The World Is Flat [Updated and Expanded]: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century by Thomas L. Friedman Summary and Reviews
![The World Is Flat [Updated and Expanded]: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century](/images/The-World-Is-Flat-Updated-and-Expanded-A-Brief-History-of-the-Twenty-first-Century-1427200173-L.jpg)
|
List Price: Our Price: $9.52 You Save: $40.43 (81%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of The World Is Flat [Updated and Expanded]: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century
Book Review: Must Read for Everyone
Summary: 5 Stars
I have to admit I am not one to read books relating to globalizations and technology, but after reading the first few pages I was trapped into wanting to read more. If the book had not been a requirement for a recent course taken I would have never imagined I would have read this book. There were always several books about which I felt more enthusiastic.
But this is one I'm glad I did come across purchase and read. I admire the amount of travel and listening and work that Friedman has put into the book. He has a knack for anecdote. He has a liking for imagery, and most of his images work well. Here's an example, illustrating the importance of technical standards. "Imagine a city where every neighborhood had a different interface for connecting the fire hose to the hydrant."
Globalization is, literally, a large and far-reaching topic. In writing a book on globalization including prescription, as well as description, does Friedman overreach? He is aware of the danger of doing so when discussing education, telling us that "I am not an educator" and that he doesn't want to "be utterly presumptuous."
But, in discussing "intellectual property," Friedman doesn't appear to have any such qualms. The person who sounds like the voice of reason in Friedman's account is Sam Palmisano of IBM; his quote (p. 254) is misleading as to the purpose of IP laws, and in a manner very much favoring patent-holders such as IBM.
For overreaching like this, and for other reasons, I do believe that The World Is Flat deserves some of the more extravagant praise heaped on it. In particular, it's a great book. It's a book I'd recommend to someone looking for a journalist-written account of globalization and for anyone who is interested in reading a awesome book that you can not put down after reading the first few pages. It's definitely a book that many people have read and are talking about. It's on an important subject that is constantly on the minds of all us each and everyday. And I would have to highly recommend this book and give it well deserved thumbs up!
Book Review: Opening my Eyes
Summary: 4 Stars
"The World is Flat" by Thomas Friedman is one of the most thought provoking books I have read. He talks about the way the world has been flattened by the Internet, technology and innovative thinking. The process of many of the services in America being outsourced to other countries is explained. I did not understand how this all happened. He goes step by step and explains his theory on this phenomenon. The fact that so many jobs are being outsourced to other countries is distressing, but he also touches on ways to change our thinking to keep up and keep our jobs or develop a new type of job or service.
The world has changed and thinking out of the box needs to be more of the norm and not the exception is America is going to excel. The problems with the education system in America is highlighted as well as what other countries are doing that has their children getting into the best schools in the world. This book made me think more about how the world is now and what I can do to help make it better as an individual, a parent and an American. I think you will be intrigued as I was reading this book if you keep an open mind and look at the possibilities available in the world today.
Book Review: Not an avid reader
Summary: 4 Stars
The contents were great! I love the way Friedman writes. I have an easier time with periodicals though because the book seems too long for it's content.Book Review: A Must read
Summary: 4 Stars
A great walkthrough about where we were, where we are and where we heading ! I believe the IT crowd will enjoy reading this more than a normal reader, although it does very well in explaining many of the technological events in history and how the world is developing so fast. Want to be successful or want to stay successful in what you are doing, then this is a must read !
Globalization, its everywhere.
Book Review: this is news?
Summary: 2 Stars
I found little or nothing new in this book, and I doubt that anyone who has paid even moderate attention to technology and the world economy over the last 10-15 years will either. And the whole idea of the world becoming flatter is in no meaningful way different than the ages old idea that the world is getting smaller! We're all more immediately and tightly connected because of the internet, PCs, greatly expanded communications bandwidth, etc. etc. - we get it. It's not a particularly original, revolutionary or 'ingenious' insight
I think the author is a fine columnist and I read him quite often, but this book seems way overrated to me.