NOTICE: (Updated March 5, 2010)

Beginning December 19, 2009, Books 'N Border Collies will be posting but only intermittently while I pursue personal goals. I plan to share some reading I'm doing, but there will be no reviews. I will, however, be sharing my exploration of vegetarian cooking and the cookbooks and websites I use to educate myself. I hope you enjoy it!

Lezlie



Friday, October 10, 2008

THE WORLD IS FLAT

by Thomas L. Friedman



The World Is Flat 3.0: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century was the perfect follow-up to The Post-American World. This brought globalism right down to the individual and what we need to consider as we all try to navigate our way through a fast-changing world. The Berlin Wall, 9/11, Wal-Mart, India, China, economics, education, the future of "job security", the war on terror, Friedman covers so much ground it makes your head spin. But at no time does he make the reader feel it is too difficult to understand. Granted, he simplifies some of it for us laymen, but I had no trouble understanding his greater points. I could laugh at some of the sillier analogies while concurrently mulling over the true significance of the issue being discussed.

I admit that, for better or worse, part accidentally and part on purpose, I've spent the vast majority of my life in a bubble of ignorant frivolity. This book, along with the previously mentioned Post American World, has strengthened my resolve to go forward paying more attention to the world not only immediately surrounding me, but to the world outside the borders of the U.S. In the clever words of a bumper sticker I saw recently: I love my country, but it's time we started seeing others.



14 comments:

Michele said...

I enjoyed this book for the very reasons you state here, Lezlie. We are fans of all Friedman's work in this house. I'm going to pick up his latest one as a gift for my husband.

Nice review!

Tasha said...

I think it's great that you're making the commitment to educate yourself. Inspired by your post on The Post American World, I read Moyers on Democracy by Bill Moyers, and - like you - I hope to continue learning more about our world.

Lisa said...

what a great bumper sticker!

Lezlie said...

Michele ~ I have the next one on request at the library. I can't wait to get it!

Charley ~ I'm so glad! Think how much better off the world would be if we all took the time to learn just a little bit more.

Lisa ~ Thanks! I think you can get it at either cafepress.com or northernsun.com.

Lezlie

Ladytink_534 said...

I kind of live in a bubble but this country is scaring me anyways...

Lezlie said...

Ladytink ~ I hear you. My little adventure is causing periodic sleepless nights. But I'm currently choosing o remain optimistic that we can fix things. :-)

Lezlie

Andi said...

Sounds like a fantastic book! And that bumper stick cracked me up. :)

Lezlie said...

Andi ~ I definitely think you would like this book. And if I was a bumper sticker kind of chick, that one would be on my car in a heartbeat! :-)

Lezlie

joanna said...

I already added the Post-American World to my wishlist and now this one is going on there too - thanks! :-)

Lezlie said...

Joanna ~ I think you'll like them both. I can't wait to see your thoughts!

Lezlie

Terri said...

Friedman's book sounds good. I've been mostly bubble-less since Jan. 20, 2001; have been reading lots of we're-going-to-hell-in-a-handbasket nonfiction. This last year I've put most of it aside for the fiction bubble, but with the most recent events, I suppose it's time to burst the bubble again! sigh. Thanks for the review Lezlie.

Lezlie said...

Hi, Terri! I plan on mixing it up. I can go bubble-less for only so long before I start to cry. :-) There appears to be a lot of optimism on the horizon though!

Lezlie

Trish @ Love, Laughter, Insanity said...

I think that it is easy to get wrapped up in ourselves or our country and we do need to look outside of ourselves. I've been interested in this book for a while but will finally need to tackle it. You planning on reading his next one now?

Lezlie said...

Trish ~ I do. I have it on request at the library, but I'm so far down on the list I may have to break down and buy it. :-)

Lezlie