Friedman's Flat Earth

The most interesting and thought provoking book I’ve recently read is THE WORLD IS FLAT by Thomas L. Friedman.

The book title and subject matter; the globalized world in the twenty-first century, would not normally have drawn my attention, and truth be told, seemed a little too dry and academic for my tastes.

However I kept coming across references to this absolute gem from other authors, whose books I had enjoyed, such as Tim Ferriss author of New York Times bestseller THE 4 HOUR WORK WEEK. To be reviewed soon. Hint, dangerous to your status quo.

I won’t take you through the impressive resume and credentials of Mr Friedman, suffice to say there appears to be only two or three degrees of separation between TLF (as I will hitherto refer to him for brevity sake) and any true mover and shaker on the planet. I really started to feel jet lagged as i flew from one inter-continental location to another, almost from one turned page to the next.

As I read with increasing fascination of this shrinking planet of ours irrevocably evolving to the beat of broadband connectivity I realised I would be revisiting this book sooner rather than later. Like a thriller that you’d read with increasing urgency to uncover the plot secrets and conclusion, I rushed through the chapters, whilst reminding myself this was material that needed pondering and digesting.

So what’s it about you ask. The gist of the subject is that national boundaries and economic power centres are dissolving and that the rules of the economic game are shifting. It’s a new world order in which outsourcing is the buzz word of the services industry and digital information is creating the same opportunities for entrepreneurs in impoverished African villages as for spoon in the mouth sons and daughters of privilege.

TLF doesn’t merely observe the evolving inter connectivity between a multitude of nations in the global manufacture and supply distribution network, but notes the implication of this inter connectivity to predicting which counties are least likely to go to war with each other.

The implication is made that countries that are connected by the massive distribution and supply juggernaut will jump off the carousel at their peril. Financial peril that is.

A strong argument flavoured with implicit underlying fear. is made against America moving towards protectionism in response to recent financial upheaval. I’d love to hear the thoughts of president Obama on this topic. I’m sure there is a counter argument, but certainly the position taken by TLF seems compelling.

After reading this book you’ll never receive another telemarketed call from India without wondering how soon it’ll be before the world is run out of Bangalore!

A few brief paragraphs cannot due justice to the rich depth of material in this book that is written with more than a tinge of wry humour, without ever straying into parody or self indulgence.

Friedman's Flat Earth