The Flattening

Yesterday was a busy day in my world. I spent most of my work day going back and forth to the Puzzle Palace actually being productive. It wasn't exactly a fulfilling kind of productively, but at least I wasn't being chewed out, like I had the previous day. I attempted to make a short post yesterday late afternoon, but Blogger didn't seem to want to connect with my computer. I was having more problems this morning, but hopefully things are working a little better this morning.

Because I was so tired and stressed out, I almost went straight home from the office rather than traveling up to Bethesda for a speech/presentation by Thomas Friedman. The World Affairs Council, of which I am a member, and Politics and Prose, the famous D.C. bookstore, were hosting a book launch for Thomas Friedman’s latest work, “The World is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century.” I had intended to go, but, like I said, I really wasn’t in the mood and I didn’t have anyone to attend with me. However, mostly because this is exactly the kind of thing that I would miss when, er, I mean, if, I move away from D.C. I decided to bite the bullet and attend. Eventually, I was very happy that I did go.

As I arrived, I received my “complementary” copy of the book. I suppose I could have done some research so I knew what the book was going to be about, but being lazy, I actually had no idea, other than what the WAC had posted in their ads for the speech. Because I had gotten to the synagogue that was hosting the speech early, I found a seat towards the front, and began to leaf through the book and read through the first chapter. I was pleasantly surprised to see that the book was not a collection of Friedman’s columns (as a couple of his other works were), but instead was an original work based upon research and interviews he had performed throughout most of last year.

(Unimportant aside: This was the first time I had been in a synagogue I think since I went a friend’s sister bat mitzvah back when I lived in Massachusetts growing up. I don’t know why, but although I wanted to look at it, I felt like I shouldn’t leaf through the Torahs in pew-backs in front of me.)

Since I will be reading this book over the next couple weeks I won’t go into detail right now, but I recommend anyone interested in understanding the global economy, and the impact that this is having on the empowering of individuals pick it up on read it. Like I said, I’ve only started the book and I am surprised that very little is currently been written about the convergence of technologies and how the world has entered an unprecedented era of communication and competition.

Finally, I was disappointed that Mr. Friedman did not take any questions at the conclusion of his presentation last night. I felt that the personal interaction with the audience would have made the trip completely worthwhile. Instead, the hour that he spoke was instead a very polished (and entertaining) summary of his work. I understand that this presentation was designed to be more or less just like any of the other promotional gigs he has given, and will be giving, but I left a little disappointed because I had assumed because this took place in his home town (and place of worship?), he would have been a little more personal with us all.

I will continue to write about the book as I read it, but again, I encourage to pick up your own copy, if only to read the dust jacket, because I think it will give you a good perspective on where the world has been in terms of the broad issues of globalization and technology convergence, and where we are all going in the decades to come. To paraphrase Mr. Friedman’s conclusion, buckle up and prepare yourself. The world is about to go though a metamorphosis that most of us Americans have not even begun to conceive.