Book Review: The World is Flat by Thomas L. Friedman

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. This clear and detailed summary and analysis is a valuable resource for anyone who wants to understand Friedman’s influential book: it features a thorough explanation of the ten “flatteners” outlined by the author, including outsourcing, workflow software and offshoring, and the contextual background to his work, including the development of IT infrastructure across the world. It also provides an introduction to his suggestions for succeeding in a globalised world, the main criticisms of his work and potential extensions of his approach, giving you everything you need to understand this thought-provoking book in just 50 minutes.

This accessible and insightful 39-page summary and analysis is structured as follows:

• Globalisation and its mechanisms
• About the author and background to the book
  • The author: Thomas Friedman
  • Stances and activism
• Summary of The World Is Flat
  • Overview
  • Key ideas
• Impact of The World Is Flat
  • The critics’ verdict
  • Extensions and similar approaches
• Recap of Friedman’s main ideas

About The World Is Flat

The World Is Flat was first published in 2005 and has sold millions of copies worldwide to date. The year of its release, it was named Business Book of the Year by the Financial Times and Goldman Sachs, and it soon gained a legion of readers, including the former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. It combines meticulous documentation with personal opinions, and argues strongly in favour of free trade and global connectivity.

About Thomas Friedman

Thomas Friedman is an influential journalist and author. He is an expert in geopolitical issues, globalisation and free trade and currently writes a weekly column for The New York Times. He has won three Pulitzer Prizes, two of which were for his war reporting. He has written extensively on foreign affairs, international business and the environment and is the author of six bestselling books, including The World Is Flat and From Beirut to Jerusalem.