Anthony says that Thomas Friedmns’s book The World Is Flat was not as bad as he imagined it would be. For most people, Friedman is a kind of guy that you either like him, or totally hate him. Well, I don’t like him, but I don’t hate him. So should I read his book?
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6 Comments
I really liked the book. The best part is the wealth of information – From the fall of the Berlin wall to the rise of open source software, to the call centres of India.
An eye opener for me was the section on Fadi Ghandour, founder of ARAMEX. Its a rare moment when a Western book acknowledges Arab entrepreneurs.
I have the book but haven’t read it yet. I read a book for him before “From Beirut to Jerusalem” and I liked it.
I like his mentality and the way he writes.
I’m gonna read the book over summer break.
hi Ahmed,
I like Friedmn a lot I think he is very rational. I wanted to buy the book time ago but a 99 SAR i will wait for the paperback.
I’ve been reading his book for some time. I have to say, it is very informative on how the current ousourcing scenario has come into being.
My only complaint is that at times he gets just too personal. He begins to paint this Superhero America picture at times. In many instances he is talks about his personal experiences, where statistical should have been placed. It’s like reading a tourists journal at some points.
I’m still going through book and it’s been very interesting and informative so far.
It is basically an update on globalization and the direction it’s heading nowadays. He explains Globalization 3.0 being the current wave that is empowered by open source software development, personal journalism (blogging, podcasting… etc), outsourcing (and home-sourcing — the interesting concept of employing house wives in work-at-home jobs) and other interesting phenomena that level the playing field that is the world market..
Friedman is okay. I, however, don’t like his condescending attitude towards Muslims, but this book is not about that and is pretty insightful.
I agree with Jihad; Friedman’s attitudes towards Muslims and Arabs are horrible. And I cannot stand to read anything he writes on Islam or the middle east.
His work on globalization is a little bit better, but he is still a mercantilist in liberal clothing. And therefore his writing is always conflicted.
It is worth a read, but I wouldn’t assign any particular significance to it.
Salaam!