The World is Flat by Thomas Friedman
Review by ilaxi 

New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman won the first Financial Times and Goldman Sachs Business Book of the Year Award on Monday for "The World Is Flat," a look at the impact of globalization.The award, for a book published between Oct. 31, 2004 and Nov. 1, comes with a 30,000 pound ($52,000; Ђ44,000) prize.

An Asian Age columnist of NYTimes, Thomas Friedman in this book has identified the most important economic and political theme of the early 21st century - an introduction to globalization divided into three phases:
1.0 up to 1800 when things depended on states
2.0 when it was multinational corporations 1800-2000
3.0 since 2000 when it has been up to brilliant individuals
Friedman says, "When the world is flat, you can innovate without having to emigrate". What Friedman means by "flat" is "connected": the lowering of trade and political barriers and the exponential technical advances of the digital revolution have made it possible to do business, or almost anything else, instantaneously with billions of other people across the planet. How did the world become Flat? The triggered events with collapse of communism, the dot-com bubble and the subsequent outsourcing of engineers enlisted to fix the perceived Y2K problem. Also Al-Qaeda that let the small act big in more destructive ways. The author sounds an alarm with a call for carefulness: Academically, Politically, and Economically. The new world is exciting but you can get trampled if you don't keep up, wise sane advice from the author. 

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The Alchemist: A Fable About Following Your Dream by Paulo Coelho
Review by ilaxi


In the fable told by Paul Coelho, the character Santiago is a shepherd boy who dreams of treasures in Egyptian pyramids and leaves Spain to make his dreams turn true. During his adventure, he learns many lessons on way and experiences the truth 'To listen to own heart' It knows all and explores to fulfil dream desires. Santiago meets many people but among them is a Alchemist who has a wise preach to Santiago. When Santiago confides in the Alchemist what he thinks, the Alchemist says that the fear of suffering is more than to actually 'suffer'. The fable is an inspiration to live up to dreams and live life fulfilling desires. If you do not dream you cannot reach for the stars and so does Paul Coelho has sound advice to make the most of inner aspirations and pick the pearls in life. Paul stress on importance of life and listening to our heart. We travel life's path once and hence, our aim should be higher to grasp and reach the goals to fulfill our dreams desire. A very good message and worth a Read - A great pick!

Paul Coelho's column appears in The Asian Age. Explore!

More Books by Paul Coelho:

- click here for Asian Age Columnists : What They Read in 2005

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