The Lexus And The Olive Tree, Author Tom Friedman 

Tom Friedman, noted New York Times Foreign Affairs Columnist, presents a contextual view for how business, political and cultural globalization has changed the way we Earthlings interact. He begins with describing the world as it “worked” during and after the collapse of the Cold War.

He clearly demonstrates that technology has democratized the world by providing the average person with information. Governments can no longer block information; they can only impede it.

It is an exposé for Americans to better understand the war in Iraq . Friedman was the international correspondent in Beirut during the war there. He is articulate and well-versed in the cultural clashes and requirements necessary to move forward. Our next president would do well to appoint Mr. Friedman to his security team!

He uses the olive tree to symbolize a polarized position that a group clings, where its values originate and its traditions. It represents safety, community, holding onto the “ways”. In counterpoint, the Lexus symbolizes the process, technological progress, broadened access to information, and created momentum, all of which create new markets and flow through today’s “reality”.

Friedman states the world only runs on two speeds: fast and faster!

He defines the cold war and how the wall extended beyond Berlin ; the Berlin Wall was only symbolic. It was a feudal (and futile!) system of imbalance and unfair power advantage in the hands of the wealth holders.

Today, wealth is more accessible to those who understand technology and how to use it. Friedman uses an example of a small African village that watches markets via satellite connection and the impact on its village exports!

The book is a worthwhile investment of time. I found the premise optimistic; Friedman shares Paul Zane Pilzer’s economic view of “abundance” as a result of technology. My take away is there is more than enough to go around globally if we manage and don’t overuse our resources. Otherwise, we will all suffer. The challenge of countries today is to educate people, have them in tune with technology in order to be able to use the “new tools.”