The world is flat

I am currently reading "The World is Flat," by Thomas Friedman. In it, he argues that the playing fields are being leveled between countries, and he explains how this came about and why. It's quite entertaining, in a "So this is why I'll lose my job in 10 years" kind of way. It's all about the almighty corporations and their quest for greater productivity and efficiency. While it might leave a pretty mess in their wake, who can blame them? Companies exist mainly to make money for their owners, so they naturally need to find ways to produce their goods and services as cheaply and efficiently as possible. Makes sense, even though the process rather sucks for the average American worker. Globalization is here to stay, and we as employees have quite a bit of competition from India and China. They may be taking our factory work now, but seeing as how they also graduate smart and competitive scientists, engineers, etc., they could in theory take those jobs as well, seeing as how the world is being flattened n' all.
It will require us to develop new skills and re-energize our competitive spirits, to innovate, and to improve our educational system to meet this brave new world, so to speak.
So, at any rate, the book is interesting. Quite long, though, so I might have to buy my own copy so that I don't have to keep on checking it out at the library.
On another note, I recently read work by Malcolm Gladwell, and he, of course, has a Web site. He talks more about his books and expounds upon his articles found in The New Yorker.
And, of course, to bring this all back into perspective: