Friedman, the well-traveled New York Times foreign-affairs columnist, peppers The Lexus and the Olive Tree with stories that illustrate his central theme: that globalization--the Lexus--is the central organizing principle of the post-cold war world, even though many individuals and nations resist by holding onto what has traditionally mattered to them--the olive tree.

Problem is, few of us understand what exactly globalization means. As Friedman sees it, the concept, at first glance, is all about American hegemony, about Disneyfication of all corners of the earth. But the reality, thank goodness, is far more complex than that, involving international relations, global markets, and the rise of the power of individuals (Bill Gates, Osama Bin Laden) relative to the power of nations.

No one knows how all this will shake out, but The Lexus and the Olive Tree is as good an overview of this sometimes brave, sometimes fearful new world as you'll find. --Lou Schuler

Product Description
From one of our most perceptive commentators and winner of the National Book Award, a comprehensive look at the new world of globalization, the international system that, more than anything else, is shaping world affairs today.

As the Foreign Affairs columnist for The New York Times, Thomas L. Friedman has traveled the globe, interviewing people from all walks of contemporary life: Brazilian peasants in the Amazon rain forest, new entrepreneurs in Indonesia, Islamic students in Teheran, and the financial wizards on Wall Street and in Silicon Valley.

Now Friedman has drawn on his years on the road to produce an engrossing and original look at globalization. Globalization, he argues, is not just a phenomenon and not just a passing trend. It is the international system that replaced the Cold War system; the new, well-greased, interconnected system: 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 degreee, a global village. Simply put, one can't possibly understand the morning news or one's own investments without some grasp of the system. Just one example: During the Cold War, we reached for the hot line between the White House and the Kremlin--a symbol that we were all divided but at least the two superpowers were in charge. In the era of globalization, we reach for the Internet--a symbol that we are all connected but nobody is totally in charge.

With vivid stories and a set of original terms and concepts, Friedman offers readers remarkable access to his unique understanding of this new world order, and shows us how to see this new system. He dramatizes the conflict of "the Lexus and the olive tree"--the tension between the globalization system and ancient forces of culture, geography, tradition, and community. He also details the powerful backlash that globalization produces among those who feel brutalized by it, and he spells out what we all need to do to keep the system in balance. Finding the proper balance between the Lexus and the olive tree is the great drama of he globalization era, and the ultimate theme of Friedman's challenging, provocative book--essential reading for all who care about how the world really works.

Friedman's writing style is mostly conversational and easy to read, though he tends to talk about his own friends and adventures way too much. Also, Friedman can't stop making up his own terminology, like Golden Straitjacket, Electronic Herd, Globalution, Glocalism, and the especially irritating DOScapital. The problem is, Friedman merely throws these terms at numerous and scattershot examples of phenomena that may possibly lend them meaning, but fails to adequately describe them himself.

Parts One and Two of this book are actually quite strong as Friedman remains mostly objective in describing the rise of globalization and where things stand today. He also includes a surprising amount of coverage on the negative effects on the environment and non-Western cultures (for the time being). Unfortunately, this book collapses into a firestorm of arrogance in Part 3, which is misleadingly titled "The Backlash Against the System." Here Friedman actually spends more time criticizing those who can't or won't jump on the sacred globalization bandwagon. He uses the derogatory term "turtles" for people who are being left behind by the new economic realities around the world, and doesn't care if it's not their fault. He demeans concern for disadvantaged peoples and countries as "politically correct nonsense" (pg. 355).

Some portions of this book are getting outdated, which is not Friedman's fault, but the gaps are very revealing. Several times he cites Enron as a strong global company with the world's best interests at heart, and failed to predict the tech stock crash of 2000 and how it would drastically slow down the US-led growth of the world economy (see chapter 17). This shows that Friedman's predictions in this book are already starting to fall apart. Friedman also completely avoids the issue of corporate domination, as rulings by the pro-corporate WTO have allowed multinational companies to supersede the laws of sovereign nations (such as the blatant disregard for Nigeria's environmental laws by Western oil companies). Finally, Part Four of this book descends into anemic boosterism as Friedman tries to convince us that American culture and corporations will solve all the world's ills as peoples around the world happily embrace globalization. By this point, Friedman has left objectivity far behind. His clear contempt for those who are concerned about globalization's destructive effects, and his apparent belief that American corporations only wish to solve the world's ills, prove that he has not succeeded in telling the full story. Not even close.


Cheerleading Globalization   September 8, 2003
 191 out of 246 found this review helpful

Friedman is a gifted writer. He has a talent for grasping the nub of an issue in crystal-clear, humorous prose. And yes, in a life as short and absurd as this, humor is important. For this reason, The Lexus and the Olive Tree make for an easy, enjoyable read. But for all that, Friedman's discussion lacks critical depth, historical scope, and completely downplays many of the unwanted side-effects of globalization: e.g., the environmental crisis, the spiritual crisis, and the increasing loss of control over our communities to an emerging group of corporate powerhouses. Read The Lexus and the Olive Tree if you are looking for some feel-good cheerleading on the tsunami-like process that is taking the globe by storm, but don't stop there. For a more balanced and critical understanding of the complex phenomenon we call globalization, you should also check out the books Alternatives to Economic Globalization, put out by the International Forum on Globalization, and Eco-Economy, by Lester Brown. These two books flesh out some of the major problems that come with Coca Cola, hamburgers and automobiles for all; problems we should be aware of because, unfortunately, it's not all roses.


Lost in Cyberspace   May 6, 2000
 141 out of 225 found this review helpful

Thomas Friedman was born on third base and thinks he hit a triple. He actually believes that people would pay attention to what he has to say, even if he weren't a columnist with the New York Times with rich and powerful friends.

The basic thesis of this book is very simple and not terribly original: the Internet and other forces of globalization are breaking down barriers in an uncontrollable process. The unfettered market, with billions of consumers and tens of millions of producers are calling the shots. The days of government control are over.

While Friedman has concerns about this future, he sees the basic picture in a positive light. The real problem is the people who want to turn back the clock, the wallbuilders. According to Friedman, these are people who would try to erect trade barriers to slow the process of globalization. In doing so, they hope to maintain a greater degree of economic security. The villians Friedman has in mind are largely unions that try to preserve decent jobs and wage for auto workers, steel workers, textile workers and the like. But, according to Friedman, these types of protectionist barriers are futile in the days of globalization.

While Friedman can express sympathy for the plight of these workers, he won't shrink from his conclusion that their efforts at protectionism are misguided, and harmful to the most needy people in the world, the poor in developing nations.

Friedman's arrogance on this point is difficult to stomach, since it is so thoroughly encased in ignorance. Friedman is a man who makes his living entirely as a result of the existance of "walls" or protectionist barriers, specifically copyrights. If the heavy hand of the state were not there to enforce Mr. Friedman's copyrights, no one would pay for his books. They could freely xerox them, or better yet, download them off the Internet. Similarly, the New York Times would not fare particularly well without copyright protection. Anyone could instantly reproduce any or all of its content and sell their own ad space (at a much lower price) in a New York Times clone.

Remarkably, while engaging in tirades against the African-American or Hispanic women who want to protect their $8 an hour textile jobs, Friedman never seems to recognize that he profits immensely as a result of a much more inefficient form of protectionism. Tariff barriers or quotas in the United States rarely raise the price of an item by more than 15-20 percent. By contrast, copyright raises the price by several hundred percent. We all know that copyrights provide an incentive to engage in creative work, but there are other, more efficient ways to create such incentives.

Friedman's professed concern for the poor in the developing world is directly at odds with his silence on this issue. A major thrust of recent U.S. trade policy has been to enforce U.S. type copyrights and patents throughout the developing world. This will be a huge drain on the economies of developing nations, as it will drain tens of billions of dollars in royalty payments and licensing fees from the world's poorest nations. Even worse, it will be a death sentence for millions of people suffering from AIDS and other diseases, as patent protection raises the price of life-saving drugs well beyond the means of the poor in the developing world.

If you want to hear the main argument in this book, find some Yuppie male, buy him a few beers and ask him about the state of the world. You'll get all the main points, but in a manner that will probably be more cogent and succint.

If you really feel you need to read this book, in the interest of simple justice, do not buy it. Borrow a copy from a friend or the library. Get it scanned into your computer, and then read it on screen or print it out. Also, e-mail copies to friends who feel a similar need to read the book. A man who is so anxious to see the forces of the Internet and globalization tear down barriers, should not be allowed to profit from those barriers.


Tom Friedman was born to write   June 6, 2000
 68 out of 109 found this review helpful

Like his first book, "From Beirut to Jerusalem," Tom Friedman displays a mastery over his subject like few authors. He is such an articulate apostle for globalization because he has lived it and breathed it for years as a foreign affairs columnist. His book is crammed with witty anecdotes that enable the reader to understand and appreciate the profound changes in our world economy. In his introduction, Mr. Friedman says that he is not an advocate of globalization, per se. Rather, he accepts its seeming inevitability. I am sure Mr. Friedman believes that his intent is neutral, but the balance of his book's information is favorable toward globalization. This should not be surprising because, in sum, globalization is a positive world development. The author, however, waxes sentimental when he warns that globalization may turn us into spiritless "machines." Mr. Friedman shouldn't worry. In fact, capitalism and democracy are revolutionary systems precisely because they enable people to possess free will and choice. With the rise of globalization, people all over the world can choose their own "olive trees" - their communities, their religious beliefs, etc. - while enjoying a higher standard of living. It is no coincidence that the United States - the arsenal of both democracy and capitalism - is the world's most religious industrial society. It is not only a diverse faith - Jews, Protestants, Catholics, Muslims - but an active faith - one where people make God an active part of their lives rather a distant character. Our real "olive trees" will be enhanced, not suppressed, by freedom. I should also add that I disagree with the author concerning the process's inevitability. Nothing in life is guaranteed. In the late 1960s, America stunted the engine of our economic growth with welfare and crippled the principle of equality before the law with affirmative action. These policies were designed to create a more "compassionate" society. Rather, they only deepened the problems of poverty and created needless friction between the races. In the next decade, America will face a similar choice: Will we abandon the secret of our success out of misguided guilt? Will our sympathy for the poor delude us into destroying the only opportunity for their advancement? The recent protests in Seattle and Washington should give us pause. Hopefully, they'll read Tom Friedman's book and adopt a fresh, more informed, perspective.


Interesting, yet utlimately incomplete analysis   December 3, 1999
 62 out of 104 found this review helpful

Having worked in the so called Supermarkets, whose global power is so vehemently extolled by Friedman, I believe his analysis of present day globalization to be accurate and sound - yes, global investment acts as an invisible hand to direct historically domestic political and social concerns; yes, to participate in this market, a country must adapt its social framework as much as its 'hardware' and 'operating system'; and yes, globalization does provide benefits on an ABSOLUTE basis to many emerging economies.

While Friedman devotes a couple sparsely filled chapters to the backlash against this process, he clearly fails to highlight key issues: surely, RELATIVE poverty is a central concern to all of us in the rich world; surely, homogenization of values and culture is a great fear for everyone (yet Friedman believes social structure must be homogenized to work properly in the new market); surely, when barely 1% of our global population own a computer, people are being left behind - and yes, globalization does EFFECT everyone, but who makes the decisions - a tiny fraction of wealthy participants (you're average worker in Africa wants to eat his next meal, and is in no position to question this process - but of course, if you lay the rules down, he/she will jump as high as you say to get capital)....DEVELOPMENT of less fortunate economies is central....the market in its purest form is incapable of doing this! Ripple out effects of wealth simply do not work...wealth remains in the hands of a few super rich.

I am far from a socialist, but for all of our sakes (most of all the world's desperately poor) I hope people start to see that the pure market makes the rich even richer and the poor, even if better of (slightly) on an absolute basis, are way left behind.

But look at how passive Friedman is! Too much of a wimp in my book - explaining the process is important, but for goodness sake, how do we make it more equitable...one clue, the global electronic herd is not the answer. We need to shift our paradigm of thought and think proactively, not helplessly. Finding our own values (yes, there is more to life than consumption) is a step in the right direction.