually flat," but proceeds without actually keeping this in mind. The world is not flat because only countries and industries who are already engaged in and validated by the global market get to participate; with an increasingly competitive global market, emerging and developing nations and industries have an even more narrow gap into which to enter.
And even within the countries and industries who are participants in the global market, the world is not flat because so many of these enterprises are built upon such bald-faced exploitation of individuals. Friedman's two favorite examples of the flattening of the world are Walmart and China. (Actually, that alone should tell you a ton about this book.) He presents the flat world as being empowering, somehow, but under such ruthless systems of capitalism, individuals are becoming increasingly more commodified and fungible. Maybe everything and everyone looks flat from the view at the top, but it is a horrifying viewpoint to espouse that the world's flattening is a good thing because people can now be exploited and dehumanized more efficiently than ever.
Friedman also comes across as surprisingly conservative with regards to America's place in the global market: he is traditionally competitive and concerned with how America will continue to fare, with strong undertones of an Us versus Them mentality. And I wish that he had exhibited the self-awareness to recognize this, as it raises the question of whether 'America' (both the nation and the idea) is even relevant anymore to Friedman's flat world idealization. He apparently thinks it is; I don't know how he continues to justify that. Unless he takes pleasure in the idea that the world is becoming increasingly flatter in order to accommodate America's hyper-capitalist growth (eg, America's use of India for customer service). Ultimately, Friedman seems to be in love with the idea of a new Cold War between China and America, competing for who can slash prices fastest and own the world first. Unfortunately, he seems to lose sight of other values - humanity, for one. The confirmation bias and privilege inherent in his hypothesis that the world is flat are amazingly myopic and egregiously offensive.
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And it is from this equidistance and legitimation by technology, Friedman argues, that the world has become flat.He's wrong, of course, and he's too in love with his own free market capitalist narrative of a flat world to be able to see so. Perhaps a more honest title would be 'The Market is Flat,' or 'First World Industrialized Countries are Flat.' He brushes off such criticisms in the introduction with "I know the world is not actually flat," but proceeds without actually keeping this in mind. The world is not flat because only countries and industries who are already engaged in and validated by the global market get to participate; with an increasingly competitive global market, emerging and developing nations and industries have an even more narrow gap into which to enter.
And even within the countries and industries who are participants in the global market, the world is not flat because so many of these enterprises are built upon such bald-faced exploitation of individuals. Friedman's two favorite examples of the flattening of the world are Walmart and China. (Actually, that alone should tell you a ton about this book.) He presents the flat world as being empowering, somehow, but under such ruthless systems of capitalism, individuals are becoming increasingly more commodified and fungible. Maybe everything and everyone looks flat from the view at the top, but it is a horrifying viewpoint to espouse that the world's flattening is a good thing because people can now be exploited and dehumanized more efficiently than ever.
Friedman also comes across as surprisingly conservative with regards to America's place in the global market: he is traditionally competitive and concerned with how America will continue to fare, with strong undertones of an Us versus Them mentality. And I wish that he had exhibited the self-awareness to recognize this, as it raises the question of whether 'America' (both the nation and the idea) is even relevant anymore to Friedman's flat world idealization. He apparently thinks it is; I don't know how he continues to justify that. Unless he takes pleasure in the idea that the world is becoming increasingly flatter in order to accommodate America's hyper-capitalist growth (eg, America's use of India for customer service). Ultimately, Friedman seems to be in love with the idea of a new Cold War between China and America, competing for who can slash prices fastest and own the world first. Unfortunately, he seems to lose sight of other values - humanity, for one. The confirmation bias and privilege inherent in his hypothesis that the world is flat are amazingly myopic and egregiously offensive.
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LibraryThing member Livana
I haven't read the whole book.
First, it is way too long!
Second, I lost interest the minute I read that "The cold war had been a struggle between to economic systems - capitalism and communism - and with the fall of the [Berlin] wall, the was only one system left and everyone had to orient himself
This seems like a harmless statement, but I don't see how there is simply one system left. What about socialism? Or other systems used by the other 200 or so countries in the world? He's blatantly implying that the system the US use - capitalism - is the only viable one and that everyone has no choice but to embrace it. It is arrogant and ignorant.
First, it is way too long!
Second, I lost interest the minute I read that "The cold war had been a struggle between to economic systems - capitalism and communism - and with the fall of the [Berlin] wall, the was only one system left and everyone had to orient himself
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or herself to it one way or another."This seems like a harmless statement, but I don't see how there is simply one system left. What about socialism? Or other systems used by the other 200 or so countries in the world? He's blatantly implying that the system the US use - capitalism - is the only viable one and that everyone has no choice but to embrace it. It is arrogant and ignorant.
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LibraryThing member n1ghtstr1k3
Friedman fails to provide an accurate picture of globalization. He relies on only his corporate CEO buddies to give him info and completely disregards many factors affecting globalization today. His solutions, although mostly shallow, are always that the government needs to intervene more. It seems
An interesting counterpoint to this book is 'The World is Flat?' by Ronald Aronica. While Aronica also displays a lack of understanding about many of the issues, he does highlight some of the major flaws in Friedman's book.
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he does not understand that most of the problems of globalization are CAUSED by government interference in the free market.An interesting counterpoint to this book is 'The World is Flat?' by Ronald Aronica. While Aronica also displays a lack of understanding about many of the issues, he does highlight some of the major flaws in Friedman's book.
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LibraryThing member uryjm
A somewhat annoyingly breathless, but intellectually stimulating, overview of the supposedly new flat world we’re creating today. I’ll say one thing, the book was easy to read and had enough “real world” anecdotes to continue to make the points that the author wants to get across. But I
After about three hundred pages of being told how all our jobs are going to Shanghai and Bangalore, you begin thinking that there should be more to his thesis. Will Indians and Chinese be content to have the wages they’re on currently, for example? We’ve been told for decades how the Occidentals are far more educated and hard-working than we are, so why haven’t been over-run by now?
Another big annoyance became the author’s pathetic attempts to pin certain social trends he was highlighting under his own classifications, like he was striving to be credited for identifying and tagging something like "lateral thinking", hoping that people will say “Ah yes, it was Friedman’s seminal work about the flattening of the world…..” This, and his relentless focus on what his startling conclusions mean for America, and America and America and America begain to grate on my nerves so much that I struggled to finish it.
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couldn’t help but think that his “Gee whizz, we’re changing so much and so quickly” would be blanked by today’s techno-savvy youth with a “So what, it’s always been like this” response.After about three hundred pages of being told how all our jobs are going to Shanghai and Bangalore, you begin thinking that there should be more to his thesis. Will Indians and Chinese be content to have the wages they’re on currently, for example? We’ve been told for decades how the Occidentals are far more educated and hard-working than we are, so why haven’t been over-run by now?
Another big annoyance became the author’s pathetic attempts to pin certain social trends he was highlighting under his own classifications, like he was striving to be credited for identifying and tagging something like "lateral thinking", hoping that people will say “Ah yes, it was Friedman’s seminal work about the flattening of the world…..” This, and his relentless focus on what his startling conclusions mean for America, and America and America and America begain to grate on my nerves so much that I struggled to finish it.
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LibraryThing member chriswhitmore
I read an article in the NY Times by Friedman that I really enjoyed which got me searching for his other writing. After having read this book I think Mr. Friedman should stick to his column.
The most irritating aspect of the first 100 pages or so of this book is how terribly clever he thinks he is
Maybe that's key, is that the intended audience for this book are those who have not witnessed globalization taking place in their back yards, but personally I wouldn't recommend this book.
The most irritating aspect of the first 100 pages or so of this book is how terribly clever he thinks he is
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for coming up with the title of the book. I'm sure he references his "epiphany" a dozen times in that span with really clunky devices that keep leading back to his Columbus references which for me honestly don't even make that much sense. Flat earth as a metaphor for globalization? How does a flat earth help anything? Anyway, that's besides the point. My biggest beef with the book is it's size. There is just not that much content to justify the size of the book. The basic concepts are simple to grasp and very familiar to anyone working in IT or other knowledge based industry. Maybe that's key, is that the intended audience for this book are those who have not witnessed globalization taking place in their back yards, but personally I wouldn't recommend this book.
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LibraryThing member phildec
Very interesting book about globalization at several different levels, both cultural and economic. The author does a good job as a journalist by directly traveling to places and interviewing people. However, this makes the book too long, too detailed, not synthetic enough, and I could not finish
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it. I would have prefered more analysis than examples. Show Less
LibraryThing member magonistarevolt
I tried to plow through this book, but Thomas Friedman is the most brain-dead parrot of the ruling class I have ever known, so I couldn't finish it.
His view of globalization is that now, thanks to the paternalistic global order constructed by US multinational corporations, there is cultural and
How wonderful it is to be ruling class in this new era, where poor people from all over the world can service the rich like Friedman. What an asshole.
Recommended for: fireplaces, doors that need stopping, houses without coasters, etc.
His view of globalization is that now, thanks to the paternalistic global order constructed by US multinational corporations, there is cultural and
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monetary things of worth out there in the vast unexplored jungles of savagery called "not the United States." As an ahistorical text that ignores the fact that elites have been trading from Occident to and from Orient for hundreds of years, the book ignores entirely the poor.How wonderful it is to be ruling class in this new era, where poor people from all over the world can service the rich like Friedman. What an asshole.
Recommended for: fireplaces, doors that need stopping, houses without coasters, etc.
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LibraryThing member dr.rentfro
The size of this book my be intimidating to some, but it's well worth plowing through the almost 500 pages. Don't give up with the slow start. When Friedman explains the historical events and periods that have impacted globization, you'll be enlightened and glad that you kept reading. The World
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really is being flattened by technological advances and communication. Show Less
LibraryThing member gauravrekhi
For all that is said about this book, it's just about readable. Just about. It repeats its 1-2 main points a 1000 times over and just does not keep you glued.
LibraryThing member nEtVolution
Friedman bares it all detailing the alarming state of our education system and the governements lack of investment, and consequently how the future economic stability of the West is at stake. However on the upside, he does mention the vast opportunity that awaits those willing to adapt to
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flattening world. Show Less
LibraryThing member bridgetmarkwood
An excellent reality check for the present and an interesting perspective on the future. All educators should read this book, to better serve your students.
LibraryThing member wdwilson3
This review pertains to the abridged audio CD version of the book.
Some books have a finite shelf life, and this work, I’m afraid, has passed its. Perhaps it isn’t so much that the facts have changed, but they’ve become well acknowledged. Anyone who has paid the slightest bit of attention to
A major flaw in the audiobook version is the choice of narrator, who has an irritating, juvenile “gee whiz” inflection to his voice and makes rather half-hearted attempts at dialect when reading quotes from foreigners. Someone with much more gravitas would have been more suitable.
Some books have a finite shelf life, and this work, I’m afraid, has passed its. Perhaps it isn’t so much that the facts have changed, but they’ve become well acknowledged. Anyone who has paid the slightest bit of attention to
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the news media for the past few years is aware of the elements of “flattening” that Friedman wrote about – outsourcing, offshoring, the Internet, and the other socio-economic factors. I found few new insights here, and the anecdotal information, while interesting, wasn’t riveting. The “dirty secrets” segments (generally about how the US is going about things all wrong) are right on, but, again, not very fresh. Just depressing.A major flaw in the audiobook version is the choice of narrator, who has an irritating, juvenile “gee whiz” inflection to his voice and makes rather half-hearted attempts at dialect when reading quotes from foreigners. Someone with much more gravitas would have been more suitable.
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LibraryThing member Niecierpek
Here is an omnibus on globalization by a globalization enthusiast. He sees globalization, which he calls ‘flattening of the world’, as not only inevitable, but essentially a good thing for the world and mankind. He goes as far as to say that it may be the ultimate example of what Marx had in
At the same time it is a very American book full of advice and warnings of what the United States needs to do to stay competitive in the new world. He rebukes the sense of entitlement Americans have, and warns that big reforms are needed if the States want to stay at the helm of the world.
He doesn’t stop at the States. He examines different parts of the world and different countries regarding their openness to reform, gives global advice, and predicts which countries will get ahead in the global competition.
He makes many really good points and has some surprising and ingenious insights, one of which is calling Al-Queida members Islamo-Leninists with a genuinely interesting justification for that name.
I did not enjoy the style, which was much too ‘evangelical’ for me (or was it the way it was read out?), and I definitely did not enjoy the constant repetitions. I think that one fourth to one third of the content was repeated at least twice. Some of his insights are quite amazing though.
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mind when he described an ideal world. He doesn’t say we are there yet, but shows that we are striding in this direction in pretty big steps.At the same time it is a very American book full of advice and warnings of what the United States needs to do to stay competitive in the new world. He rebukes the sense of entitlement Americans have, and warns that big reforms are needed if the States want to stay at the helm of the world.
He doesn’t stop at the States. He examines different parts of the world and different countries regarding their openness to reform, gives global advice, and predicts which countries will get ahead in the global competition.
He makes many really good points and has some surprising and ingenious insights, one of which is calling Al-Queida members Islamo-Leninists with a genuinely interesting justification for that name.
I did not enjoy the style, which was much too ‘evangelical’ for me (or was it the way it was read out?), and I definitely did not enjoy the constant repetitions. I think that one fourth to one third of the content was repeated at least twice. Some of his insights are quite amazing though.
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LibraryThing member AMson
This tome was an educational and eye opening read for me. I enjoyed reading it, and if I had to pick a downside to this book it'd be that Friedman seems to repeat himself far too often. I understand the need for repetition in a book of this magnitude and scope, but at times it just felt clunky- as
I'm a lefty liberal, and still came away from this book with a new appreciation and respect for some aspects of globalization. It's understood in today's world that capitalism rules the day, so once we get past that it becomes clearer that a global world economy is a freight train we can't stop. Friedman does a good job of describing the driving forces behind the global economy, where it started and why, and what we need to do to tame it and make it work for everyone and in a manner in which the least amount are left in the cold. He also does a good job of describing and melding terror and terrorist nations and how they mix into this discussion.
I still believe that global markets are to be feared, unless governments become less laissez-fair in how they deal with corporate imperialism, but overall I am at ease with Friedman's arguments.
He writes well, he engages the reader, he constantly ties different equations and forces together to make a big picture argument, but at times (as aforementioned) he gets a little long in the tooth with overlap.
Overall, I liked this book. I'd recommend it, however, only to those that wish to be challenged and engaged on this topic for a lengthy amount of time. It's a broad topic with many subsets and tangents, but Friedman does a fine job of staying fairly focussed (when he's not repeating himself).
The manner in which he writes is easily digestible (presumably learned and due to his day job at the NY Times) which I enjoyed.
I'm sure much of the information presented here is easily challenged be economic experts, so if you're looking for an all-in-one course on the globalization of the world then you'd be better suited reading periodicals and journals instead.
Having said that, I still think this offers great insight into this foreign world and allows for future exploration if the reader so wishes.
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if the book could have been just as effective at about 400 pages.I'm a lefty liberal, and still came away from this book with a new appreciation and respect for some aspects of globalization. It's understood in today's world that capitalism rules the day, so once we get past that it becomes clearer that a global world economy is a freight train we can't stop. Friedman does a good job of describing the driving forces behind the global economy, where it started and why, and what we need to do to tame it and make it work for everyone and in a manner in which the least amount are left in the cold. He also does a good job of describing and melding terror and terrorist nations and how they mix into this discussion.
I still believe that global markets are to be feared, unless governments become less laissez-fair in how they deal with corporate imperialism, but overall I am at ease with Friedman's arguments.
He writes well, he engages the reader, he constantly ties different equations and forces together to make a big picture argument, but at times (as aforementioned) he gets a little long in the tooth with overlap.
Overall, I liked this book. I'd recommend it, however, only to those that wish to be challenged and engaged on this topic for a lengthy amount of time. It's a broad topic with many subsets and tangents, but Friedman does a fine job of staying fairly focussed (when he's not repeating himself).
The manner in which he writes is easily digestible (presumably learned and due to his day job at the NY Times) which I enjoyed.
I'm sure much of the information presented here is easily challenged be economic experts, so if you're looking for an all-in-one course on the globalization of the world then you'd be better suited reading periodicals and journals instead.
Having said that, I still think this offers great insight into this foreign world and allows for future exploration if the reader so wishes.
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LibraryThing member PastorBob
Well, he writes for the New York Times . . . so this is a bit predictable. Government investment is the solution. If you already agree with him, you'll bobble head with joy as you read it - if you can get to the end.
LibraryThing member Muscogulus
Suggested alternate subtitle: Golfing My Way across Asia with My CEO Friends.
LibraryThing member sharonandjohn
This book was originally published in 2005 and updated in 2007. I read the 2007 edition. I know it is not a newly published work, but reading it now gives the reader a look back at the 'good old days' before the Great Recession. This book is a discussion of globalization and how it has changed life
When I began to read this book (which was more than six months ago- I've been very busy with school), it seemed as if Friedman was a crazy cheerleader for globalization and classical economics. But, the more I read the more it seems like he was a crazy optimist for globalization and what it could do for humanity if it was done with some sort of ethical tone to it. I agree with some of his ideas and disagree with others but overall this is a good book to read if for nothing more than a history lesson of just how fantastic and rosy things seemed before the economy collapsed in 2007. Of course, hindsight is 20/20, but he completely leaves out any mention of the economic boom being fueled by the real estate bubble. Were we really so blind back then?
One especially glaring example of this is Friedman's characterization of Ireland as the economy that was doing everything right. They did do some things right like investing in the education of their people, but the growth was based on the ethereal real estate and derivatives market. Ireland was at the top of the world and now they are worse off than they were before they started their amazing race to the top. I'm sure there are similar examples of this same type of thing from the 1920s before the Great Depression.
Friedman does, however, have some great ideas about educational reform. Sadly though, these ideas are not really new. I just finished another book, Teaching as a Subversive Activity, that had many of the same ideas and it was published in 1969 (Review to come...). These ideas seem so simple but have been very difficult to implement (teach innovation and critical thinking, allow imagination to flourish). But, that's another soap box for another review.
Overall, this is a really interesting read that I would have finished much sooner if not for those darn books I had to read for classes. I would recommend it to everyone because much of what he discusses will affect the reader (if it hasn't already) in this new, flat world.
A definite recommend.
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in the twenty-first century. A lot has changed in the three years since this book was published. Sometimes it is hard to remember what it was like back in the good old days.When I began to read this book (which was more than six months ago- I've been very busy with school), it seemed as if Friedman was a crazy cheerleader for globalization and classical economics. But, the more I read the more it seems like he was a crazy optimist for globalization and what it could do for humanity if it was done with some sort of ethical tone to it. I agree with some of his ideas and disagree with others but overall this is a good book to read if for nothing more than a history lesson of just how fantastic and rosy things seemed before the economy collapsed in 2007. Of course, hindsight is 20/20, but he completely leaves out any mention of the economic boom being fueled by the real estate bubble. Were we really so blind back then?
One especially glaring example of this is Friedman's characterization of Ireland as the economy that was doing everything right. They did do some things right like investing in the education of their people, but the growth was based on the ethereal real estate and derivatives market. Ireland was at the top of the world and now they are worse off than they were before they started their amazing race to the top. I'm sure there are similar examples of this same type of thing from the 1920s before the Great Depression.
Friedman does, however, have some great ideas about educational reform. Sadly though, these ideas are not really new. I just finished another book, Teaching as a Subversive Activity, that had many of the same ideas and it was published in 1969 (Review to come...). These ideas seem so simple but have been very difficult to implement (teach innovation and critical thinking, allow imagination to flourish). But, that's another soap box for another review.
Overall, this is a really interesting read that I would have finished much sooner if not for those darn books I had to read for classes. I would recommend it to everyone because much of what he discusses will affect the reader (if it hasn't already) in this new, flat world.
A definite recommend.
Show Less
LibraryThing member ALincolnNut
New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman has continued to update and expand his seminal book, "The World is Flat" since its initial publication. The most recent edition is a paperback listed as "Release 3.0." Subtitled "A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century," it offers Friedman's compelling
Filled with a combination of interviews and anecdotes, many related to upstart companies from around the world, the book attempts to make sense of the new global economic and political environment and its impact on jobs, travel, entertainment, and community development. At the heart of Friedman's analysis is his conclusion that the lowering of national barriers— exemplified by the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 — has allowed new cyber technologies — exemplified by the release of the first widespread Internet browser, Netscape Navigator, in 1995 — to drastically change communication and commerce.
Businesses have exploited the technology of the Internet, particularly with its opportunities for real-time collaboration between any places worldwide that have high-speed connections, with little government intervention -- or at least much less than before. This has allowed many companies to outsource parts of their workforces (such as the ubiquitous phone service centers for American corporations that are in India), but it has also globalized the manufacturing supply network. In fact, Friedman believes that this efficiency in production has actually gained more American jobs than were lost in outsourcing.
As interested as he is in describing the situation as it is now, it seems obvious that Friedman is more concerned with imagining what the changing context means for the future. Although he is not specific, he sees the trend continuing to dramatically change the shape of the working environment, with more people working more hours -- or all of their hours, eventually -- from home, eliminating the overhead costs of workspace. He also sees the diversified worldwide production system as likely to affect other industries than just manufacturing and technology, which will change how people work and with whom they interact for their jobs -- if they have the training to keep those jobs.
These changes necessitate certain reassessments of American infrastructure -- especially with regards to Internet connectivity -- and the American educational system. Time and again, Friedman shows how various countries have invested heavily in Internet infrastructure in contrast to the scatter-shot approach of American telecommunications and cable companies, implying that Americans are falling behind and will suffer for this in the coming years.
In all, the book is enlightening and engaging, tackling a complex subject with humor, awareness, irony, and discernment. Friedman's style is fairly conversational and narrative driven, but he has done an excellent job coalescing his stories and analyses under specific themes, offering a roadmap through the vast subject. This book is excellent reading for those who care about where the world has moved at the beginning of the 21st Century and where it is headed for the foreseeable future.
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thesis that recent geopolitical changes have combined with an influx of new technology to create the beginnings of the democratic global economy. These changes dramatically affect American infrastructure and educational needs in the 21st century economy.Filled with a combination of interviews and anecdotes, many related to upstart companies from around the world, the book attempts to make sense of the new global economic and political environment and its impact on jobs, travel, entertainment, and community development. At the heart of Friedman's analysis is his conclusion that the lowering of national barriers— exemplified by the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 — has allowed new cyber technologies — exemplified by the release of the first widespread Internet browser, Netscape Navigator, in 1995 — to drastically change communication and commerce.
Businesses have exploited the technology of the Internet, particularly with its opportunities for real-time collaboration between any places worldwide that have high-speed connections, with little government intervention -- or at least much less than before. This has allowed many companies to outsource parts of their workforces (such as the ubiquitous phone service centers for American corporations that are in India), but it has also globalized the manufacturing supply network. In fact, Friedman believes that this efficiency in production has actually gained more American jobs than were lost in outsourcing.
As interested as he is in describing the situation as it is now, it seems obvious that Friedman is more concerned with imagining what the changing context means for the future. Although he is not specific, he sees the trend continuing to dramatically change the shape of the working environment, with more people working more hours -- or all of their hours, eventually -- from home, eliminating the overhead costs of workspace. He also sees the diversified worldwide production system as likely to affect other industries than just manufacturing and technology, which will change how people work and with whom they interact for their jobs -- if they have the training to keep those jobs.
These changes necessitate certain reassessments of American infrastructure -- especially with regards to Internet connectivity -- and the American educational system. Time and again, Friedman shows how various countries have invested heavily in Internet infrastructure in contrast to the scatter-shot approach of American telecommunications and cable companies, implying that Americans are falling behind and will suffer for this in the coming years.
In all, the book is enlightening and engaging, tackling a complex subject with humor, awareness, irony, and discernment. Friedman's style is fairly conversational and narrative driven, but he has done an excellent job coalescing his stories and analyses under specific themes, offering a roadmap through the vast subject. This book is excellent reading for those who care about where the world has moved at the beginning of the 21st Century and where it is headed for the foreseeable future.
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LibraryThing member Carlie
While reading this book, I could not help thinking about how many of the topics Friedman discusses correspond to many of the topics that Barack Obama posited in his campaign. Since both men brought so many issues to the fore, I was trying to figure out if there was a single word that could sum up
The main focus of this book is globalization. The overall feeling I got from reading it was that now is not the time to debate whether or not globalization is good for the economy or for society - that time has passed long ago. Now is the time to figure out how to use it most effectively, creatively, and intelligently. We cannot bury our heads in the sand and go on as if we are still living in the industrial economy. We have to realize that we are in another revolution that will challenge all of our assumptions about dividing lines, land boundaries, intelligence, priorities, and peoples.
Through research, interviews, and travels, Friedman points out the flatness of the world over and over again. Also, he painstakingly tells of how it got to be that way from the dot-com boom and the laying of the fiber optic cables to outsourcing and supply-chaining. He makes a strong case and puts the answers into the readers hands effortlessly, leaving no doubt that he knows what he is talking about.
While I could go on about how the United States is missing major opportunities to be the major player in the globalization game (starting with creating a large crop of engineers and scientist, which has drastically declined in the education pool since the 1960s), it is the geopolitical implications that struck me the most. More than ever, countries are going to have to work together to create an environment which will allow as many individuals as possible to contribute to society. And that includes finding ways to get underdeveloped countries involved - not an easy task. Friedman made a poignant statement that stayed with me. He said, "The developed will be challenged by the underdeveloped much more profoundly. I worry, because so much political stability is built on economic stability, and economic stability is not going to be a feature of the flat world."
Reading this book three years after it was published has been an experience. Part of me wishes I had read it earlier, but another part of me is glad I waited. In waiting, I have been able to see how the events that were predicted actually unfolded. I have been able to see exactly in which ways Friedman has been correct and how his view of the changes in our world has come to pass. Friedman has brought great insight to this subject, has done his research, and is daily being proven correct. Now the question that remains is: Will we listen?
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their stances. I loathe stealing Obama's line, but the only word I could come up with was change. The fact is that the world is not only changing right before our eyes, but it will continue to change drastically as we move along. Both Obama and Friedman are trying to prepare us for the changes that have already taken place as well as the changes that are still to come.The main focus of this book is globalization. The overall feeling I got from reading it was that now is not the time to debate whether or not globalization is good for the economy or for society - that time has passed long ago. Now is the time to figure out how to use it most effectively, creatively, and intelligently. We cannot bury our heads in the sand and go on as if we are still living in the industrial economy. We have to realize that we are in another revolution that will challenge all of our assumptions about dividing lines, land boundaries, intelligence, priorities, and peoples.
Through research, interviews, and travels, Friedman points out the flatness of the world over and over again. Also, he painstakingly tells of how it got to be that way from the dot-com boom and the laying of the fiber optic cables to outsourcing and supply-chaining. He makes a strong case and puts the answers into the readers hands effortlessly, leaving no doubt that he knows what he is talking about.
While I could go on about how the United States is missing major opportunities to be the major player in the globalization game (starting with creating a large crop of engineers and scientist, which has drastically declined in the education pool since the 1960s), it is the geopolitical implications that struck me the most. More than ever, countries are going to have to work together to create an environment which will allow as many individuals as possible to contribute to society. And that includes finding ways to get underdeveloped countries involved - not an easy task. Friedman made a poignant statement that stayed with me. He said, "The developed will be challenged by the underdeveloped much more profoundly. I worry, because so much political stability is built on economic stability, and economic stability is not going to be a feature of the flat world."
Reading this book three years after it was published has been an experience. Part of me wishes I had read it earlier, but another part of me is glad I waited. In waiting, I have been able to see how the events that were predicted actually unfolded. I have been able to see exactly in which ways Friedman has been correct and how his view of the changes in our world has come to pass. Friedman has brought great insight to this subject, has done his research, and is daily being proven correct. Now the question that remains is: Will we listen?
Show Less
LibraryThing member LynnB
I've read all the other reviews, and there is obviously a debate over Friedman's writing style, knowledge base and philosophy. So, let me declare myself upfront: I am a Thomas Friedman fan.
I read "The Lexus and the Olive Tree" and though finally! Someone has explained globalization and its impacts
In my view, he has done it again in "The World is Flat". Yes, the book could be shorter. Friedman's conversational style is, I think, mostly a good thing. But as in many conversations, there is a repetition and some rambling. Like my family, Friedman does repeat the same story from time to time. But the style also makes complex global challenges and opportunities easy to understand and relevant to my life and work.
I agree with those who've expressed disappointment that Friedman doesn't cite his sources more fully. I agree that his thesis could have been expressed and fully illustrated in half as many pages. I still like the book. It's accessible and thought-provoking. It certainly evoked "more dreams than memories".
I read "The Lexus and the Olive Tree" and though finally! Someone has explained globalization and its impacts
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on individual communities and people. Having graduated from University and begun working in the mid-1980s, "globalization" quickly became a cliche -- something all my older colleagues said, but were unable to explain what it meant for us and our work in any detail. Friedman did this.In my view, he has done it again in "The World is Flat". Yes, the book could be shorter. Friedman's conversational style is, I think, mostly a good thing. But as in many conversations, there is a repetition and some rambling. Like my family, Friedman does repeat the same story from time to time. But the style also makes complex global challenges and opportunities easy to understand and relevant to my life and work.
I agree with those who've expressed disappointment that Friedman doesn't cite his sources more fully. I agree that his thesis could have been expressed and fully illustrated in half as many pages. I still like the book. It's accessible and thought-provoking. It certainly evoked "more dreams than memories".
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LibraryThing member felius
This book was a real eye-opener for me. It's a very upbeat and optimistic treatment of the causes and effects of globalisation, but I found most of the arguments very compelling.
It could have done with a little trimming - this is the second edition, and was expanded to include new content, but at
It's unapologetically US-centric, as the author is quite openly using the book as a platform to argue for changes in US education and economic policies which he believes are necessary for the US to take advantage of the changes globalisation brings.
All in all though, I found this to be an engrossing read. It will date badly, but despite this (and its other faults) I think it's worth a high score simply for the way in which it helped me examine the topic more closely than before.
It could have done with a little trimming - this is the second edition, and was expanded to include new content, but at
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times I felt that some points were reiterated a little too often and that a few anecdotes could perhaps have been left out without damaging the end result.It's unapologetically US-centric, as the author is quite openly using the book as a platform to argue for changes in US education and economic policies which he believes are necessary for the US to take advantage of the changes globalisation brings.
All in all though, I found this to be an engrossing read. It will date badly, but despite this (and its other faults) I think it's worth a high score simply for the way in which it helped me examine the topic more closely than before.
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LibraryThing member uniball
What a great book. The story they Friedman takes you on makes me want to visit the places he's been.
Subjects
Awards
Audie Award (Finalist — 2006)
Financial Times and Schroders Business Book of the Year (Shortlist — 2005)
Gerald Loeb Award for Distinguished Business and Financial Journalism (Finalist — 2006)
Christian Science Monitor Best Book (Nonfiction — 2005)
Language
Original publication date
2005-04-05
Physical description
616 p.; 9.1 inches
ISBN
0374292795 / 9780374292799