The Lexus and the Olive Tree

Would you characterize Friedman as a pessimist, an optimist, or something else, with respect to Globalization?

Friedman tends to rely on personal anecdotes, such as observations made while travelling for the New York Times and conversations with global elites, to support his arguments. Do you feel that this is a convincing and persuasive way to present his theories about the world?

What is the relationship in the book between technology, politics, and globalization?

What does Friedman identify as the greatest threats to Globalization? How or how haven’t these threats manifested since the book’s publication?

What does Friedman mean when he says that countries and companies need to choose prosperity in the Globalization system? Do you feel that this is a useful framework for understanding why some countries and companies succeed and why some fail?

What is Friedman’s perspective on culture as it pertains to globalization? Do you agree or disagree with his analysis?

Early in the book, Friedman claims that to understand the world, one must engage in six-dimensional information arbitrage, but to convey this understanding to others, one must tell simple stories. What does he mean by this seeming paradox? Do you think he effectively follows this framework in the book?

Friedman claims that there is no alternative to globalization, a claim made by several political leaders in the 1990s. What does he mean by this? How does he make the argument, and do you agree or disagree with this claim?