The world is flat is the timely and essential update on globalization, its successes and discontents, powerfully illuminated by one of our most respected journalists. The work opens with friedmans reflections on the gobal reputation of the u. Thomas friedman is an evangelist for free traders and globalization. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Short summary free synopsis study guide book summary. Square is a plane form living in a two dimensional reality. The title refers to the idea that the world has been flattened now that companies. This flat world is one of tremendous possibility, but it also poses challenges to stability and shared prosperity. In his book the world is flat, friedman recounts a journey to bangalore, india, when he realized globalization has. Friedman then visits japan, where he learns that dalian.
The world is flat is a vital book for understanding our modern globalised world in his international bestseller the world is flat, the american journalist thomas friedman argues that globalisation and hyperconnectivity, which are made possible by the rise of technology, have resulted in a flattening of the world as international economic barriers collapse. The analysis of friedmans book was mediocre at best. The world is flat a brief history of the twentyfirst century. The authors present a well researched view of nine major themesissues supported by research from numerous intellectuals and academics. The world is flat thomas friedman designed by jonathan d. The ten forces that flattened the world what tom friedman means by the phrase the world is flat is that the global competitive. Author thomas friedman literally covers the world for the new york times, and his access to important local authorities, corporate executives, local times bureaus and researchers, the internet and a tape recorder has enabled him to compile a huge amount of information. Please click on the literary analysis category you wish to be displayed. Apr 05, 2005 the world is flat is the timely and essential update on globalization, its successes and discontents, powerfully illuminated by one of our most respected journalists.
Written pseudonymously by a square, the book used the fictional twodimensional world of flatland to comment on the hierarchy of victorian culture, but the novellas more enduring contribution is its examination of dimensions. He is perhaps best known for his book, the world is flat, a brief history of the twentyfirst century. Notes on the world is flat friedman, 2006 page 1 summary and excerpts from thomas friedmans the world is flat 2006 by bill altermatt chapter 2. There is a small, but interesting book, by aronica and ramdoo, the world is flat. He notes that when the berlin wall fell, the world became a little flatter. In the world is flat, friedman takes a fresh look at the interconnectedness of the modern world, and explores. Heres my summary for the book i read for my strategies for technological development class. The first edition of the novel was published in january 1st 2005, and was written by thomas l. The world is flat summary and analysis free book notes. Tubas and test tubes friedman finds in the united states there is a fear of downward mobility. Friedman explains how globalization and improvements in technology have facilitated an economic environment where anyone, no matter where they are from, can excel.
A brief history of the twentyfirst century pdf epub book. A brief history of the twentyfirst century is an international bestselling book by thomas l. Summary plot overview in the town of tortilla flat above beautiful monterey lived a group of men called the paisanos. If there is a the world is flat sparknotes, shmoop guide, or cliff notes, you can find a link to each study guide below. You do not need any conspiracy theories to know this thing called free trade is not trade at all and globlization has been driven by elite groupings outside of any real democratic. Confessions book vi being so well moulded, fell to pieces in our hands, was utterly dashed and cast aside. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. This is where the book offers much original content such as, fair trade vs. A brief history of the twentyfirst century 2005, in which pulitzer prizewinning columnist thomas l. His last book, the world is flat, made him a bestselling author in business class, the kind of writer that those who turn left when boarding a plane feel they ought to be seen reading. Globalization is the greatest reorganization of the world since. This very mathematical world, governed by geometrical concepts and theories, shows that reason and logical thinking will be an important theme throughout the work.
Friedman is impressed by the campuss advanced technology such as the glassandsteel. The world is flat a critical analysis of the new york. In his opinion, that flattening is a product of the convergence of the personal computer with fiber optic microcable with the rise of work flow software. A brief history of the twentyfirst century tells you what you need to knowbefore or after you read thomas l. Aug 01, 2018 when scholars write the history of the world twenty years from now, and they come to the chapter y2k to march 2004, what will they say was the most crucial development. Global supply chains are now deeply embedded, and digital platforms connect almost everyone in complex networks of data and exchange. As the owner of the house, danny is the leader of the paisanos of tortilla flat. The first chapter starts by explaining friedmans revelation that the world is flat.
These technologies, he argues, have leveled the economic playing field around the world, making it flat. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. Study guide book summary online chapter notes plot synopsis analysis download. These are the ten factors describing how the world is becoming flat or globally interconnected, thereby allowing businesses all over the world to compete on a more equal playing field. This study guide consists of approximately 51 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of flatland. Friedman believes that this flattening of the world is the result of ten factors, which he outlines in chapter 2 of his book. Friedman that analyzes globalization, primarily in the early 21st century.
The lexus and the olive tree, longitudes and attitudes and from beirut to jerusalem, which won the national book award. In india, friedman visits various technology industries in india and is further convinced that the world is flat and that india is a key player in 21st century global economy. An expanded and revised version was published in hardcover in april 2006. Friedman offers tonic suggestions for fostering moral innovation and a commitment to the common good in this detailed and clarion inquiry, which, like washing dirty windows, allows us to see far more clearly what weve been looking at all along. This is our monkeynotes downloadable and printable book summary study guide booknotes synopsis analysis for the world is flat. When there is a tough decision to be made or when a chore needs to be assigned to someone in the group, danny typically makes the decision. The world is flat quotes showing of 43 the ideal country in a flat world is the one with no natural resources, because countries with no natural resources tend to dig inside themselves. Jun 29, 20 in the world is flat, friedman takes a fresh look at the interconnectedness of the modern world, and explores the implications of the changes brought on by huge improvements in communications technologies. The world is flat is an essential update on globalization, its discontents and its successes. The narrator immediately starts the book with an analogy to help the reader compare the paperlike landscape of his world to what will later look a lot like victorian britain. Friedman concludes that the world is flat on a visit to infosys technologies limited in india, where he travels with discovery times. The first lasts from 1492 to 1800, a time when trade begins between the new world and old world.
Flatland is a world that exists on the twodimensional plane, where its inhabitantsliteral geometrical shapeslive in a highlystructured society organized into classes based on the number of sides of a figure. Employees are trained how to speak with american, british, or canadian accents. The title is a metaphor for viewing the world as a level playing field in terms of commerce, wherein all competitors have an equal opportunity. The world is flat is a vital book for understanding our modern globalised world. This overwhelming book succumbs to the very scope of its ambition and the topics it covers. H e calls these events flatteners, as he states tha t they opened up and flattened the world increasing the ease of transfer of info rmation, goods and serv ices across and between. Friedman includes fresh stories and insights to help us. The ten forces that flattened the world friedman lists 10 major worldwide events that he credits as being central to the increase in globalization. I have to read this really boring book called the world. To see what friedman means, we can simply look at the.
Nov 12, 2015 heres my summary for the book i read for my strategies for technological development class. The world is flat a brief history of the twentyfirst century by thomas l. A brief history of the twentyfirst century written by thomas friedman, which covers how technology combined with other historic. Friedman demystifies this brave new flat world, allowing readers to make sense of the often bewildering scene unfolding before their eyes, and helping them to understand what it all means to countries, companies, communities, and individuals. Some people feel this book is groundbreaking while others feel it rehashes old arguments simply set. The 400page book presents research on the earths climate status and certain threats to biodiversity in the first half and analyzes certain solutions in the second half. A brief history of the twentyfirst century is a nonfiction book by thomas l. A brief history of the twentyfirst century paperback july 24, 2007.
Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of tortilla flat and what it means. Hot, flat, and crowded is divided into five major parts. In his international bestseller the world is flat, the american journalist thomas friedman argues that globalisation and hyperconnectivity, which are made possible by the rise of technology, have resulted in a flattening of the world as international economic barriers collapse. Thence we betook us to sighs, and groans, and our steps to follow the broad and beaten ways of the world. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 616 pages and is available in hardcover format. In his book the world is flat, friedman recounts a journey to bangalore, india, when he realized globalization has changed core economic concepts. A brief history of the twentyfirst century by now, most folks have probably heard about the latest book by celebrated author thomas friedman, the world is flat. Friedman is an american journalist, author and columnist.
Mar 25, 2006 the first chapter starts by explaining friedmans revelation that the world is flat. Friedman came to this conclusion when nandan nilekani, the ceo for infosys one of indias leading information technology companies told him that the playing field is being levelled. The narrator and protagonist of flatland, a square, writes from prison, intricately detailing the social organization of his. Online book summary for the world is flat chapter summaries and analysis how the world became flat. Friedmans flat world is a mirage and history will confirm this. And so tom friedman wrote a book that explores how the world got flattened, and then offers a prescription for what we in. Back and next buttons can guide you through all the sections or you can choose to jump from section to section using the links below or the links at the left. In the final analysis, there can be a positive flat world with mutual benefits for all, or a negative flat world, where through terrorism, there would be mutual detriment for all. This complete summary of the ideas from the world is flat explains that the changes undergone by the business world in the 21st century are a result of the availability of cheap and ubiquitous means of telecommunication. In her introduction to graham greenes the quiet american, zadie smith says of. The world is flat a critical analysis of new york times. A brief history of the twentyfirst century by friedman, thomas l.
Technology and globalization are uprooting and reshaping daily life. The main characters of this non fiction, history story are. Friedman certainly succeeds in that goal, the nobel laureate joseph e. He compares his journ ey to that of columbuss many years ago, only columbus came back to report that the world was round and he is comi ng back to report. Christopher columbus and the explorers in the fifteenth century accepted the world as round, not flat, and proved it by sailing west to get to the east for. Monkeynotes online study guide book notes summary for. Rules for a flat world hardcover gillian k hadfield. In the world is flat, what does thomas friedman mean when he says the world is becoming flat. Friedman includes fresh stories and insights to help us understand the flattening of the world. Released in 2005, friedman shares several insights resulting from his experiences during a trip to bangalore. On 11989, the berlin wall fell the walls came down and the citizens of the former.
In this lesson you learn about the book the world is flat. This candor is in keeping with the theme of the entire book, in that we must learn how to learn, teaching ourselves to stay curious and innovative. In rules for a flat world, gillian hadfield argues that the legal rules that. Flatland summary from litcharts the creators of sparknotes. Summary of its a flat world, after all by thomas l. This 62page guide for the world is flat by thomas l. A critical analysis of thomas friedmans new york times bestseller, whichoffers a good counterperspective to friedmans book. Friedman argues that although many forces caused the wall to fall, the first among equals.
Friedman was so inspired by a trip to bangalore, india, that he wrote the book the world is flat, a brief history of the twentyfirst century. This study guide is currently being revised and reformatted. Friedman includes detailed chapter summaries and analysis covering 17 chapters, as well as several more indepth sections of expertwritten literary analysis. Friedman realizes that the world is flatin his words, the global competitive playing field was being leveled. I have to read this really boring book called the world is. They try to tap the energy, entrepreneurship, creativity, and intelligence of their own peoplemen and womenrather than drill an oil well. Friedman looks at the history of globalization and identifies three periods. Crafted and edited with care, worth books set the standard for quality and give you the tools you need to be a wellinformed reader.
1356 1425 98 748 154 676 535 1318 1297 243 226 93 1410 1242 17 44 543 1490 336 1036 295 59 836 1335 69 744 745 979 1470 1483 591 68 1576 1270 1290 795 476 1395 560 433 206 1241 852 336