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    The World Is Flat [Updated and Expanded]: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century
    Unavailable
    The World Is Flat [Updated and Expanded]: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century
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    The World Is Flat [Updated and Expanded]: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century
    Audiobook8 hours

    The World Is Flat [Updated and Expanded]: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century

    Written by Thomas L. Friedman

    Narrated by Oliver Wyman

    3.5/5

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    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    "One mark of a great book is that it makes you see things in a new way, and Mr. Friedman certainly succeeds in that goal," the Nobel laureate Joseph E. Stiglitz wrote in The New York Times, reviewing The World is Flat in 2005. With his inimitable ability to translate complex foreign policy and economic issues, Friedman brilliantly demystifies the new flat world for listeners, making sense of the advances in technology and communications that challenge us to run even faster just to stay in place. For these updated and expanded editions, Friedman has added more hours of commentary, fresh stories and insights. New material includes:

    • The reasons the flattening of the world "will be seen in time as one of those fundamental shifts or inflection points, like the invention of the printing press, the rise of the nation-state, or the Industrial Revolution"

    • A mapping of the New Middle—the places and spaces in the flat world where middle-class jobs will be found—and portraits of the character types who will find success as New Middlers

    • An account of the qualities American parents and teachers need to cultivate in young people so that they will be able to thrive in the flat world

    • An account of the "globalization of the local": how the flattening of the world is actually strengthening local and regional identities rather than homogenizing the world

    More than ever, The World Is Flat is an essential update on globalization, its successes and discontents, powerfully illuminated by one of our most respected journalists.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherMacmillan Audio
    Release dateApr 18, 2006
    ISBN9781427200341
    Unavailable
    The World Is Flat [Updated and Expanded]: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century
    Author

    Thomas L. Friedman

    Thomas L. Friedman is an internationally renowned author, reporter, and columnist-the recipient of three Pulitzer Prizes and the author of numerous bestselling books, among them From Beirut to Jerusalem and The World Is Flat. He was born in Minneapolis in 1953, and grew up in the middle-class Minneapolis suburb of St. Louis Park. He graduated from Brandeis University in 1975 with a degree in Mediterranean studies, attended St. Antony's College, Oxford, on a Marshall Scholarship, and received an M.Phil. degree in modern Middle East studies from Oxford. After three years with United Press International, he joined The New York Times, where he has worked ever since as a reporter, correspondent, bureau chief, and columnist. At the Times, he has won three Pulitzer Prizes: in 1983 for international reporting (from Lebanon), in 1988 for international reporting (from Israel), and in 2002 for his columns after the September 11th attacks. Friedman's first book, From Beirut to Jerusalem, won the National Book Award in 1989. His second book, The Lexus and the Olive Tree: Understanding Globalization (1999), won the Overseas Press Club Award for best book on foreign policy in 2000. In 2002 FSG published a collection of his Pulitzer Prize-winning columns, along with a diary he kept after 9/11, as Longitudes and Attitudes: Exploring the World After September 11. His fourth book, The World Is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century (2005) became a #1 New York Times bestseller and received the inaugural Financial Times/Goldman Sachs Business Book of the Year Award in November 2005. A revised and expanded edition was published in hardcover in 2006 and in 2007. The World Is Flat has sold more than 4 million copies in thirty-seven languages. In 2008 he brought out Hot, Flat, and Crowded, which was published in a revised edition a year later. His sixth book, That Used to Be Us: How American Fell Behind in the World We Invented and How We Can Come Back, co-written with Michael Mandelbaum, was published in 2011. It was followed by Thank You For Being Late in 2016. Thomas L. Friedman lives in Bethesda, Maryland, with his family.

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    Reviews for The World Is Flat [Updated and Expanded]

    3.5/5

    101 ratings92 reviews

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    • 3/5
      Friedman is a hard-core proselytizer for globalization, seeing a wide range of benefits to essentially making free-market capitalism the way of the world. He brings up a fair number of interesting concepts and does a good job of showing how globalization actually works - and doesn't - in the real-life situations. What's unrealistic, however, is his belief that human nature will be able to check globalization's problems.Take "the race to the bottom" concept: that suppliers (of whatever) will continue to undercut each other to gain business, resulting in dangerous short cuts and bad life quality for workers. Friedman seems to believe that these workers will be able to somehow "demand" (economically) themselves into a better life as they work to emulate those who are on the next step up the ladder. I just don't buy it.There is an inherent, probably unsolvable tension between the freedom that comes with democracy and the free market and the harsh results (to at least some people) that inevitably follow.On other thing: The "flat world" metaphor really grates on me. First of all, as even indicated by the cover illustration, the words "flat world" are irrevocably bound up in my head with the idea of ignorant people who didn't believe the world is round. Second, beyond that, if I imagine the world as an actual flat plane, I think of the two opposite edges of it as being as far apart as possible, i.e., therefore in a situation that makes harder, not easier, for edge entities to interact.Worth reading for getting the information needed to provide context to the globalization arguments.
    • 4/5
      I still haven't gotten through this whole book (it's one of five or six I have going right now), and there's already been TWO updates to it!!!! I need to get a move on.
    • 4/5
      I like thoughtful theses that are well supported by facts and examples. Friedman's delivers a convincing message and connects the reader to it through an even more convincing argument about hope and fear. In a few instances, I don't agree with his solution (do we really need national subsidation of health care?), but the goals he supports always make sense. Key messages: the playing field is leveled, 3 eras of globalization, 10 flateners (PC's, insourcing, outsourcing, supply chain, et al). A key success factor is actually not having natural resources. Wal-Mart and Taiwan had to learn to be innovative and bargain well. I found his section on "compassionate flatening" the least convincing but he does end on a clear point of pragmatism. His explanation for the willingness of Muslims to become terrorists helped me to understand. It is driven by a lack of hope and frustration that the promised greatness isn't fulfilled. Most of the bombers were college educated, Trotskyite utopians in a more recent age.
    • 3/5
      Good points, just could have all been made with about half the length Thomas Friedman makes them in.
    • 4/5
      This book was in true sense for me. I had been so unaware of the Web2.0 (most of it) technologies, that after reading 'World is Flat' it felt I was walking into a new world. The book was a good stepping stone for me to try the Web 2.0 tools (like this social book site)
    • 4/5
      This book has a hurried feel to it as though Friedman has mashed together a pile of notebooks. It's over long and the breathless style gets tiresome (I had to force myself to finish it) but he's interviewed a great selection of people, Bill Gates, Michael Dell, Paul Romer etc. etc. and produced a useful book about the outsourcing of products and services.10 years ago I wasn't playing around with ADSL, Google, Skype or instant messaging but they're here now and he explains the explosion of "third world" development based on fibre optics and the internet world information platform.The book was written in 2005 and the situation has partly changed now due to the credit / oil / food price crisis. India and China are struggling with 11% inflation which I suppose they have to pass on to American and European retailers. He did anticipate that Asian demand would drive up the price of oil.
    • 5/5
      This is the most fascinating and eductional book I've ever read. I believe it is a must read for all, especially those in highschool, college, and just out of college. It explains so much about the rise of technology and the impact that has had on all aspects of our society.
    • 3/5
      Somewhat long, but brings up interesting questions about the interrelationships globally wide.
    • 5/5
      This book was a real eye-opener for me. It's a very upbeat and optimistic treatment of the causes and effects of globalisation, but I found most of the arguments very compelling.It could have done with a little trimming - this is the second edition, and was expanded to include new content, but at times I felt that some points were reiterated a little too often and that a few anecdotes could perhaps have been left out without damaging the end result.It's unapologetically US-centric, as the author is quite openly using the book as a platform to argue for changes in US education and economic policies which he believes are necessary for the US to take advantage of the changes globalisation brings.All in all though, I found this to be an engrossing read. It will date badly, but despite this (and its other faults) I think it's worth a high score simply for the way in which it helped me examine the topic more closely than before.
    • 2/5
      The best thing I can say is: the author's arrogance shines through the book. I suppose you have to stand out from the crowd if you want to be noticed.
    • 5/5
      Significant book -- it will need updating every six months! You learn a lot from this book, but Friedman may be a little overly sanguine about globalization.
    • 3/5
      This review pertains to the abridged audio CD version of the book.Some books have a finite shelf life, and this work, I’m afraid, has passed its. Perhaps it isn’t so much that the facts have changed, but they’ve become well acknowledged. Anyone who has paid the slightest bit of attention to the news media for the past few years is aware of the elements of “flattening” that Friedman wrote about – outsourcing, offshoring, the Internet, and the other socio-economic factors. I found few new insights here, and the anecdotal information, while interesting, wasn’t riveting. The “dirty secrets” segments (generally about how the US is going about things all wrong) are right on, but, again, not very fresh. Just depressing.A major flaw in the audiobook version is the choice of narrator, who has an irritating, juvenile “gee whiz” inflection to his voice and makes rather half-hearted attempts at dialect when reading quotes from foreigners. Someone with much more gravitas would have been more suitable.
    • 5/5
      What a fascinating book! I've read about outsourcing, the rise of the Indian and Chinese economies, and the effect the Internet and technology is having on our everyday lives. But, until I read (listened to) this book, I didn't understand the how all these factors are interrelated and the effect it could have on our future. It's definitely a book that I'll need to read again to absorb all the information (and I just heard that a revised, revised edition was published this past July). Mr. Friedman also references a number of books that I'd like to add to my "need to read" list. Although I generally don't read a lot of nonfiction, this topic is fascinating to me given the current state of our nation and the world.
    • 5/5
      Outstanding. Anyone who plans to have a job in the next 50 years should read this book.
    • 4/5
      Talk about enlightening! A must read for all high schoolers!
    • 2/5
      I can't think of a book I've read recently with which I agree with almost every single premise in it so much. The idea that free trade can solve all the world's problems was shown to be nonsense after 2007. Capitalism is not the answer.
    • 3/5
      The size of this book my be intimidating to some, but it's well worth plowing through the almost 500 pages. Don't give up with the slow start. When Friedman explains the historical events and periods that have impacted globization, you'll be enlightened and glad that you kept reading. The World really is being flattened by technological advances and communication.
    • 4/5
      Friedman brilliantly demystifies the new flat world for listeners, allowing them to make sense of the advances in technology and communications that are creating an explosion of wealth in India and China, and challenging the rest of us to run even faster just to stay in place.
    • 3/5
      (unabridged audiobook read by Oliver Wyman): This book, while a reasonably interesting discussion of globalization, is way too long and repetitive. I can summarize it in a few bullet points:* Outsourcing grunt work saves money and frees up Americans to be innovative and specialized. It also improves the standard of living in the countries receiving the new jobs.* The internet = teh awesome.* Collaboration benefits everyone.* OMG they have computers in Asia!* Americans need to buckle down in science and math education or they will be left behind.* Change is difficult but inevitable.* Knowledge-based work is like an ice cream sundae.* Sometimes companies in one country have employees in other countries, or they work with companies in other countries.* Terrorists have access to the same technologies we do.* The world is flat. The world is flat. The world is flat.Okay, so maybe I'm being a tad flip. This was probably far more groundbreaking when it came out in 2004 and the off-shoring/outsourcing panic really started picking up speed. Though I didn't come away with any major new insights, I did enjoy a lot of the little nuggets of information, like the Indian school for untouchables and JetBlue's housewives in Utah. And there was certainly no shortage of anecdotes.Basically, if you're new to the globalization game and want a general overview with lots of specific examples, this is a good book for you. However, if you're already reasonably familiar with just how multinational your average multinational corporation is, you might want to look for something more in depth.One final note: the narrator was okay, but it was a little strange how he gave everyone he quoted a subtle Indian accent.
    • 4/5
      Here is an omnibus on globalization by a globalization enthusiast. He sees globalization, which he calls ‘flattening of the world’, as not only inevitable, but essentially a good thing for the world and mankind. He goes as far as to say that it may be the ultimate example of what Marx had in mind when he described an ideal world. He doesn’t say we are there yet, but shows that we are striding in this direction in pretty big steps.At the same time it is a very American book full of advice and warnings of what the United States needs to do to stay competitive in the new world. He rebukes the sense of entitlement Americans have, and warns that big reforms are needed if the States want to stay at the helm of the world.He doesn’t stop at the States. He examines different parts of the world and different countries regarding their openness to reform, gives global advice, and predicts which countries will get ahead in the global competition.He makes many really good points and has some surprising and ingenious insights, one of which is calling Al-Queida members Islamo-Leninists with a genuinely interesting justification for that name.I did not enjoy the style, which was much too ‘evangelical’ for me (or was it the way it was read out?), and I definitely did not enjoy the constant repetitions. I think that one fourth to one third of the content was repeated at least twice. Some of his insights are quite amazing though.
    • 2/5
      Suggested alternate subtitle: Golfing My Way across Asia with My CEO Friends.
    • 2/5
      Well, he writes for the New York Times . . . so this is a bit predictable. Government investment is the solution. If you already agree with him, you'll bobble head with joy as you read it - if you can get to the end.
    • 5/5
      The Summary: Thomas Friedman walks through the events and technologies that have changed how businesses are managed and run.The Take Away: Friedman does a fabulous job of laying ground work for the semi-informed and skeptical alike. Friedman also restrains from preaching or insisting that everyone must globalize. He builds cases for how and why it must happen, not only for cost-purposes. In fact, he states that companies who source for cheap labor are wrong. Instead companies need to source where skills/value are available for a lower cost. Increased value/decreased cost.Friedman has strong opinions in the book but every one is backed with facts. He also shows the weaknesses of a global economy if supply chains aren't protected of if quality suffers.I can completely understand why Manager Tools recommends this title. Version 3.0 is out and I'm considering it.
    • 4/5
      Everything and everyone IS connected. The world is opening up faster than the minds can follow. I hope we all catch up and start acting wisely and for everyone's benefit some time soon, to reduce some of the unnecessary harm happening all around us. Positive action is all it takes, however small. We do live in a very small world, after all.
    • 5/5
      Really thoughtful examination of how the Internet and other technologies have leveled the playing field and made the USA less of an economic superpower.
    • 2/5
      An important topic, however, I think Friedman is a little bit reactionist in his views.
    • 2/5
      This is a stimulating look at the changes in the competitive world of business enterprise at the beginning of the twenty-first century. Thomas Friedman has filled his book with examples of the changes taking place, in particular those special ones that are "flattening" our world, i.e. bringing us closer together in time and space. When I was working in systems support at a large bank I would tell my team that we were working to reduce the time and space needed for the operations that our systems supported. Friedman is telling us this on a global scale with this book. His style is easy to read and he has a compelling narrative with fascinating examples. However the more of the book that I read, the more I have the feeling that he is focused primarily on the superficial, the symptoms of change, without really examining the true basis for these events.Change in business is not new and the main features of the changes noted by Friedman that are different than previous eras are 1) the speed with which the changes are taking place, and 2) the medium, primarily information technology. The book seems to be more a catalog of these events which the author neglects some fundamental ideas and does not clearly provide serious overall conclusions. One example of a fundamental element that is neglected is the importance of the consumer in motivating and validating the changes. All the new technology in the world will not survive if it is not used. The supply chain revolution of Wal-Mart is driven ultimately by consumers who have chosen to shop at these stores. A consumer glancing at the cover of this book would see the subtitle "a brief history of the twenty-first century". Hopefully he would explore a little further before purchasing the book because it is neither brief nor "history". Interesting as it may be it is merely an extended foray into business journalism that provides some information about our current world, but leaves a bit more to be desired.
    • 4/5
      My take away, if we do not have open markets, create trade deals, etc others will and this will leave us poorer and further behind.
    • 5/5
      Once you get past the author’s pure hatred of President Bush which come up repeatedly throughout the book you can see that this is pure genius.I wish I would have read this when it first came out because Friedman does an amazing job of walking through the current technology and with some logical progression pointing out the direction it is heading.Such simple concept as “outsourcing” and “insourcing” are explained so the masses can understand the cons and the HUGE pros that we can come from them.I’ve got his next book lined up just need the time for it!!
    • 4/5
      This was a really great book. I think that Friedman did a great job of talking about the facts of the global society and the effects that has on many aspects of our lives. It is here to stay, best to understand it and work within the realities of it.