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Book Review
PEGGY BARNETT First published in 2005, The World Is Flat has been "updated and expanded." Since the subtitle is "A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century," and since Friedman's thesis is that the lightning-swift advances in technology are one of the reasons for the flattening of our world, it is appropriate to revise this book speedily. Thomas Friedman is a respected journalist and author, often appearing on news and talk programs. He is the foreign affairs columnist for the New York Times, and his previous books have dealt with the Middle East in particular. The concept of a "flat world," following a remark from a friend that "the playing field is being leveled," both excites and frightens him. It is not only the workers and investors who are empowered in a flat world, but also al-Quaeda and other terrorist networks. As one might suspect, given his profession, Friedman writes persuasively. He presents numerous examples, which keep the reader from bogging down in statistics. There are numerous statistics, also, but he presents them clearly and convincingly. After an initial explanation of what this flat world means, he discusses ten "flatteners," forces that enabled us (the world's population) to collaborate in new ways. For example, the Internet and the Web have become tools of both connectivity and commerce. The wellcovered "outsourcing," cursed by some and applauded by others, and what Friedman calls "offshoring" have changed lives here and especially in India. After dealing with the flatteners at length, Friedman goes on to the "Convergences." There is now a "global, Web-based platform for multiple forms of collaboration. This platform enables individuals, groups, companies, and universities anywhere in the world to collaborate - for the purposes of innovation, production, education, research, entertainment and, alas, war-making - like no creative platform ever before." This platform, combined with "horizontilization" and new players, form the convergences that helped create the Flat World. Friedman looks at how these factors affect the United States, developing countries, and companies. His research is wide-ranging, touching on oil production, Wal-Mart, and Georgia Tech. He compares the effect of "11/9," when the Berlin Wall came down with 9/11, which put up new invisible and concrete walls among people. Among his conclusions, he believes that "People don't change when you tell them they should. They change when they tell themselves they must." He sees hope that globalization will bring about reform in our flat world.
The World is Flat has spent many weeks on the non-fiction bestseller list, perhaps because we recognize the importance of its topic. It is available at the Mary Willis Library.
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