Friedman, Thomas L. - The World Is Flat

[Ian Robertson]

This Pulitzer prizewinner demonstrates that the culmination of "ten forces have flattened the world." It's becoming a level playing field for many nations. He compares 11/9, the fall of the Berlin Wall, with 9/11, the terrorism that brought down the World Trade Center. Work flow software, outsourcing, offshoring, insourcing, and supply chains are changing the way we do business.

The church can learn from Friedman's insights about what is happening in India, China and Eastern European countries. Cooperation and collaboration are providing opportunities for individuals, not just countries or international companies.

He deals with the Arab/Moslem challenge. His recommendation to President Bush is that America needs to set a 10-year goal of becoming energy independent, especially with the economic advances of China and India. He makes a strong point that we need leadership like that of President Kennedy after Russia launched sputniks during the cold war. "The space race was really a science race." The nation rallied behind sending a man to the moon rather than a missile to Moscow.

There are implications for missions. How can we collaborate with Nazarenes in developing countries to improve their standards of living? What changes would really make their lives better? Which countries have the infrastructure and desire to makes such things possible? We may need to increase our influence in China, India, Poland, and Hungary for a start.

The World Is Flat is on the N.Y. Times Best Seller List. The world has changed very quickly.

[Wanda Van Winkle]

Thanks for the recommendation.

I have located a text at our local library, but it has an extended title. Before reserving it, I wanted to verify it is the same book you are recommending. (This question may be a "duh" question, but I have picked up the wrong book with similar titles and similar authors' names.)

The world is flat: a brief history of the twenty-first century

Does it sound like one and the same?

[Ian Robertson]

Wanda, you are correct. the full title is Friedman, Thomas L., The World Is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century. i paid about $20 with the 30 percent off as a best-seller.

Try www.bestbookbuys.com for a better price, or Walmart. There are also paperback and audiobook editions

If we, as Nazarenes, had a better understanding of how the world has changed so much so quickly, we might understand why we do need to change our methods to reach the world. The problem is that so many people want the church to grow, but they don't want to change!

Good reading, Ian.

[Wanda Van Winkle]

Thank you!

I have a part-time evening job that allows me to listen to audiobooks. The library has this book on tape. Wonderful!

[Judy Hamilton]

Hello Ian

I am currently reading this book by Thomas Friedman..and am astounded at how the world has changed since Columbus proved that the "World is Round"

your referance to the way we do church is correct..and appropriate
ther is also a book that addresses these issues and how theworld and the Curch is affected..we discussed this book briefly in our house church.. iwil try and find the title and author

http://www.naznet.com/community/showthread.php?t=4548
Judy

[Wanda Van Winkle]

It took MONTHS for me to get the book at the library, even with several copies. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It got a little detailed like a textbook, but I found it fascinating.

Thanks for the recommendation.

[Ryan Scott]

I just finished reading this book, in it's 3.0 version. Friedman has updated the book quite a bit since the original printing. It's now over 600 pages in paperback!

There's a lot of good stuff there, although a lot of people would find the subject boring, he has done a good job of telling stories to keep the reader interested.

I found it refreshing that even a radical proponent of open and free markets would have many of the same problems with the current US administration as do I. This is a sort of Republican agenda I might even be able to get behind.

The book was eye-opening for me and a good read, even if it did take me three months to get through it all.