The Lexus and the Olive Tree: Understanding Globalization |  | Author: Thomas L. Friedman
Publisher: Anchor
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Rating:  408 reviews
Sales Rank: 9216
Media: Paperback
Edition: Reprint
Pages: 490
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 7.9 x 5.2 x 1.1
ISBN: 0385499345
Dewey Decimal Number: 337
EAN: 9780385499347
ASIN: 0385499345
Publication Date: May 2000
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Amazon.com Review
One day in 1992, Thomas Friedman toured a Lexus factory in Japan and marveled at the robots that put the luxury cars together. That evening, as he ate sushi on a Japanese bullet train, he read a story about yet another Middle East squabble between Palestinians and Israelis. And it hit him: Half the world was lusting after those Lexuses, or at least the brilliant technology that made them possible, and the other half was fighting over who owned which olive tree. 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.
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Showing reviews 1-5 of 408
 Thomas Friedman Does His Job, And He's Good At It October 25, 2009
Citizen John (Washington, DC)
When this book first came out in 1999, I was fortunate to go to a local bookstore and see Friedman give a talk about his book. He talked in general terms and not just about his book, and the large crowd was enthralled. I had arrived early and so did he and I actually chatted with him for a few minutes. I was impressed his politeness and he seemed humble considering that he was already a celebrity, having appeared on numerous talk shows.
In hindsight now there is plenty that Friedman got wrong. But I don't see Friedman as an academic at all. I think he's very plugged into how people think and he expresses that and educates us mainly about ourselves. This makes sense when one considers his background as a correspondent and reporter. He has always excelled at communication. Wikipedia reports that he now commands fifty thousand per speaking engagement. He's come a long way since publishing this book. He's just so darn likeable in person that one naturally feels glad for his success (in my opinion).
At the time of The Lexus and The Olive Tree, globalization as a topic was relatively new and as it's such a magnificently large topic, nobody could really understand it. Therefore, I can't find fault with it but I don't know if I'd recommend it now. Better to read Friedman's articles, as he's still a prolific contemporary writer.
 Overview and educational implications October 11, 2009
Charles T. Schmid (Marietta, Ga)
The Lexus and the Olive Tree, by Thomas L Freidman, leads the reader to a new understanding of the term "globalization". The author uses examples from his own experiences, as a traveling/writer for the New York Times, to paint a picture of the world in the new era. This new world will increasingly rely on technology for economic stability and growth. Friedman argues that globalization is not a trend. It is an international system that directly resulted from the fall of the Soviet Empire and the destruction of the Berlin Wall. The old Cold War system was replaced with globalization because no walls or barriers could deter its growth from spreading. This new system has its own rules and is a major force influencing politics, the environment, and the economics of virtually every country in the world.
Friedman attempts to explain this new international system by introducing colorful new terms such as: Microchip Immune Deficiency; The Golden Straightjacket; The Electronic Herd; DOS Capital 2.0; The Backlash; The Groundswell. He also analyzes two biblical stories, with no proof to base his argument, to manipulate the reader into realizing the greed for land and ownership has been an overriding force for humanity since the slaying of Abel by Cain.
Freidman's main premise is to divide the world into basically the haves and have-nots. He explains this in many ways, but first it is described as two struggles: the drive for prosperity and development, symbolized by the Lexus, and the desire to retain identity and traditions, symbolized by the olive tree. I got the feeling, the author thinks, cultures still hanging on to their olive trees would be trampled by the Electronic Herd if they weren't careful. Friedman suggests, "if you can't see the world, and you can't see the interactions that are shaping the world, you surely cannot strategize about the world." He also states "you need a strategy for how to choose prosperity for your country or company" (p. 232).
His argument can be summarized quite simply. Globalization is not just a phenomenon and not just a passing trend. It is the international system that replaced the Cold War 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 degree, a global village. Martin and Nakayama (2007) actually cite Freidman when defining globalization in their text. Actually, I was slightly disappointed they didn't have a contradictory definition to Freidman's.
As I read this book, there became this growing feeling of nostalgia. These new technological advancements have brought about more awareness regarding the rest of the world. But, at what cost, an increased need for greed, power, and money? The author describes this new era as Darwinian "only the strong survive". What a completely morbid thought. Instead of peace and free will, we will be in constant competition with foreign countries over capitalistic ideals.
The author points out in his sister novel, "The World is Flat", (actually, it talked about exactly the same things but has a different title) that countries and cultures are becoming Americanized. This makes me sad to think that cultures are increasingly following the path of the United States. This culture has some serious flaws. Americans have this rare need to keep up with the "Jones's", or the people next door. It appears no one is happy being average or merely content. It seems as if there is always a need for more goods, income, or TV channels. This sadness extends to my liberal views that if every country lived like the United States, planet earth would not be able to provide enough natural resources to fuel, or feed the population.
This reading has a couple of implications for the classroom. First, technology must be enforced as an educational tool in our schools. American children will need to keep up with current technological trends in order to compete with the rapidly changing global markets. Next, a need for cultural understandings should be increased in our schools. The internet should be used to communicate with other students from other countries. This will help our students get a better picture of the world around them. Class projects and lessons could be collaborated through the utilization of other classrooms across the globe. Our students could learn first-hand about cultural issues direct from the source. Finally, a need to teach foreign language early should be required. This will reinforce further understanding and communication with other countries and cultures.
Globalization, to me, is not about "Big Business". It is about intercultural communication in the realm of your house or local internet café. It is playing chess with an opponent on the other side of the world in the comfort of your own home. It is about learning Chinese from a Chinese student in China while you are still in America. The sky is the limit. Peace and unity between countries could be a welcome and wonderful experience with this onset of advanced technology. But, as history repeats itself, America is caught up in wars they can't win, and the quest for remaining a super power. Instead of unity, it seems as though everyone is out to get us and can't wait to see the USA fall flat on its face.
References
Friedman T. L., (1999). The lexus and the olive tree. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
Freidman T. L., (2007). The world is flat: A brief history of the twenty-first century. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Martin J. N., & Nakayama T. K. (2007). Intercultural communication in contexts (4th ed.). New York: McGraw Hill Companies, Inc.
 Electronic herds and democratization of finance August 31, 2009
Srinivas P. Ganti (Plainsboro, NJ)
Friedman has compared the pre and post cold war worlds. How the power has shifted from nations to the markets. How important have business and markets become in this globalized world.
Investors wield enormous power in moving capital around the world, wherever the returns are likely to be maximum. All that with the click of a mouse. It is not just the individual investor. It is a collection of investors acting independently but voting together on the quality of Governance of a country. On the business friendliness of a country. He calls this collection as an "electronic herd" and the process itself as democratization of finance.
Democratization of finance was enabled by the democratization of information and the democratization of the technology. Democratization of information started with internet. All these processes are enabling the cycle of innovation to commoditization at the speed of net.
Cold war was based on chess board and check book. Super powers paid to supporting countries for occupying a square on the chess board. Electronic herd, on the other hand, plays monopoly. Lexus is symbolic of democratized high technology, while the Olive tree is symbolic of cold war thinking of occupying a square.
Joining global economy and plugging into the electronic herd is the equivalent of taking your country public. The electronic herd votes every hour every day thru their mutual funds, their pension funds, their brokers, from their basements via internet. Electronic herds brought down Suharto, made South Korea send out an e-mail to global investors detailing currency reserves at the end of each business day, including, as best as it can, private capital flows. Democratization of finance has also meant that the Bonds and stock markets liberate entrepreneurs from having to cultivate relationships with just a handful of Bankers in order to raise cash. Companies that issue stocks and bonds have their performance judged every day by the electronic herd.
Not joining the global economy is an invitation to let bureaucrats and cronies allocate capital rather than the market place. Although Capitalism is not good at distribution of income (socialism is good at it), but it is capitalism which can ensure growth through proper allocation of resources. In the bargain, some people could get hurt. And the social safety nets are supposed to take care of them.
Thucydides wrote in his History of Peoloponnesian war that nations fight for three reasons-honor, fear, interest. Businesses and markets are influencing countries to desist from going to war. Friedman makes an interesting observation that no two countries that both had McDonalds had fought a war against each other since each got its McDonalds.
Globalization is also leading to a wide gap between the super skilled, skilled, not so skilled and unskilled.Winner takes all explains why Michael Jordan made more money than his peers at NBA because he was a global icon after the collapse of Berlin wall.
Over connected world is making the society and the world more claustrophobic. We are all connected but no one is in charge.
Not only useful but also exciting June 16, 2009
Kim Tae Gab (Daegu, Korea)
Two things are used to explain the key word 'globalization' by the Thomas. Friedman who is the author of this book. The first is the 'Lexus' which is the world famous car made by the Toyota auto company. It stands for cutting edge technology in our times and necessary item for our convenient life. The next is the olive tree which symbolizes our family, community, nation, religion and so on that we belong to.
The collapse of the cold age in the late of 1990s was the start of this globalization and it has been more accelerated rapidly with the help of communication, transportation and technology, which enables us to connect each other more closely than any other period.
The author, of course, has argued that it is dangerous only stick to one thing between the Lexus and the olive tree. The supporter groups who merely admire the Lexus will lose their nationality and identity, otherwise the adherents of the olive tree will have no chance to heighten their way of life.
So, it is desirable to be in the state of equilibrium between them. Concretely speaking, we are cherishing the value of the democratization of technology, information and finance in our community.
Now we are in the midst of the trend and have no right to veto this flow of the times, whether we like it or not. What is important is the balance of the two in order to live a wellbeing life with traditional identity. Lots of examples and proper figures of speech make this book not only useful but also exciting.
It is highly recommendable to everyone who is interested in the world of our times.
 Friedman's new book is pro-corporate propaganda April 20, 2009
Matreshka (NYC)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
i would not recommend this book. Its totally outdated. i didn't like world is flat book either.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 408
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