The World Is Flat?: A Critical Analysis of Thomas Friedman's New York Times Bestseller

by Ronald Aronica, Mtetwa "Tet" Ramdoo

If you have read Thomas L. Friedman's bestseller, The World is Flat, and were awed, you might now want to consider what a professor of anthropology at San Jose State University, Roberto J. Gonzalez, thinks, “To awe his readers, Friedman relies upon anecdotes and vignettes from recent trips. He breathlessly recounts visiting booming Asian cities that he portrays as landscapes littered with American logos from IBM, Goldman Sachs, Microsoft and Pizza Hut. Friedman doesn't appear to spend much time outside of golf courses, five-star restaurants, limousines and luxury hotels. His view of the world is consistent with dozens of elites he interviews on his global journey. Ultimately, Friedman's work is little more than advertising. This book's lighthearted style might be amusing were it not for the fact that his subject -- the global economy -- is a matter of life and death for millions. Friedman's words and opinions, ill informed as they are, shape the policies of leaders around the world. Many consider him to be a sophisticated thinker and analyst -- not a propagandist. It is a sobering reminder of the intellectual paralysis gripping our society today.” In The World is Flat?, Ronald Aronica and Mtetwa Ramdoo present a critical analysis of the revised edition of Friedman's best-selling book. They question many of Friedman's observations and conclusions and present information that shows that, rather than living in a “flattened” world, we are, in actuality, living in a world titled in favor of a new breed of elite capitalists who exploit poverty-stricken people willing to work in appalling factory conditions for twenty-cents an hour. In this concise monograph, Aronica and Ramdoo bring clarity to many of Friedman’s technology misconceptions (e.g. workflow systems have been around for years even though Friedman just now discovers them), and give him kudos where he got it right. They also provide ideas for action and a short list of more thoughtful readings for those who want to really understand the forces determining how we will live and compete in the twenty-first century. Refreshingly, you can gain true insights into Friedman’s subject without weeding through 608 pages of ill-informed, grandiloquent prose.

Genres: Economics, Politics, Nonfiction, Business

132 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[David Cooke · Rating 1 out of 5]

Considering this is supposed to be a critical analysis, the authors fall into the same traps of which they accuse Friedman, namely a focus on anecdotal evidence and a lack of rigorous citation. Friedman has an excuse - his work is more like an editorial. This, however, purports to be an analytical piece refuting the bestseller, and their arguments are ill-conceived and weak.

I was looking for an alternative viewpoint to The World Is Flat, and this did not come close to delivering.

[Jeanie Straub · Rating 5 out of 5]

"What this new book does offer ... is a deeply satisfying, encyclopedic, richly supported, step-by-step dismantling of each of Friedman's arguments."

From http://blogcritics.org/books/article/...

See also: Friedman is Flat-Footed
http://blogcritics.org/books/article/...

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first thing I've really read of Friedman. I loved this history of the Internet that this book describes. I was surprised to get some of the technical details from a seemingly non-technical person.

This book really opened my eyes to what globalization really means. Some of the specific details of what businesses have done were very enlightening.

I actually listened to this on CD and then attended a lecture about it at Common Ground. The guy talking about it wasn't near as smart as he thought he was and misrepresented some things.

If you're ideologically against globalization then you'd probably hate this book. If you want to understand what's been going on for a good decade or so, then I recommend it.

[Lana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I might have liked it if I wasn't an economist and believer in globalization already. But I certainly recommend to whoever hasn't grasp the concept of globalization yet. Do these people still exist?).

[Shu Chen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book

[Judi Harrington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read for everyone. Full of thoughtful analysis of today's economic woes and soluions to dig ourselves out of the hole

[Shah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal. This book is an encyclopedia of knowledge.

[Fern Lebo · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this book earned a wide readership, there is little news in it. A disappointing read.

[Fiona · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't read the Friedman book - I saw this one in the library and was intrigued. I liked that it took the arguments one by one and clarified and knocked most down, but did agree with some (i.e. It didn't deliberately set out to knock down everything, just the bits that were wrong).

It seems the original book (and chunks are repeated in this book to set the scene) very narrowly focussed on globalisation for the rich and powerful, while this book elaborates more on those left behind, additional historical reasons for things that have happened, and additional arguments against some things.

One of the other reviewers commented that it fell into the same trap of too much circumstantial evidence and anecdotes. I found it quite informative with plenty of references but it's not a field that I'm an expert in, so it may be that if you are, that this book is too simple. But there were plenty of good points and an additional reading list at the end, and if nothing else opened eyes to the other side of the arguments

I did see the original book in a bookshop and skimmed through - having read this book I was still a bit surprised by the 'bafflegab', and by the number of prestigious prizes it had one. Lost my faith in prizes as a guidance to the merit of books now!

Overall, I found it a very good intro into the underside of globalisation.