Thomas L. Friedman: The World is Flat (Expanded/Revised ed.)

[JustinDT]

Just got this to read on my upcoming time off. Anyone read it yet? General thoughts? The dust cover and amazon.com both failed to excite me and I was planning on some other books, but from skimming the pages themselves, this seems like it could be really phenomenal.

 

[litera9]

I read it two years ago, and found it captivating. It's ideas changed the way I look at business, politics, and technology. However, I read the first edition, so I couldn't talk about the updates.

 

[Peder]

. . . from skimming the pages themselves, this seems like it could be really phenomenal.

The best way! Now I just might pick it up myself. Would be glad to hear your reaction after you finish.

 

[DavidRM]

I enjoyed reading the first edition when it came out. What did he add for the 2nd edition?

-David

 

[Nifty]

I listened to this book back in 2007 and while I think of it often, I haven't revisited it in a while. My friend who moved to Cozumel Mexico was emailing me the other day and talking about his two young daughters and their educations outside of the US and what they would do if they moved state-side. The conversation eventually led to some of the points brought up in this book and I strongly encouraged him to read it. I'm starting to wonder how much the info still applies and what updates have been made.

BTW, my favorite quote in the book is when he's sharing his advice to his teenage daughters:

“Girls, when I was growing up, my parents used to say to me, ‘Tom, finish your dinner -- people in China and India are starving.' My advice to you is: Girls, finish your homework -- people in China and India are starving for your jobs.”​

Has anybody read it recently? Any thoughts on how relevant it is now?

 

[SFG75]

I also have only read the original when it came out years ago. I love books about natural resources and how future military battles will be over them. Oil and water are two that stick out in my mind. I love Friedman's books, though I wish he was more of a liberal provocateur instead of a wishy-washy, global liberal apologist. Trying to track down a definitive point where he stands in regards to labor and real solutions can be quite a task with him.

 

[Peder]

I rather like Friedman, the one or two books of his I have read. The best one: From Beirut to Jerusalem. Very informative (to me) on how the Mideast got to where it is now.