I started reading this book on April 2025 as the newly elected populist D. Trump started imposing tariffs on every nations including a tin island populated by pingouins. It was a good time to revisit the analysis, logic and arguments of the globalist prophets.

In my opinion, the book is rather a good one. Freedman seems to have a good grasp of what globalization is. He accurately predicted some trends. Yet at the same time he failed to foresee that one day China will champion globalization while America imposes tariffs on EUROPE.

In any case, Freedman did not answer satisfactorily the question I have in mind: is globalization reversible or the rise of Right-Wing ideologies and politics is only a reflux before globalization forces resume their connection/homogenizing effects. Nor did it address the hypothesis of a possible emergence of a global form of governance.

In the other hand, Freedman proved himself a chauvinist. The guy went all the way to elevate his Shabbat thing as an antidote to excesses of globalization while hinting, no so subtly, to the idea that Islam would be a culture incompatible with globalization. The guy seemed to forget who Islam is a key agent in connecting humanity either through the sword, trade, science or religious proselytizing. The hadj is Mecca every year is a powerful image of this globalization power of Islam.

A good introductory book on globalisation.

Love his joke on kleptocracy.

Friedman takes his reader around the world, exploring globalization. He highlights the process of globalization, the benefits, the loses, the winners and losers.

Why I started this book: I've enjoyed Friedman's other books and was eager to cross another book off the professional reading list.

Why I finished it: Very interesting framework: The lexus= global business and technology and the Olive tree=local culture, religion, and language and how the tension between the two will define the next cycle of globalization. Any book about globalization published in 2000 will feel dated, but it was also fascinating to read it 17 years later and see what he predicted and what he missed. Predicting: angry alienated men, mentioning Osama bin Laden by name... the whole 9/11 and Afghanistan and Iraq wars not so much.

4.5/5 This was my 6th book by the 3-time Pulitzer winning author and I am wondering where are the other 3 Pulitzers ! 3 books on global politics-economics, 1 on politics and green technology and 2 on the Middle East. All 4+, all make u understand the subject perfectly, very readable, with interesting fresh anecdotes. Perhaps, the only thing that may put you off is his habit of coining and repeating phrases (remember our Indian politician Venkaiah Naidu ?) :)
As a software developer I often have to make sense of and simplify complex situations and to me Mr.Friedman is the best software developer, the Mckinsey of Mvkinseys on global politics and economics. And in doing so, he writes with empathy, optimism and honesty. An author who can praise both Reagan and Clinton in the same book.
Recommend reading all his books and especially you Mr.Donald Trump.