CRITICAL REVIEW OF THOMAS L FRIEDMANSTHE LEXUS AND THE OLIVE TREE
Thomas Friedman’s “The Lexus and the Olive Tree” is an in-depth look with a unique perspective towards the rapidly progressing era of globalization. ... Friedman could not have picked a better title for this book or used better symbols then the Lexus and the olive tree to describe this era of globalization. The Lexus represents technology, modernization, more or less the drive for a higher standard of living while the olive tree stands for family, culture, and community, things that are not material. The key point he makes by using these symbols is this, no matter how bad one wants to build a better Lexus, one cannot forget and must do anything to protect their olive trees. Friedman’s point is that a countries success and well being can be measured by a well balanced Lexus and olive tree; “A country without healthy olive trees will never feel rooted or secure enough to open up fully to the world and reach out into it. But a country that is only olive trees, that is only roots, and has no Lexus, will never go, or grow, very far. ... It is a lot easier to develop a new-model Lexus than it is to evolve a new variety of olive trees, which can take generations. ... The olive tree needs to be maintained in a society full of powers trying to build better Lexus. Everything the olive tree stands for needs to be protected for globalization to work Friedman more or less says that it’s the teacher, parents, and communities who have to care for the olive trees. ... Friedman summed up his book best when he said that modems should come with warnings on them that say “judgment not included” (472), this is the utter essence of the olive tree, the up keep of community, values, and they way we raise are children are all things that can be found under the olive tree which is often threatened by the flash and awe of the Lexus. In order for globalization to be a healthy part of our society, the Lexus and the olive tree should be kept as evenly balanced as possible.