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Summary: Self-fullfilling prophecy, or mere stating of a fact?
Review: This book unashamedly praises globalization and capitalism, and it is no surprise that it draws ire of socialists and nationalists. Most negative reviews complain about Friedman's claim that globalization is inevitable. They see it as either an outright self-serving lie, or a self-fulfilling prophecy, and expect the poor and the downtrodden to resist. What these champions of the masses ignore is that globalization gives the smartest and most energetic of the world's poor opportunities like never before. In 1930's China a smart and ambitious peasant joined the Communist Party. His only other choice was to remain a peasant - the powers that ruled China at the time gave him no chance of advancement, to their eventual demise. Same was true throughout the world time and again. But globalization rewards people who embrace it regardless of their origin. Sure, an ambitious poor Chinese gains less from it than an ambitious wealthy Briton. But he gains nonethless, and more than he could ever gain before. Exactly the kind of people who under different circumstances would lead a revolution, are the winners of globalization, at least within the context of their countries. And the smartest and most ambitious of *them* become very rich and join the global elite. Yes, globalization will not make for an equal world, but it is making an equal-opportunity one.
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Summary: Gold plated Rationalization of Chaos
Review: Much like Tom Peters, Friedman spews forth what he thinks will rationalize for the world elite any action which improves their bottom line. Unless you are among the world's 20% who own 80% of the worlds resources, or such a wannabe, save your self wading through this. Here is his message: 1. People, cities, nations and morality are irrelevant. It is the only the victims problem and responsibility if they starve, or are murdered, so don't waste time even thinking about this. 2. The bottom line is all that matters. 3. Start fighting your way to the top of the world social order pyramid before you get stuck with the growing majority lucky to have MacJobs and under constant threat of crime and murder. My particular critique is his repeated use of his personal disappointments when he has his junkets to quaint locales spoiled by seeing some multinational fast food joint pop up. His major error is tossing off that crime, lawlessness, and terrorism are isolated incidents that at their worse only harm the irrelevant and resources-less 80% of the population. I trust Mr. Fiedman and his ilk, will be more than happy to step up to the plate with more of the same rationalization when multinationals clone people. This efficient market will no doubt be defended in making everyone of us unnecessary to the world of the elite.
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Summary: Friedman, Expert on Everything
Review: Yes, of course, Mr. Friedman, you are right. As if your brand of modern life is inherently better than all those ever tried. It is nothing but your own olive tree, your secular god, but you are too smug to admit it. Rather than explaining globalization, Friedman gives nothing but a tired case for the advancement of new an removal of the old -- as if 3 centuries of writers had not done the subject justice (and Hume, Locke and Hayek were far better writers than Friedman). So, unless you are a fawning sycophant who believes the self-appointed expert on everything, Thomas Friedman, you might want to find an original, thought provoking and insightful book to explain globalization. This one surely isn't.
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Summary: great book
Review: This book is outstanding in every way. Interesting, informative, insightful, humorous, scary, comprehensive, timely and colorfully written. If you really want to understand what's going on in the world today, behind the headlines, read this book. Great job, Tom Friedman.
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Summary: Too much Hyperglobalism!
Review: At times, poorly written, at others, over generalizing, The Lexus and the Olive Tree is the clearest example yet of the hyper-globalism that is increasingly influencing American perceptions of the world. The book lacks the academic rigor or the methodological discipline to prove its most controversial point: that today's international system is globalism. Yet, as even Friedman admits, globalism is more process than system, more uncertainty than structure. In this, Friedman loosely paints only one possible picture of tommorrow's world rather than defining the actual structures and choices that will get us there, perhaps because he himself does not know the answer. Nonetheless, to Friedman's credit, he still considers the implications of the evolutions of finance, technology, and information and how they are reordering and restructuring relationsips between persons, economies, nations, and systems. Read this book not for its concise presentation of new realities in international politics and economics but rather for its extreme enthusiasm and feel-good hyperglobalism.
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Summary: A good read
Review: This book is a wonderfull read. Lacks the business sense that you find in Roy H. Williams Secret Formulas of the Wizard of Ads. But is a good read non-theless.
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Summary: A insightful book on the globalisation
Review: Identifies the impact of global capital markets,mass communications and and low cost computing on political,social and economic barriers to changes. Builds a clear picture of how the global economy will emerge and impact all aspects of our lives. A profound book that gives the reader both insights and the ability to anticipate future trends.
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Summary: Very Interesting Intellectually and Easy to Read
Review: Friedman is such an enthusiast for the boom time of the 1990s. I think his book will stand out as one of the leading examples of American self-satisfaction. He never mentions America's trade deficit and dependence on foreign capital...and he probably underestimates the power and influence of what looks like a stock market bubble. Nevertheless his examples are thought provoking and very NOW. I think he overestimates the value of innovation and underestimates the value of being the best at producing goods. England is famous for innovation and not being able to produce goods and has been declining as an economic power for years. Maybe the current times are unusually rewarding for innovators.
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Summary: Globalization described in terms anyone can understand
Review: The globalization of the world's economy is a phenomenon of the world after the demise of the Soviet Union. Friedman gives a brilliant tour de force of the causes and results of worldwide financial markets acting in accordance with their own perceived self-interest, bestowing wealth and new investment in countries based upon their potential to return a profit to investers. But he also describes what happens when the "Electronic Herd" of investors get spooked by unanticipated threats to their investments. Because countries differ widely in their ability to absorb and efficiently use investment capital, there are wide fluctuations in investment, with consequential social and economic damage as capital moves across national boundaries with the speed of a mouse click. Friedman uses an anecdotal approach it illustrate his points, and in the end, they coalesce into his principal themes, that predictability, transparency, and accountability are the standards against which all investment will be measured, and those who are unable or refuse to abide by these norms will suffer accordingly. He also analyzes the impact of these fluid financial markets on traditional societies, and the tensions that fluidity impose on the traditonal order of things. People want both the wealth that the new order brings, but also want the community and values that this financial fluidity tend to undermine. Striking a balance between hopes and dreams for a secure future, and protecting traditional community values, and providing a safety net for those who are unable to compete will be the principal tasks of political and financial leaders now and in the distant future. This book should be on every thinking person's reading list as a Must Read.
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Summary: Day Dreams from A NY Skyscraper
Review: A starry eyed pep talk on the wonderful new world of the global economy-- free from any real experience of the depradations of the New World Order, Friedman chooses not to visit the maquilladora free trade zones, with their wrenching poverty and human exploitation. What Friedman replaces any critical analysis with is the sophistry, platitudes and blue sky fantasies of the neo liberal order, while every aspects of a democratic economy spins downward in the clutches and predations of his 'free' markets and information economy. See what sustenance an information sandwich or warmth a cyber dwelling has to provide the (increasingly numerous) victims of these ravages. Read Noam Chomsky's 'Profit over People' or Eammon Fingleton's 'In Praise of Hard Industries', to get a touch of reality of what is REALLY happening out there and the type of illusions, well represented in this book, that have to be overcome to fix it.
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