The book contains brief history of twenty first century.
Thomas Friedman’s examination of the influences shaping business
and
competition in a
technology-fueled global environment is a call to
action for governments, businesses and individuals who must stay ahead
of these trends in order to remain competitive. In a narrative punctuated by case studies, interviews and
sometimes surprising statistics, Friedman’s message is clear: be
prepared, because this phenomenon waits for no one. Without rhetoric or
scare tactics, he paints a picture of a world moving faster than most
can keep up. As we explore America’s place in the fast-evolving world
economic platform, Friedman presents not only the problems we face, but
preventative measures and possible solutions. The World is Flat is an historical and geographical journey,
with stories and anecdotes from the days of Columbus to a modern day
Indian call center; from the Great Depression to the home office of a
Midwestern-USA housewife demonstrating the pervasiveness of the
world-flattening trend. Spanning a broad range of industries, cultures
and schools of thought, the real-world examples presented as evidence
of his theory are undeniable. From teleconferencing to podcasts and manufacturing to
restaurant order taking, The World is Flat leaves no stone unturned in
a quest for answers to a problem that most cannot even define.
Friedman’s dissection of
globalization is a valiant attempt at
explaining and understanding the forces driving the flattening of the
world, though he admits that the very nature of beast prevents one from
having all of the answers. This candor is in keeping with the theme of
the entire book, in that we must learn how to learn, teaching ourselves
to stay curious and innovative, if we are to excel in a global economy.
As he moves towards the end of this presentation of his theory,
Friedman warns of the forces that could seriously harm or slow the
flattening of the world, particularly the threat posed by terrorist
networks such as Al-Qaeda. His perspective is refreshing in a media
driven largely by scare tactics and fear mongering as he encourages a
realistic and objective approach to this threat. As people become more able to collaborate, compete and share
with others of different cultures, religions, educational backgrounds
and languages, The World is Flat is a necessary reality check to bring
these factors into perspective and offer, if not answers to every
problem, the drive to uncover working solutions.