going global
kelly | 23 January 2006 - 11:25am
Oooh, look at me, with the reading of the nonfiction!
This book was recommended to me by a colleague who practically got an erection every time he talked about the book. So I went in with high hopes, which were dashed within the first chapter when the repetitive repetition and (in my humble opinion) poor writing made me wail and moan and yank clumps of hair from my head. (I realize that nonfiction is more about presenting information and ideas and less about writing style, but I feel strongly that no matter the genre, a writer should not be lazy about writing well. Lecture over.) About 80 pages in, I asked a friend of mine who has read the book if it gets better - dear god please say it gets better. He promised that the second half is much better, although he was drunk at the time so I wasn't terribly convinced.
Turns out he was right, sorta. The more I read, the less I was annoyed by the writing style. I am chalking that up to me becoming desensitized to the horror and not to the possibility that Thomas L. Friedman's writing skills improved. (I feel like such a bitch saying that because he is a Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times writer and so who the hell am I to criticize his writing style? But, I call it like I see it.)
The content was intriguing, though. Friedman is arguing that the world is (on its way to becoming) flat, by which he means that we are becoming so connected that companies and individuals are competing and collaborating globally. He explains how recent technological innovations and relatively recent political events have set the stage for the ultimate flattening of the world, and how this flattening affects business and politics and life as we know it. I've heard this book described as "about outsourcing" but that is actually just a small part of Friedman's larger discussion of globalization.
While doing research and interviews for the book, Friedman's favorite question to ask people was "Where were you when you discovered the world was flat?" For me it was about a year ago when I started blogging. Friedman doesn't touch much on the cultural effects of a flat world, but I find this side of things just as interesting as the economics he explores. Only in a flattening world is it possible to be part of a community in which geography not only isn't an obstacle but isn't even relevant. I think the opportunity to meet and befriend people from all over the world is a significant benefit of a flat world, and one that surely has positive ripples itself. In the book, Meg Whitman, CEO of eBay, discusses in an interview how eBay is a community just as much as it is a service to exchange goods. She claims that every person craves positive feedback and needs validation from others. And that reminds me of the blogworld, too, and especially of Susie's recent post about blogging at its best.
One of my favorite things about the book was the insider's look Friedman gave of many companies. UPS was my favorite, for obvious reasons. UPS does WAY more than deliver packages, people. Who knew?! And also, did you know that they get 7-12 million tracking requests each day?! Clearly I'm not the only tracking whore out there - it seems to be a worldwide addiction.
The book was a worthwhile read and one that stretched my brain to consider things I don't often think about (and which I'm hella glad it's not my job to think about). Having said that, I must admit that when Rob asked me last evening if the next book I am reading is fiction, I replied with a "Yes!" and a happy sigh.
- 446 reads
all comments photoblog
I'm first? Freakonomics sounds a lot like your book. It had a couple of interesting points, but when I finally closed the book, I was oh-so-happy.
Sometimes it's worth trudging through, even for a little UPS insider info.
I have never read the book you read, but I have always thought of the blogging thing, bringing people together, like the description that Mrs. Who or Mrs. What (I cannot remember) of what a Wrinkle in Time actually was. By shortening the two distances of a piece of fabric (was is a skirt hem she used? I can't remember). But bringing two worlds togehter, so not flat, but wrinkled. But a very interesting take.
Interesting. I actually hold non-fiction writers to higher standards of literary merit and style, simply because they have the world handed to them on a platter and don't have to expend precious mental energy on crafting a story. So your writing better jump, baby.
And I think it's perfectly valid to be annoyed with any particular writer's style, regardless of what prizes they've won. I thought I was going to fucking DIE reading "The Life of Pi", and that won all sorts of awards. Likewise "The English Patient" (never have I agreed more with a television show than with the Seinfeld "English Patient" episode, although I never saw the movie - just applied everything they said to that hideously tedious and overblown book); and pretty much any word ever spewed up by Margaret Fucking Atwood. My pretentiousness meter (you buy them at the same place you get your GPS equipment) goes red-line at any of those.
In fact, show me a Booker or Geller Prize winner and I'll show you a book that is primarily endured by people who want to be able to one-up their friends at elegant soirees. I'm sure the "We're So Fucking Smart" Committee that hands out the awahds for lichrachure would think I'm a culture-impaired boor for saying that, but they can kiss my ass.
Or "ahss".
I'm so happy that you loved the book. I mean, I'm pretty proud that a "Sex in the City" addict could actually even get through it. For me the book was mostly repetition of things I'd already obvserved, but I have tried to get everyone I know to read the thing. You people need to know what's happening in the world, and contemporary histories are rare. Plus, his call to action for Bush is very strong...
I try and try with the non fiction, and rarely do I get past the third page of anything. So good for you!
Nilbo is right, the books that win awards and kudos are the ones that people want people to think they read. Like how people line their bookshelves with all these intellectual books and hide the VC Andrews. I put my VC Andrews right out there.
I love non-fiction, but sometimes there's a book through which you just have to trudge (if you make it at all). And that sounds like a particularly trudgerous book. But interesting.
Now, I have to agree and then disagree with Nilbo. I agree, non-fiction writers should have flawless writing style, because they have to make a book readable that isn't a story. But just because they don't have to invent a story, doesn't mean they just sit there and pull a book out of their asses; there is research involved. I think non-fiction probably takes just as much work as fiction to write. Oh, and I loved Life of Pi.
Thank you, Ern. I did, too. Could not put it down.
To each his own in this beautiful free country of ours.