Thomas Friedman's THE WORLD IS FLAT is one book that must be read if one desires to improve or change your life for the better. The book begins with an examination or analysis of the various factors that play a major role in creating a smaller world with the leveling of the "global competitive playing field" which is responsible for creating a more integrated community.
The part that follows is a convincing explanation of the crisis that the countrymen of America face after the 9/11 tragedy. The book presents a bare and distasteful view of the dangers of this period of time in which we live yet it also brings along its share of hope. Friedman states that nation that has more memories than dreams is more likely to face trouble as in the case of America. The nation that was once characterized as a nation of dreams and their realization was reduced to one that lived and died on its memories after the 9/11 attack.
This has drastically changed the course of the nation and the lives of the people as they now feel weakened and hopeless when they look back at the terrible memories of 9/11. The author does stress that although the situation looks bleak it is never too late to change everything that has gone wrong but in order to do so, one must take matters into his own hands and start acting from the present moment.
The most touching sections of the book have been the stories of real life individuals who make a difference in today's "flat" world. For example, he writes about a Harvard Business Graduate who sets up a company in Cambodia to conduct data entry and a businessman in India who funds a school to teach the untouchables. A moving incident occurs when Friedman asks one of these untouchable children what they would like to become in the future. Instead of merely surviving in the world as would be expected, these children actually dream of becoming doctors or astronauts. Therefore we should be able to reflect on our own roles that we need to play to make a difference in today's world so as to give back to our nation and to our world.
A must read for everyone of all backgrounds and ages. Friedman has churned out a masterpiece and one that will benefit future generations as well as ours immensely.
Friedman is dissatisfied with the current apathy from our politicians and culture around this subject, but he is very optimistic and excited about this new flat world and would like to empower and equip people with the knowledge to be able to prosper in it.
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