62 pages 2 hours read

Thomas L. Friedman

The World Is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2005

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Essay Topics

1.

Find an issue in your own community in which globalization or the tools of a flat world played a role. Explain how globalization or the tools of a flat world contributed to this issue. Was there any controversy about the issue like the one in Indiana described in Chapter 4? If so, how was it resolved? 

2.

This book was almost a decade old when the 2016 United States presidential election took place. Analyze that election in terms of the book. What role did the themes discussed in the book play? Look particularly at Part 2, “America and the Flat World.” Do you think America followed Friedman’s suggestions for coping with a flat world? How did this influence the election? Provide evidence to back up your conclusions. 

3.

From Brexit to the renegotiating of NAFTA to President Trump’s trade war with China, free trade has been under attack in recent years. Friedman argues in this book (particularly in Chapter 5) that free trade is good for America and all nations. Is he wrong? Explain why free trade has recently hit a speedbump and whether or not you think it is warranted. Be sure to back up your argument with evidence. 

Related Titles

By Thomas L. Friedman

Study Guide

logo

From Beirut to Jerusalem

Thomas L. Friedman

From Beirut to Jerusalem

Thomas L. Friedman

Plot Summary

logo

Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution

Thomas L. Friedman

Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution

Thomas L. Friedman

Plot Summary

logo

Thank You For Being Late

Thomas L. Friedman

Thank You For Being Late

Thomas L. Friedman

Plot Summary

logo

That Used to Be Us

Thomas L. Friedman, Michael Mandelbaum

That Used to Be Us

Thomas L. Friedman, Michael Mandelbaum

Study Guide

logo

The Lexus and the Olive Tree

Thomas L. Friedman

The Lexus and the Olive Tree

Thomas L. Friedman