Is the world flat?

Author: (USA) Aronica, (USA) Rodu, translated by Hui Xinhua, Gong Yilei
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-12-01
Features: Friedman's flaw is not a lack of details, but rather that he has too little to say. He repeats himself over and over: the world is getting smaller, some processes seem cold and ruthless, many things are changing, we shouldn't be afraid. – The Economist
Friedman's The World Is Flat is a small epic written for the glorious globalization, but it has three flaws: the writing style is overly lengthy, the author is excessively self-absorbed, and the content is too superficial. The entire book is filled with endless metaphors of a flat Earth, a useless image that drives readers to the brink of frustration. – The Guardian
Thomas Friedman's book is a dangerous one. It examines major issues of our time—globalization—through an extremely narrow and superficial lens. Yet, it has been a bestseller for two years and has significant influence. The concept of globalization has accompanied us for centuries, manifesting in various forms, but Friedman's portrayal of 21st-century globalization is merely "corporate globalization." This book highlights what Friedman's "corporate globalization" overlooks, and it is precisely these excluded factors that make his book dangerous. Some things need to be rethought. We hope this book goes beyond Friedman's superficial globalization and guides readers who have been numbed by his book to reconsider the issue of globalization.
Thomas Friedman's book is a dangerous one. It examines major issues of our time—globalization—through an extremely narrow and superficial lens. Yet, it has been a bestseller for two years and has significant influence. The concept of globalization has accompanied us for centuries, manifesting in various forms, but Friedman's portrayal of 21st-century globalization is merely "corporate globalization." This book highlights what Friedman's "corporate globalization" overlooks, and it is precisely these excluded factors that make his book dangerous. Some things need to be rethought. We hope this book goes beyond Friedman's superficial globalization and guides readers who have been numbed by his book to reconsider the issue of globalization.