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The Book Summary

The book has predominately explained how the internet has changed the way people communicate. In this work, the authors intend to inform their readers about the history of the internet, how it has revolutionized communication, along with its detriments and benefits. Their audience encompasses all the internet community members. The researchers start by detailing the discovery of the internet, as well as commitment, research and development plans that were devised to revolutionize the web. As they reckon, the invention of electronic gadgets such as the computer gave room for further progress. Computers became even more useful when the internet was created. Thus, the public needed to find others ways of data dissemination and new means of collaboration. Ideally, this great innovation ensured fast distribution of information irrespective of the location of an individual. A lot of research and commitment were emphasized to advance the information infrastructure. Once this goal was achieved, it started influencing commercialization, operation, and management along with the social aspect of human life. With time, the concept of computer networking became entirely ingrained in the lives of many people. However, the general internet concept appeared at the time when a text was the only mode of communication. At the initial stages, there were only a few developments, and information dissemination was slow due to low bandwidth. Nevertheless, the developers found ways to increase the bandwidth that in turn induced the creation of the World-Wide Web, which provided more avenues for communication. After this discovery, one could use video chatting, images, and audios to pass information from one person to another. All these improvements of the internet were a significant boost to the users.

On the other hand, Geisberger and Broy (2015) acknowledge that the internet has its drawbacks as well. At first, it was difficult to realize that the internet was going to cause some harm to the community. As the internet got more advanced, individuals started to understand how to abuse it. However, this does not mean that these challenges cannot be properly addressed. Hence, Geisberger and Broy (2015) assert that people should entirely manage the process of evolution and change. Moreover, privacy concerns have risen incredibly in this digital era. The authors explain how the internet has altered the way of sharing information. In this regard, the problem is that when personal information provided via the internet is publicly shared, this might prompt hackers to misuse such data. Thus, hackers might engage in identity theft and commit serious crimes through the internet. Because of these unfortunate occasions, the internet technology offers anonymity and privacy. Geisberger and Broy (2015) reveal that internet community members use encryption for privacy while Tor is a tool utilized for anonymity. Another challenge is the freedom of speech. The internet is structured in a way that every person is given equal opportunities to express his/her opinion. Sometimes, the public abuse this freedom of expression offered by the internet to engage in unfair scorns. Additionally, others are involved in piracy activities since the internet allows individuals to collaborate. Therefore, intellectual property rights are breached. Besides, it has become hard for software innovators to benefit from their innovations. In this respect, Geisberger and Broy (2015) admit that all these problems are possible to be solved if proper regulations and prototypes are introduced.

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Analysis and Evaluation

Geisberger and Broy’s book is of great use to the modern society. In particular, the internet community members find a significant advantage when reading this work. The authors intend to inform their target audience about how to turn the internet to their own advantage and how to conduct themselves when they resort to this technology. Their detailed study starts by elaborating the history of the internet. The researchers did an excellent job to explain how the internet appeared back in the 1960s (Wilsdon, 2014). The sole purpose of research and development in this area was to discover new means of communication, which would easily connect the entire world. For instance, people can now use different online media platforms to transfer data from different parts of the world. Nonetheless, this was not the case before the invention of this critical information infrastructure. Furthermore, Geisberger and Broy (2015) admit that the history of the internet is extensive and uncover that it should be explored from the perspective of community, organization, and technology, the point with which I heartily agree. Notwithstanding, it is not possible to outline the history of the internet without examining the key aspects that were instrumental in its advancement.

Geisberger and Broy (2015) claim that the internet has already revolutionized communication. At the initial stages, people could only use text to communicate over the internet as the authors documented. However, further developments were done until the World-Wide Web was established. The discovery enabled video chatting, audio communication, and image sharing. The main contributing factor was the augmented bandwidth, which allowed faster transmission of data from one location to another. For example, the period before the creation of increased bandwidth presented a condition whereby it would take a lot of time to download a video. Moreover, there was a need to improve the efficiency of systems and connection that resulted in more in-depth research. The latter would then lead to the invention of the World-Wide Web (Borgman, 2015). As a consequence, the developers found new ways of communication, which boosted commercialization and socialization. I agree with the authors’ claim and justification of how the internet has revolutionized communication. It is worth mentioning that they use an objective language that is clear to their readers. Their ideas are coherent, comprehensive and have valid evidence to convince the target audience, as the researchers explain the transition in detail.

Despite only praising the effects of the internet on the society, Geisberger and Broy (2015) also see drawbacks in this innovation. Their concerns revolve around data gathering, anonymity, and privacy. In this regard, the internet influences the way of sharing personal information. Whenever one shares their data with particular individuals or organizations via the internet, they want their privacy to be protected. Many people are aware that hackers can get the information that are supposed to be private and share them publicly. Additionally, Geisberger and Broy (2015) reveal that the United States legal framework allows personal information to be shared publicly only when the actual owner gives his/her consent. Therefore, the internet technology is designed to offer anonymity and privacy. I agree with their statement in this case. For example, if someone is signing up on different websites, he/she is required to think about strong encryption since the latter is supposed to guarantee privacy (Borgman, 2015). Besides, Tor is a tool that is used to offer anonymity. If these tools are employed as explained in the book, it will prevent hackers from accessing private information. Nowadays, hackers are becoming smarter than ever, and internet developers will need to introduce new effective measures of privacy protection.

Finally, their book covers the concepts of freedom of speech, sharing and collaboration. The internet provides equal opportunities for all people to exercise their freedom of speech. They are free to share materials through the internet. Nevertheless, some individuals abuse these freedoms. For example, one may start insulting and trolling others or even engage in cyber-crimes. Governments in different countries face lots of challenges in their attempts to censor this freedom. As Geisberger and Broy (2015) recommend, the utilization of different intermediaries such as internet service providers and search engines can help to control the way in which the public enjoy the freedom of speech. The government can work in collaboration with these intermediaries to discourage unethical and illegal behaviors. In this case, the authors did well to offer the only practical solution to the wrong use of the internet. Therefore, the society have to understand that they should show respect to others even on the social media platforms. Regarding sharing and collaboration of people from various parts of the world, there is a need to provide a mechanism that will allow the protection of ownership rights by fighting piracy (Wilsdon, 2014). For instance, modern internet users share software, files and ideas that are supposed to be protected by patent rights. I agree with the authors that there are no proper regulations and algorithms to combat the vice. Given such a condition, more research and development of the internet are crucial factors to sanitize the media.

Conclusion

To conclude, Geisberger and Broy (2015) present an excellent explanation regarding the invention of the internet and its influence on online users. They have outlined both pros and cons of the World Wide Web to the modern generation. According to the researchers, people should be happy that the internet has ensured global networking. With the power of computer networking, it is possible to disseminate information to different parts of the globe. They acknowledge that commitment, research and development were essential to achieving this tremendous universal milestone. Due to the innovation of the internet, humans have changed their modes of operation and management, especially in many companies. Commercial activities have been enhanced worldwide due to a quick method of communication. Furthermore, the public can socialize using different social media groups, which are found all over the internet. However, the society have to learn how to manage change. The World Wide Web is an excellent invention, but certain individuals have substantially abused it. Some people steal the private information that does not belong to them to commit cyber-crimes. Others access online platforms to express their freedom of speech in the wrong way. In reality, many ethical and legal concerns surround the issue of the internet. Therefore, Geisberger and Broy (2015) want their target audience to understand the scope of the World Wide Web and use it productively.

Today, there exist a lot of books on the concept of globalization. Some of these texts are good, while others are poorly written and unreliable. Thomas Friedman’s book, The World is Flat, is one of best books on globalization. It is educational, well-written, easy to understand, and, most importantly, relevant to modern dysfunctional society. In his book, Friedman makes interesting points about the history and future of globalization. I found the information written in the book enlightening. For instance, now, I understand that individuals are propelling present-day globalization. The book has given me a greater understanding of the causes and effects of this process. Simply put, The World is Flat is a book worth exploring, as it offers valuable insight into the concept of globalization.

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How the Book Has Affected My Outlook on How I Will Do Business Both Domestically and Internationally

The book has changed my perspective on domestic and international businesses. Globalization is both a good and bad thing for modern businesses. In the fourth chapter of the book, Friedman suggests that domestic and international companies have no option but to embrace globalization. because the reason is that nothing and no one can stop this process. For this reason, any business, be it domestic or international, must seek to embrace the opportunities that globalization brings and develop strategies aimed at overcoming the challenges associated with the global marketplace. The fifth chapter has taught me one important lesson: globalization can either build or destroy a business. Simply put, to achieve long-term success, any type of company must adapt to the changing business landscape.

After reading Friedman’s book, I now know what I need to do to my business to achieve success, both domestically and internationally. As a domestic business owner, I will take advantage of certain aspects of globalization, such as outsourcing, to thrive in today’s harsh business environment. At the same time, I will seek to adopt practical strategies to overcome the negative aspects of globalization such as increased competition. Doing business internationally in today’s globalized world is not as easy, as it sounds. The book offers good advice on how to work internationally. Going forward, I will apply the knowledge I have gained from this book to effectively do business with all types of partners.

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How the Book Has Affected My Opinion on Globalization

The book has changed my opinion on several issues. I already knew some concerns discussed in the book. For instance, I had an idea of what globalization is and how it continues to affect the society. I also knew that globalization is not entirely a good thing; it has its disadvantages. Generally speaking, before I read the five chapters, I thought I knew a lot of things about present-day globalization. After finishing the book, it is now clear that I was lying to myself since my knowledge was limited. The book has given me a greater understanding of the globalized world. For instance, I knew that technological advancements have leveled the global playing field. What I did not know is that ten factors or “flatteners” that were spanning for several years have led to present-day globalization.

The ten forces are the collapse of Berlin Wall, workflow software, outsourcing, offshoring, supply chaining, uploading, Netscape, personal digital devices that Friedman calls steroids, insourcing, and informing tools such as Google. It is worth mentioning that the majority of these ten flatteners are related to technology. What this means is that my earlier reasoning that technological advancements have led to globalization was not far-fetched. Another issue that the book has made me reconsider is the effects of globalization. I knew globalization has desirable and undesirable effects on domestic and international businesses. What I did not know is the magnitude of these effects. I now comprehend that globalization is a source of opportunities and threats to individuals, businesses, and countries.

The five chapters have affected my opinion on the topic. Prior to reading the book, I believed that globalization is a key to eradicating global poverty. After reading the chapters, I hold the belief that globalization is a necessary evil, as it is advantageous and disadvantageous in some instance. Fortunately or unfortunately, no one and nothing can stop this process. With this in mind, it is safe to argue that although globalization is undesirable due to its adverse effects, it is necessary to achieve global economic growth. That said, the organizations interested in achieving long-term success should take the time to find out how globalization is both a threat and blessing to the businesses. My new opinion about this topic after reading the five chapters is that embracing globalization is the key to achieving success in today’s ”flat world.”

Parts of the Books that Surprised Me

Several parts of the books surprised me. The first part is present-day globalization, which Friedman describes as globalization 3.0. It is being spearheaded by individuals and not by companies or countries. I believe that developed nations are the force behind modern-day globalization. My reasoning is influenced by the fact that the majority of developed nations are seeking to increase their influence in various parts of the world. For example, China and the United States are currently trying to outdo each other in Africa. Another part of the book that surprised me is that present-day globalization is a product of a myriad of forces, such as outsourcing and workflow software. I never thought that insourcing and outsourcing are leveling the global playing field.

Another part of the book that surprised me is the claim by Friedman that the collapse of the Berlin Wall and the terrorist attack on 9/11 have flattened the world. What surprised me about these two events is that their causes and effects have somehow hastened the globalization process. The book has been eye-opening. I have gathered new data about globalization from it. The book has changed my opinion about the causes of globalization, its effects, and how domestic and international businesses can adapt to this new trend. I believe that the new facts will go a long way towards helping me succeed in the globalized marketplace. Simply put, the book has enhanced my general knowledge about globalization, free trade, international business, and global politics.

Friedman’s Assumptions

The first major assumption that Friedman makes is that in the history of humanity, there have been three eras of globalization. The first globalization started in 1492. The second era of globalization lasted from 1800 and 2000, while the present-day globalization started in 2000. I do not agree with this assumption since it is humanly impossible to know the exact year a particular era of globalization started or ended. The second assumption that Friedman makes is that individuals are fueling today’s globalization. I agree with this, as we live in a digital era where individuals are collaborating and competing globally. However, it is worth mentioning that, unlike Friedman, I believe companies and nations are also propelling present-day globalization.

Another assumption that Friedman makes is that the world has been “flattened’ by ten forces. I’m afraid I have to disagree with this assumption since it is difficult to pinpoint all the factors or forces that have leveled the global playing field. To put this in perspective, one could argue that the impact of the First and Second World Wars made globalization necessary. Another assumption that Friedman makes is that the global playing field is leveled. I do not agree with this since although globalization is flattening the world, the movement of goods and people across the globe is still strictly controlled and regulated. With this in mind, Friedman should have titled his book “The World is Gradually Becoming Flat” instead of “The World is Flat.” The claim that the world is flat is an over-exaggeration of what is happening in the world.

Parts of the Book I Strongly Agree and Disagree with

I strongly agree that globalization is leveling the global playing field. I also strongly agree that globalization is not an entirely good thing for businesses, countries, and individuals. Although it creates numerous business opportunities for domestic and international businesses, it also results in many challenges that threaten their very existence. Another part I strongly agree with is that technological advancements, such as the introduction of the Internet and the development of personal digital devices, have revolutionized globalization. Some parts of the book I strongly disagree with is that globalization 3.0 is being propelled by individuals. I believe that modern-day globalization is being shaped by four key players: international organizations, such as world trade organizations, countries, individuals, and businesses. All in all, the book is a good source of information about globalization.

A Closer Look at Chapter 5 (America and Free Trade)

I chose this chapter since the United States is currently involved in a trade war with China. Additionally, President Trump is emphasizing on a concept known as “Buy American.” It is a movement whose primary objective is to encourage Americans to buy and use products made in the United States. I thought the chapter would shed light on the issues mentioned above. I am proud to say that it met my expectations. The chapter states that there is a growing desire among American citizens to ban outsourcing to achieve two objectives: create jobs for Americans and protect American businesses. In this chapter, Friedman offers valuable insights into the issue of free trade and how the United States can cope with it. The chapter helped me understand why President Trump’s administration wants to ban outsourcing.

Friedman made three key points in this chapter. The first point is that banning outsourcing is not an effective solution for tackling joblessness in the United States. I agree with Friedman on this issue since banning outsourcing can have an undesirable impact on the United States’ status as the leader of the free world. The second key point is that a better education system is the key to ensuring Americans compete effectively on the global level. I believe this reasoning is accurate since one disadvantage of free trade is increased competition in the global marketplace. The third key point is that American companies should strive to adapt to the changes brought about by globalization and free trade. I agree on this point, as globalization and free trade are not going to end any time soon. For this reason, it is high time for the businesses to understand that adapting to globalization is not an option but a necessity.

Conclusion

The World is Flat is a good book. It is well-written, interesting to read, easy to understand, and, most importantly, educational. The author offers valuable insight into the issue of globalization. The book is, however, far from being perfect. One of the biggest weakness is that a majority of the information written therein feels as if it is Friedman’s opinion on globalization. The book consists mainly of Friedman’s personal observations and experience. Some people may view this as a weakness on the part of the book. I would recommend this book to other people. The reason is that it makes important inferences about the causes and effects of present-day globalization.

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The publisher’s patience was rewarded when the University of New Mexico republished the book and watched it grow after ten years of the book’s original publication. Carter’s modest tome was finally settled five years later in Hollywood and took second place in the New York Times’ business book list (Carter 17).

Little Tree’s eerie capacity not only to prevail but also to survive throughout the narrative is evident. As the story opens, a five-year-old main hero is seen in the company of his grandparents. The boy is leaving his mother’s funeral, and the readers are informed that his father had died the previous year in the mountains of Tennessee, namely in the Cherokees hills, where their remote cabin lies. The grandparents commence a gentle initiation, give the boy the Indian name, Little Tree, and enlighten him on the way people have lived for years. Little Tree gets acquainted with their land customs.

The Cherokee worldview is seen by the apt image of the standards and customs that they hold dear to. For instance, this is evident from the way the grandfather of Little Tree teaches him. He uses the turkey-hunting expedition as an example. This way, he explains the reason behind some of their ways, saying

Take only what ye need it is the way, do not take the best, when ye take the deer. Take the slower and smallest and the deer will not only give you meat but it will also grow strong. Ye must know this as pakoh, the panther already knows (Carter 9).

The education of Little Tree’s familiars and discovery of the needs of the spirit and body lead him to the new world as well as to sisters and brothers: a quail-hen “Min-e-lee,” babbling stream ”Lay-nah” and little deer ”Awiusdi”. His grandmother’s songs help to imagine this new universe. She teaches Little Tree that through listening to the voice of the talking wind and by hearing the streams, trees, deers and birds, he will not live by himself (Carter 42).

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Even though Little Tree and his grandparents live in a complete harmony with nature, they oppose the outside world. Civilizations and the first encounters are often befuddling, painful and sometimes funny. Therefore, a mountain grandfather is absolutely unable to adopt or understand how the white people think or behave. When the government finally takes Little Tree to an orphanage, the initial innocence that was present in the grandfather’s thinking leads to the tragic consequences. Fortunately, the boy is finally seen coming back home through the grandparents’ persistence.

In my opinion, one of the most important aspects of the book is its strong appeal to express the underlying moral certainty, which is mainly done through the epic use of changing tones. Even though the folksy wisdom of grandparents sometimes felt a bit careless, it still served as reminder of a guiltless era. Therefore, the author brought more sentimental side for both the older and younger generations of readers. Another thing that helped to create the necessary appeal in the book was the memoirs of Forrest Carter that describe the spirit and shape of the globe that most people consider lost (Carter 53).

However, the drawback of the book, in my opinion, lies in the controversies surrounding the author and initial aim of the book. We see that the author, Little Tree aka Asa Carter aka Forrest Carter, is described as a nasty person who managed to use deceit and lies to perpetuate the supremacy of the dominant White race. He presented the image of the dying Indians’ culture as his life’s ultimate agenda. The negative depiction can be seen as a form of malice. Even though he manages to force his views to some extent, I still think that there is a complete ignoring of the authors’ associated ideals behind his words. One of them aims to advance the Cherokee people’s education and way of life (Carter 87).

In conclusion, it is evident that there is an incredible positive impact that has been made by the book. It has not been long since films and books depicting savage Indians’ stereotypes colored in red paint became a social norm. The mere fact is that the plight of Indians’ popular culture has been a controversial issue in America. In summary, I can say that the book is great in terms of life and themes addressed personally by the author as well as controversial cultural and historical debates.

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In fact, the profession of physician was totally different in the past compared to nowadays. The medical professionals had neither enough knowledge of the causes, consequences and ways of treatment of many diseases nor the equipment to treat people. Also, vaccination was not researched or developed; therefore, a physician physically could not treat people during the epidemic due to a fast spread of the disease. Also, people were very religious; therefore, they considered every illness as a punishment of God. In these conditions, many people did not seek help from the doctor, but rather went to see the priest in order to treat a disease. In fact, with the technical progress, any profession nowadays will be regarded as underdeveloped and ridiculous in the future (similarly to how we now view the profession of physician in the past), especially in the long-term perspective. I think that John Snow and others, although they could live in a different place, chose that unfortunate city because they were not ignorant or passive and wanted to bring a change to the society they lived in. There are problems in each community, so it is better to make changes and improve the situation in the place of own living, instead of going elsewhere.

The role of Henri Whitehead was crucial in investigation of cholera outbreak, as without him, Snow would never have been able to prove his theory. Whitehead’s broad knowledge of the local community and excellent memory significantly helped Snow in his research. “Whitehead was the conduit that made that representation possible. Whitehead was not an expert, an official, an authority. He was a local. That was his great strength” (Johnson, 2006). In particular, he knew the details of people’s lives (for example, information about a sick baby, whose diaper polluted the well of Broad Street), which helped to identify the starting point of the epidemic. Whitehead’s social status (the profession of a priest), as well as perfect reputation also added weight to his influence over the events, as thanks to them, it was easier to convince the local authorities of the validity of the presented theory. Whitehead was effective as a researcher, as he needed to know the causes of cholera for his professional practice of the priest. People came to him, as they thought that the illness is the punishment of God. Whitehead hesitated about such explanation of cholera, therefore he needed to find the real answer to be able to help people and answer their requests. I think that his contribution to solving the mystery of cholera was equal to Snow’s, as he managed to see numerous logical chains that, ultimately, contributed to the solution to the problem.  

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Snow understood that the problem of spreading cholera was not about miasma, which was a popular misconception at that time, but about water (Quammen, 2006). However, he could not prove it, as his microscope and chemical analysis of water did not show any result. He was searching for a valid scientific method that would demonstrate the problem in practice. Through talking to the local people (especially Henry Whitehead) and through the detailed examination of death patterns in London, Snow understood that the water pump on Broad Street could pose a threat. To visualize his findings, he drew a map, where he showed with the dots the amount of dead people in the recent time and the places where they lived. It was easily visible that the greatest number of the dead was near the above-mentioned water pump. Luckily, this information was enough to convince the local authorities of his theory and to disable the pump of the well. Johnson also demonstrated several misconceptions about Snow’s actual map. The author stated that “Snow’s visual case for his waterborne theory revolved around a striking correspondence between two shapes: the shape of the outbreak area itself, and the shape of best proximity to the Broad Street pump” (Johnson, 2006). However, cholera certainly could not follow so precisely the street contours. Also, it is important to mention that the map was reproduced so many times that “copies of copies began appearing in textbooks, described erroneously as original reproductions (most of them lacked the critical diagrams)” (Johnson, 2006). When cholera waterborne theory became widely accepted, the map was regularly used, as a shorthand explanation of the theory behind the science. It was more difficult to explain the theory of microorganisms that are invisible to the human eye, than just to point to the black bars coming from the pump.

I think that the author decided to name the book “Ghost Map” as it is a wonderful symbol that encourages the readers to discover this wonderful story. Usually, when the authors name their books with the name of an illness (like “Cancer”, “Cholera”, etc.), the readers consider it too scientific, too academic and too documentary, therefore the author had to find an appropriate thought-provoking name.

In fact, the book forced the readers to think about urbanization and its possible consequences. From one point of view, urbanization gives people better access to social facilities like education, healthcare facilities, social and cultural services. Also, it usually provides higher-income job opportunities and better social integration. At the same time, from the opposing point of view, urbanization destroys environment (especially in terms of destruction of fauna and flora, air pollution and temperature increase). In addition, due to high concentration of people, the level of crime is usually high and the diseases also spread very fast, causing an epidemic and therefore death of many people. According to my point of view, urbanization itself is not bad, however it is necessary to make it more sustainable, environmentally friendly and efficient in order to diminish the amount of potential problems. After reading the book “Ghost Map”, I started to feel more insecure about living in a city, especially in the developing world. There, due to poverty and lack of resources, the hygienic standards are not totally set, and there are many problems related to crime. In these conditions, the developed societies should do everything possible in order to help the developing world (especially in terms of improving the public health system).

To conclude, it is important to state that the book “Ghost Map: “The Story of London’s Most Terrifying Epidemic and How It Changed Science, Cities, and the Modern World” is a helpful, practical and thought-provoking source of scientific historiographic and medical information. The source showed how one single person John Snow (in assistance with Henry Whitehead) changed the flow of the history, discovering the causes of and treatment for cholera and implementation of hygienic standards in metropolises. All in all, the book is highly recommended to everyone interested in scientific reading.