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Summary: On copyrights
Review: In a recent review posted here, Dean Baker chides the supposed hypocrisy of the author Thomas Friedman. He notes that Friedman's riches come at the expense of copyright protection of his books, which Baker claims is the type of barrier that Friedman argues should and inevitably will come down. Baker seems to think that copyright protection is socially undesirable, and he seems to disapprove of U.S. efforts to enforce it abroad. Baker must also believe that patent protection is socially undesirable for the same reasons: It creates a government-protected monopoly and allows firms to gouge consumers with "unreasonably" high prices for such essential things as drugs to treat AIDS and slow its growth. But without patent protection, without the prospect of these monopoly profits, pharmaceutical firms would have no incentive to do the R&D that leads to the types of breakthroughs that have prolonged the lives of persons with AIDS. And without copyright protection, there is no incentive (or at least far less incentive) for people to write books. It's inconceivable to me that Baker would think that less books would be socially desirable, even if those books contain ideas with which Baker disagrees.
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Summary: Executive Management Reader
Review: Thomas L. Friedman's The Lexus and the Olive Tree is one of the finest books on understaning globalization that I have ever read. I have taken MIT Sloan Management programs and have learned less that I have by reading Friedman's book. Friedman's decribes step by step how globalization came about, it's present state, and what is in store for us in the future. A must reading for all middle and upper level managers who want to understand globalization and to stay at the vanguard of how the business world is changing.
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Summary: A challenging future
Review: Friedman does an excellent job of explaining the process of globalization in this highly readable book. He certainly challenges the reader with a very strong case for the inevitablility of continued globalization. It certainly makes one realize that in order to stay afloat in the new world order, one must stay informed. The only problem with Friedman's analysis is an age old one: what do we do for the people who are left behind? Friedman points out that in the past, the Big conquered the small. He argues that in the future, the fast will conquer the slow. Friedman provokes many questions, but doesn't offer answers -- we have to pick it up from there.
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Summary: A Layperson's Guide to the World
Review: Friedman does an excellent job in bringing the experience and history of globalization to the general public; although Friedman is emphatic in his explanation that globalization is not a phenomemon or a trend. He provides excellent examples of what is occuring in the world in relation to politics and economics. He fully explains the title of the book and how it applies to globalization and the US pace that is set and how it is pertinent to our way of life at this moment. It was an experience to read his book and in doing so, opened my eyes to the placement of the US in the world scheme. I am not an individual that is usually intrigued by politics or economics on the world scale, but Friedman provides the links between events and outcomes of the past several years, that helped me to grasp where the US has been and where we are currently going. This book has been passed around to all my colleagues and business associates. I recommend this edition for those that have read the first edition of Friedman's and encourage those that may be hesitant to involve one's self into this topic, to just read the first chapter before coming to a decision.
Rating: 
Summary: The lexus, the olive tree, and a huge ego
Review: Before reading and listening to the book I thought some of the negative reviews had to be unfair. Then I read and listened to this book, and it was worse than any review had indicated. The opening story about oranges sets the stage. Here is a person so accustomed to luxury and so insulated from the real world, he misses the point himself. Poor communication. and a lack of cultural understanding leads to not getting what you want in the globalized world. His whole thesis is based on being rich and making lots of money. He never mentions going to places like Italy where this is seldom a priority. He judges the "olive tree" culture harshly. He assumes everyone wants a Lexus.
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Summary: Good framework and examples
Review: On the whole Friedman succeeds in meeting the two objectives he sets for this book. First, he provides a valuable framework for discussion of the causes and course of globalization that is more comprehensive than previous attempts and is useful regardless where you stand on globalization. Second, Friedman provides examples that bring this phenomenon to life. This more than compensates for the negatives, which include: (1) there is not as much substance as one would expect from the length of the book, (2) the personalization that may be appropriate in Friedman's New York Times column tends to come across as being full of himself in book length, (3) the new terms Friedman coins and the analogies are sometimes just plain silly, and (4) about page 300 Friedman switches from descriptive to prescriptive and looses credibility and his sense of conviction. Freidman has also sparked useful debate. While his detractors have tried to position him as an unfeeling cheerleader for globalization what really gets to them his is assertion that for the first time countries can choose to be prosperous provided they are willing to play by the rules of the global markets. As people come to understand this, the advocates for old "ism's" or new "third ways" will be challenged to come up with more compelling cases for their alternatives.
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Summary: Tom Friedman was born to write
Review: Like his first book, "From Beirut to Jerusalem," Tom Friedman displays a mastery over his subject like few authors. He is such an articulate apostle for globalization because he has lived it and breathed it for years as a foreign affairs columnist. His book is crammed with witty anecdotes that enable the reader to understand and appreciate the profound changes in our world economy. In his introduction, Mr. Friedman says that he is not an advocate of globalization, per se. Rather, he accepts its seeming inevitability. I am sure Mr. Friedman believes that his intent is neutral, but the balance of his book's information is favorable toward globalization. This should not be surprising because, in sum, globalization is a positive world development. The author, however, waxes sentimental when he warns that globalization may turn us into spiritless "machines." Mr. Friedman shouldn't worry. In fact, capitalism and democracy are revolutionary systems precisely because they enable people to possess free will and choice. With the rise of globalization, people all over the world can choose their own "olive trees" - their communities, their religious beliefs, etc. - while enjoying a higher standard of living. It is no coincidence that the United States - the arsenal of both democracy and capitalism - is the world's most religious industrial society. It is not only a diverse faith - Jews, Protestants, Catholics, Muslims - but an active faith - one where people make God an active part of their lives rather a distant character. Our real "olive trees" will be enhanced, not suppressed, by freedom. I should also add that I disagree with the author concerning the process's inevitability. Nothing in life is guaranteed. In the late 1960s, America stunted the engine of our economic growth with welfare and crippled the principle of equality before the law with affirmative action. These policies were designed to create a more "compassionate" society. Rather, they only deepened the problems of poverty and created needless friction between the races. In the next decade, America will face a similar choice: Will we abandon the secret of our success out of misguided guilt? Will our sympathy for the poor delude us into destroying the only opportunity for their advancement? The recent protests in Seattle and Washington should give us pause. Hopefully, they'll read Tom Friedman's book and adopt a fresh, more informed, perspective.
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Summary: An outline of current realities
Review: Tom Friedman's book incorporates financial, political, and cultural understandings deeper than you're likely to find anywhere. Since reading this book, I have seen evidence of its truth every day. It describes the effects of globalization, recognizing that it is a very mixed bag of benefits and costs, especially at the cultural level. Read it. It will clarify our world for you.
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Summary: Excellent!
Review: I read this fantastic book which really show many of the implications of the new world order: Globalization. The book is written in a simple style, comprehensible by everybody. However, I've read the book from both the lexus, which i felt was Friedman's favourite view and the olive tree, which represents my perspective. And i can say that Friedman's points, even very consistent is less empathical with the most important claims of the "olive trees people", which are also true. I liked the part of the book where he stressed the role that the US should be playing as a socialistic force. It should not only pour the developing countries with loans(that they will anyway never pay back! and just loose further to bad policies and inapropriate decision making). Rather, the US should be converting the debt/loans into valuable investments which might have greater benefits over developing countries and make sure that any ongoing projects will be performed properly. At the end, i fully agree with Friedman regarding the following fact: those who will get "aligned" in the most global sense with United States will definitely succeed. Those who will not, will be the loosers of the next century. The question remains: how a "meanless" developing country can balance the lexus and the olive tree, meanwhile even developed countries with all the means they got can hardly afford it! Again, Friedman's book is fantastic and poses real world issues.
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Summary: A primer for getting ahead...
Review: In the Lexus and the Olive Tree, Thomas Friedman succinctly describes the forces driving global finance and manufacturing with readable and entertaining anecdotes to illustrate his points. I believe he accurately describes the financial world's trend to rate credit risk through standardized comparison, and the manufacturing world's insatiable desire to reduce costs to provide more competively priced goods and services. Many readers may react that this book is a shameless celebration of the export of a bland American culture through out the world. To do so would be to miss the book's most outstanding benefit - it provides a useful description of the forces which are driving global change. One can read this book and come away with ideas on how to harness those forces and channel that change. One can either act like a victim of change or take advantage of change to acheive one's goals. Friedman has many illustrations of those in both the developing and developed world who harnessed change to personally advance. I think Friedman's book would make good reading for those who are trying to decide how to get ahead in their lives. Getting ahead might mean financially, spiritually, or academically. By understanding the underlying forces driving global change, one can adapt oneself and prosper.
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