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He has always excelled at communication. When this book first came out in 1999, I was fortunate to go to a local bookstore and see Friedman give a talk about his book. I had arrived early and so did he and I actually chatted with him for a few minutes. This makes sense when one considers his background as a correspondent and reporter. Therefore, I can't find fault with it but I don't know if I'd recommend it now. I was impressed his politeness and he seemed humble considering that he was already a celebrity, having appeared on numerous talk shows.In hindsight now there is plenty that Friedman got wrong.
He's come a long way since publishing this book. He talked in general terms and not just about his book, and the large crowd was enthralled. Wikipedia reports that he now commands fifty thousand per speaking engagement. But I don't see Friedman as an academic at all. I think he's very plugged into how people think and he expresses that and educates us mainly about ourselves. He's just so darn likeable in person that one naturally feels glad for his success (in my opinion).At the time of The Lexus and The Olive Tree, globalization as a topic was relatively new and as it's such a magnificently large topic, nobody could really understand it.
Better to read Friedman's articles, as he's still a prolific contemporary writer.
This will reinforce further understanding and communication with other countries and cultures. He also analyzes two biblical stories, with no proof to base his argument, to manipulate the reader into realizing the greed for land and ownership has been an overriding force for humanity since the slaying of Abel by Cain. It is the international system that replaced the Cold War system. ReferencesFriedman T. As I read this book, there became this growing feeling of nostalgia. Martin and Nakayama (2007) actually cite Freidman when defining globalization in their text.
The old Cold War system was replaced with globalization because no walls or barriers could deter its growth from spreading. N., & Nakayama T. Class projects and lessons could be collaborated through the utilization of other classrooms across the globe. Globalization is the integration of capital, technology, and information across national borders, in a way that is creating a single global market and, to some degree, a global village. It appears no one is happy being average or merely content. It seems as if there is always a need for more goods, income, or TV channels.
The Lexus and the Olive Tree, by Thomas L Freidman, leads the reader to a new understanding of the term "globalization". It is about intercultural communication in the realm of your house or local internet café. (2007). Globalization is not just a phenomenon and not just a passing trend. K.
Peace and unity between countries could be a welcome and wonderful experience with this onset of advanced technology. Globalization, to me, is not about "Big Business". These new technological advancements have brought about more awareness regarding the rest of the world. This sadness extends to my liberal views that if every country lived like the United States, planet earth would not be able to provide enough natural resources to fuel, or feed the population. This makes me sad to think that cultures are increasingly following the path of the United States. The author describes this new era as Darwinian "only the strong survive". L., (2007).
It is about learning Chinese from a Chinese student in China while you are still in America. This new system has its own rules and is a major force influencing politics, the environment, and the economics of virtually every country in the world.Friedman attempts to explain this new international system by introducing colorful new terms such as: Microchip Immune Deficiency; The Golden Straightjacket; The Electronic Herd; DOS Capital 2.0; The Backlash; The Groundswell. But, as history repeats itself, America is caught up in wars they can't win, and the quest for remaining a super power. But, at what cost, an increased need for greed, power, and money.
The lexus and the olive tree. Finally, a need to teach foreign language early should be required. Instead of unity, it seems as though everyone is out to get us and can't wait to see the USA fall flat on its face. Actually, I was slightly disappointed they didn't have a contradictory definition to Freidman's.
New York: McGraw Hill Companies, Inc. Friedman suggests, "if you can't see the world, and you can't see the interactions that are shaping the world, you surely cannot strategize about the world." He also states "you need a strategy for how to choose prosperity for your country or company" (p. He explains this in many ways, but first it is described as two struggles: the drive for prosperity and development, symbolized by the Lexus, and the desire to retain identity and traditions, symbolized by the olive tree. The author uses examples from his own experiences, as a traveling/writer for the New York Times, to paint a picture of the world in the new era. 232).His argument can be summarized quite simply. It is an international system that directly resulted from the fall of the Soviet Empire and the destruction of the Berlin Wall. The sky is the limit. Americans have this rare need to keep up with the "Jones's", or the people next door.
Instead of peace and free will, we will be in constant competition with foreign countries over capitalistic ideals. First, technology must be enforced as an educational tool in our schools. What a completely morbid thought. Freidman's main premise is to divide the world into basically the haves and have-nots. It is playing chess with an opponent on the other side of the world in the comfort of your own home. Friedman argues that globalization is not a trend.
Our students could learn first-hand about cultural issues direct from the source. The author points out in his sister novel, "The World is Flat", (actually, it talked about exactly the same things but has a different title) that countries and cultures are becoming Americanized. The world is flat: A brief history of the twenty-first century. This will help our students get a better picture of the world around them. This new world will increasingly rely on technology for economic stability and growth. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. L., (1999).
The internet should be used to communicate with other students from other countries.
American children will need to keep up with current technological trends in order to compete with the rapidly changing global markets.
Next, a need for cultural understandings should be increased in our schools.
I got the feeling, the author thinks, cultures still hanging on to their olive trees would be trampled by the Electronic Herd if they weren't careful.
New York: Farrar, Straus and GirouxMartin J.
This culture has some serious flaws.
This reading has a couple of implications for the classroom.
Freidman T.
Intercultural communication in contexts (4th ed).
Thucydides wrote in his History of Peoloponnesian war that nations fight for three reasons-honor, fear, interest. All these processes are enabling the cycle of innovation to commoditization at the speed of net.Cold war was based on chess board and check book. Investors wield enormous power in moving capital around the world, wherever the returns are likely to be maximum. Democratization of finance was enabled by the democratization of information and the democratization of the technology.
Electronic herds brought down Suharto, made South Korea send out an e-mail to global investors detailing currency reserves at the end of each business day, including, as best as it can, private capital flows. It is a collection of investors acting independently but voting together on the quality of Governance of a country. Democratization of finance has also meant that the Bonds and stock markets liberate entrepreneurs from having to cultivate relationships with just a handful of Bankers in order to raise cash. Joining global economy and plugging into the electronic herd is the equivalent of taking your country public. Democratization of information started with internet. On the business friendliness of a country.
It is not just the individual investor. How important have business and markets become in this globalized world. Although Capitalism is not good at distribution of income (socialism is good at it), but it is capitalism which can ensure growth through proper allocation of resources. How the power has shifted from nations to the markets. The electronic herd votes every hour every day thru their mutual funds, their pension funds, their brokers, from their basements via internet.
He calls this collection as an "electronic herd" and the process itself as democratization of finance. Friedman makes an interesting observation that no two countries that both had McDonalds had fought a war against each other since each got its McDonalds.Globalization is also leading to a wide gap between the super skilled, skilled, not so skilled and unskilled.Winner takes all explains why Michael Jordan made more money than his peers at NBA because he was a global icon after the collapse of Berlin wall. Electronic herd, on the other hand, plays monopoly. Friedman has compared the pre and post cold war worlds. Companies that issue stocks and bonds have their performance judged every day by the electronic herd. Not joining the global economy is an invitation to let bureaucrats and cronies allocate capital rather than the market place. In the bargain, some people could get hurt.
And the social safety nets are supposed to take care of them. Over connected world is making the society and the world more claustrophobic. All that with the click of a mouse. We are all connected but no one is in charge. Super powers paid to supporting countries for occupying a square on the chess board. Lexus is symbolic of democratized high technology, while the Olive tree is symbolic of cold war thinking of occupying a square. Businesses and markets are influencing countries to desist from going to war.
The first is the 'Lexus' which is the world famous car made by the Toyota auto company. So, it is desirable to be in the state of equilibrium between them. Two things are used to explain the key word 'globalization' by the Thomas. The collapse of the cold age in the late of 1990s was the start of this globalization and it has been more accelerated rapidly with the help of communication, transportation and technology, which enables us to connect each other more closely than any other period. Lots of examples and proper figures of speech make this book not only useful but also exciting. It stands for cutting edge technology in our times and necessary item for our convenient life. The supporter groups who merely admire the Lexus will lose their nationality and identity, otherwise the adherents of the olive tree will have no chance to heighten their way of life.
Now we are in the midst of the trend and have no right to veto this flow of the times, whether we like it or not. Friedman who is the author of this book. Concretely speaking, we are cherishing the value of the democratization of technology, information and finance in our community. The next is the olive tree which symbolizes our family, community, nation, religion and so on that we belong to. The author, of course, has argued that it is dangerous only stick to one thing between the Lexus and the olive tree. What is important is the balance of the two in order to live a wellbeing life with traditional identity. It is highly recommendable to everyone who is interested in the world of our times.
i would not recommend this book. Its totally outdated. i didn't like world is flat book either.
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