Rating: 
Summary: GLOBALIZATION IS NOT A PREFERENCE BUT A FACT
Review: This book is an elocuent description and explanation of the economic and cultural global integration process due to technological & communications revolutionary advances. In spite of the resistance of some sectors to accept reality and globalization as a fact and not a mere personal preference, the global integration process keeps on destroying walls, both physical and psicological, that still keep the human race splitted in tribes.
Thomas Friedman contributes to clarify this vision of the human race working together beyond the particular interests of polititians, governments, and some national corporations, and the empowerment of the individual in the global arena.
You can either do as the ostrich or embrace change. That's certainly subject to personal preferences.
Rating:
Summary: Great Textbook!
Review: I teach at UT Austin at IC2 in an executive masters program on Science and Technology Development. One course I teach, Internationalization of Technology, would suffer if I didn't have the benefit of this book. Friedman offers a vocabulary and a paradigm for looking at globalization forces -- macro and micro. And, his perspective, in the later part of the book, is even more relevant in this post-9/11 world. Some of his points are debatable -- but that debate is very valuable. Compelling writing and great way of looking at the world. We cannot forget the Olive Tree as we pursue the Lexus!
Rating: 
Summary: oversimplification
Review: I want to point out that in this book Friedman quotes Kenneth Lay (CEO of the infamously bankrupt Enron) and puts Lay and Enron in a positive light. Also, Friedman mentions Argentina as a star of the globalization show. Of course, in recent weeks grim problems like Argentina's 18% unemployment rate have caused riots and the resignation of the president. These developments definitely confirm suspicions that Friedman's admiration of globalization is a bit misguided. Some of the anecdotes are interesting, but the analysis presented hardly scratches the surface on the problems of the future (primarily the question "is economic growth sustainable?"). Not everything can be solved by cutesy "information technology," and it definitely won't make everyone rich and happy. The book would be a good primer on world affairs and globalization. I do recommend it for that purpose, but read with a critical mind, and then balance it with something more concerned with the morality of the world financial status quo.
Rating: 
Summary: Biased but informative
Review: The best way to describe Mr. Friedman's point of view on globalization is "on the bandwagon", meaning he is on the globalization bandwagon that most of the left and right center politicans in Washington are on. Mr. Friedman's book almost reads like a free trade bible, here's a quote, "Once the three democratizations came together in the late 1980's and blew away all the walls, they also blew away all the major ideological alternatives to free-market capitalism."
Lines like that are enough to drive any progressive crazy, but as far as explaining globalization the book does a good job. If you don't have a strong grasp of global political or economic systems and want to learn, this book is a good start. It explains things very well. But remember, this book is coming from the pro-globalization point of view, make sure after you read this book that you read something that provides a more critcal point of view on globalization(anything by Ralph Nader on this subject would do) so you can make a truly informed decision on whether globalization is positive or negative.
Rating:
Summary: One of the Most Important Books for Our Age
Review: Todd Weiner's review (below) was so excellent that I feel hard-pressed to add anything to it! The book is packed full of information and anecdotes, but still easy to read (not like a text book). I used to be a stock broker, and I can tell you, anyone who does any investing at all should read this book. Also, anyone who is at all interested in the internet, globalization, international business and/or trade, or tariff and trade barriers between countries should read this book. Buy it--it's well worth the money. And better yet, get a friend to read it at the same time, so that you will have someone to discuss it with.
Rating:
Summary: Fair book , unberable author
Review: The author has a very high opinion of himself. This may be
or may not be justified.If you can get pass that the ideas both in the book and
his NYT columns are not bad.
Rating:
Summary: What is Globalization?
Review: When you hear the word "globalization" and you are not sure what that entails then this is the book for you. Friedman offers a clear and concise explanation of the forces affecting our modern world. His use of metaphors bring things down to a very understandable level even if you are not well versed in economics or politics. One of the most interesting metaphors Friedman brings out is that of the "electronic herd." During the period of the Cold War countries sought to ally themselves with either the United States or the Soviet Union and thus recieve money from them. Today it is different, countries must convince the electronic herd (the mass of investors using the internet and new technologies to invest) to invest in their country. This electronic herd is brutal and only "grazes" where money is to be found. It leaves when there is any sign that money will be lost. The frustrating thing for many is that the herd is made up primarily of United States citizens or citizens from other 1st world countries. This herd is pushing its way into all the countries of the world and selling its values of capitalism and individualism. Yet, at the same time the herd pushes environmentalism and human rights.
To understand the force of globalization and the good and bad that comes with it, read this book.
Rating:
Summary: Keen Observations
Review: Friedman offers, in a few hundred pages, a broad perspective on globalization, its pros, cons, and eventuality, that is unmatched in any other book today. This is a great read worthy of anyone interested in globalization, intlernational politics, the political economy, or current events (see Friedman's column in the NY TImes for updates).
Rating:
Summary: Read this for a class and it opened my mind to the future
Review: This was a required reading for my U.S. History since 1945 course and it really showed what the world has been slowly growing into since the fall of communism. Globalization is the future and this book spells it out for you. It is not merely a history book that spouts out facts and uses words no one can understand, but rather it is written for everyone to read-and a brisk read it is. Friedman's first hand stories and vignettes that he tells are both interesting, amusing and illustrate his points very well. Everyone should read this book so that they can fully understand the world in the new millenium.
Rating:
Summary: Understand Bin Laden craziness
Review: Completely helps to understand the post Sept 11 world. Well written. Be sure to get the most recent version because it really makes it all make sense.
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