Book SummaryThe World Is Flat, by Thomas L. Friedman

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of The World Is Flat

Thomas L. Friedman’s The World Is Flat examines the causes, effects, and potential future of a globalized world. Due mainly to technological advancements and changes in the political landscape, the world in the 21st century is now more connected than ever before, and more people than ever have access to the same information and opportunities. In other words, the world is becoming flat. Because the world is flattening, Friedman argues that individuals, companies, and countries must adapt quickly to the new global economy or risk falling behind.

Friedman has written...

The World Is Flat Summary Brief History of Globalization

Friedman argues that the globalization of the modern era is happening at an unprecedented pace. Because of this, individuals in the 21st century will have more power and opportunity than in previous generations—especially non-Western and non-white individuals. The world is thus becoming less stratified and flatter.

To better understand this argument, let’s look at the history of globalization, which Friedman breaks down into three periods:

The Period of Nations (1492-1800): Starting with Columbus’ journey to the Americas, which opened up global trade, in this era, powerful nations and governments drove globalization. Western European, imperialist nations such as Great Britain, Portugal, and Spain, did most of the work, as they sought to journey across the world to advance their empires and trade globally.

(Shortform note: Friedman argues that globalization was kickstarted by European imperialism. But why did European countries become imperialist powers in the first place? In Sapiens, Yuval Noah Harari argued that [the main reasons for Europeans’ dominance is their focus on science and their cultural...

The World Is Flat Summary Political and Technological Changes Flattened the World

Friedman argues that the flattening of the world was caused by the convergence of several factors around the end of the 20th century. These factors fit into two broad categories: political change and technological advancement.

Political Change

According to Friedman, the political change that initiated the process of globalization was the fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9, 1989. This event marked the end of the Cold War, a victory of capitalism and free markets over communism and government-run economies. This then encouraged the rest of the world to also adopt free market strategies. Within a decade, countries like India, China, and Brazil moved away from centralized economies, adopted more democratic systems, and joined the global marketplace.

As more governments embraced a free market, globalization flourished. Nations were no longer divided between Eastern and Western philosophies, and they began to trade goods, services, and information more freely. As countries learned to work together effectively, businesses adopted common practices and hired globally, and people traveled around the world, absorbed new cultures, and learned new languages.

**The...

The World Is Flat Summary Collaborative Business Practices Accelerated the Flattening

Friedman argues that as political and technological changes flattened the world, new forms of collaboration emerged that accelerated the flattening. Here we’ll discuss three developments contributing to it: the emergence of search engines, the outsourcing and offshoring of jobs and processes, and the worldwide integration of supply chains.

The Emergence of Search Engines

The development of search engines greatly enhanced people’s ability not only to inform themselves, but to collaborate on a much larger scale. With Google and other search engines, people have access to an enormous amount of information, which they can use in unprecedented ways: People use search engines to find friends, communities, and collaborators across the world. They can also uncover new sources of information. Search engines level the global playing field perhaps more than anything else because they open up a world of possibilities to billions of people.

The Power of Search Engine Optimization

To understand how important search engines are to individuals and businesses, we can look at the search engine optimization (SEO) market. SEO is the process of increasing website...

The World Is Flat Summary The World Became Flattest at the Turn of the 21st Century

Friedman argues that around the year 2000, these forces of globalization—political change, technological advancements, and collaborative business practices—coalesced and began reinforcing each other in life-altering ways.

Through technology, the world has become more interconnected, and at the turn of the century, people and businesses were beginning to figure out how to make the most of the new tools at their disposal. Around the same time, because much of the Eastern world was opening up, billions of people from China, India, and the former Soviet Union were also joining the playing field. The result, for better or worse, has been a period of change,...

The World Is Flat Summary How America Can Thrive in a Globalized World

Friedman argues that globalization is the most significant force shaping the world today, one that presents every person, group, and country with new opportunities and challenges. As one of the most powerful and wealthy nations in the world, the United States has a lot to gain and lose from this rapidly changing world. Yet despite the many challenges, America has all the tools necessary to thrive in a global economy. If it wishes to do so, it must focus on three things: education, government policies, and infrastructure.

Education

According to Friedman, one of the most important things the US can do to achieve success in the flat world is to properly educate its citizens: People need to have the right knowledge and skills to find jobs and provide value to society. A large and thriving middle class is important for economic and political stability, so the US needs to educate its citizens to find good middle-class jobs.

However, many of the middle-class jobs people relied on in the past will no longer exist in the flat world. They’ll be automated, outsourced, or simply obsolete. There is no way to know exactly how these jobs will change in the future, so Friedman...

The World Is Flat Summary How You Can Thrive in a Flat World

If the forces of globalization are changing the world as quickly and drastically as Friedman suggests, what can you do as an individual to thrive in such a world? Friedman argues that you must come to terms with the way the world is changing, and focus on how you can add unique value to society.

(Shortform note: Figuring out how to thrive in a changing world can be a daunting task, but luckily for humans, our brains have evolved to adapt well to changing conditions. In the relatively short time hominids have existed, the climate and landscape of Earth have shifted dramatically. Because of this, our ability to think creatively and adapt to new environments proved to be a useful trait. Although the environment is changing much more quickly and in a much different fashion, our adaptability should help us thrive in the modern world.)

To add value to society, first understand that you’re now competing for jobs with billions of people across the globe, and that many jobs of the past will no longer be available. Then, prepare for this shift by identifying which jobs will be available and figuring...

Shortform Exercise: Consider Your Career in the Flat World

Globalization has affected nearly every aspect of modern life, from macroeconomics to the way we spend our time. For individuals, however, the most important aspect of globalization may be its effect on the job market. In this exercise, you’ll reflect on how you can remain gainfully employed in a flat world by building your versatility, cooperative skills, and ability to integrate ideas.

If you’re in school now, how do you feel about the future job market? If you’re currently working, how might the industry you work in change in the coming years? Now, jot down some skills and knowledge you might acquire to be versatile and able to take on new roles and tasks in the changing labor market. (These might be skills like coding or learning a new language.)