The World is Flat- Thomas Friedman

[houseelf]

Read this book. No really. Stop what you are doing and go to the library, book store, friend's book store and get this book. It should be required reading for every American.

This author collates so many topics of current interest that I don't even know where to begin. Even if you don't completely agree with him, his observations on globalization, capitalism, international politics, education, science research, history, and just about everything else are compelling. I'm going to cut and paste a review from somewhere else to get you fired up about reading this.

I expect full book reports by January 2006.

Kelly

[houseelf]

Book review from Amazon.com:

Thomas L. Friedman is not so much a futurist, which he is sometimes called, as a presentist. His aim, in his new book, The World Is Flat, as in his earlier, influential Lexus and the Olive Tree, is not to give you a speculative preview of the wonders that are sure to come in your lifetime, but rather to get you caught up on the wonders that are already here. The world isn't going to be flat, it is flat, which gives Friedman's breathless narrative much of its urgency, and which also saves it from the Epcot-style polyester sheen that futurists--the optimistic ones at least--are inevitably prey to.

What Friedman means by "flat" is "connected": the lowering of trade and political barriers and the exponential technical advances of the digital revolution have made it possible to do business, or almost anything else, instantaneously with billions of other people across the planet. This in itself should not be news to anyone. But the news that Friedman has to deliver is that just when we stopped paying attention to these developments--when the dot-com bust turned interest away from the business and technology pages and when 9/11 and the Iraq War turned all eyes toward the Middle East--is when they actually began to accelerate. Globalization 3.0, as he calls it, is driven not by major corporations or giant trade organizations like the World Bank, but by individuals: desktop freelancers and innovative startups all over the world (but especially in India and China) who can compete--and win--not just for low-wage manufacturing and information labor but, increasingly, for the highest-end research and design work as well. (He doesn't forget the "mutant supply chains" like Al-Qaeda that let the small act big in more destructive ways.) Friedman tells his eye-opening story with the catchy slogans and globe-hopping anecdotes that readers of his earlier books and his New York Times columns will know well, and also with a stern sort of optimism. He wants to tell you how exciting this new world is, but he also wants you to know you're going to be trampled if you don't keep up with it. His book is an excellent place to begin. --Tom Nissley

[PrincessFiona]

This book is outrageously good...though he goes a little to deep with all of the computer details and his list of the 10 reasons why the world is 'flat'...I found myself skimming and having to go back and force myself to read certain parts...but...all in all, I have to say this is a must read book.

I've only got about 50 pages left...but I have to say that this is a real eye opener.

He writes more from the 'conservative' perspective...but tries to come down pretty evenly on both political parties.....

Thanks for recommending this one, Kelly.

kris

[houseelf]

Isn't this book thought provoking and slightly terrifying?

And now I digress to a subtopic presented in this book....

After reading this book, the topic of school choice has been ruminating loudly in my mind. I've heard strong support of this issue from this author (somewhat conservative), the authors of the Two Income trap (somewhat liberal), and Milton Friedman (conservative Nobel prize winning economist I saw recently on PBS). By the way, Milton Friedman was fabulous.

I think that the next book I read will either be by Milton Friedman or on the topic of School Choice and/or school vouchers. Milton Friedman explained that although education is a necessary function of government, the current model subsidizes the suppliers and not the recipients. He wants the students subsidized with vouchers for X amount of dollars to attend any school that their parents choose.

Minnesota has a step down program of school choice which includes open enrollment between districts and a tax credit of $1,625grammar/2,625high school for expenses incurred on behalf of a minor child's education, including private schools, tutoring, or school supplies. It is a great benefit of living here that if you're not happy with the local school district, you can always opt for open enrollment somewhere else if you agree to transport your kids. I would like to see more of this kind of educational empowerment....

If this topic breathes a life of its own, we can start a new thread in the debate section.

Kelly

My dh got this book for me for Christmas, and I thought he was nuts. I guess I'll go give it a read now.