Customer Reviews

Open World: The Truth about Globalisation

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Open World is a really original book. Based on his experience as a journalist for The Economist, as well as from his time working for the WTO and travelling the world, Philippe Legrain argues that anti-globalizers like Naomi Klein, Ralph Nader and Pat Buchanan have got it all wrong. But he also points out flaws in the arguments of defenders of globalization like Thomas Friedman. Globalization is a good thing, he says, but we can make it even better if only we stop believing that we have lost control over our lives to corporations and markets. He believes in free trade, but also has a social conscience. He argues that globalization enriches us culturally as well as economically, but recognizes that some people lose out from it. That is why governments need to act to build a better globalization. It's a really convincing and well-written book. Even if you don't end up agreeing with all of it, it is definitely worth reading.

In Open World, Phillippe Legrain (former economics correspondent for the Economist Legrain) maintains that the idea of globalization has been misrepresented - and that it is neither a label for the Americanization of the world, nor a field day for corporations who would dominate world economic systems. So, what is real globalization? Legrain does a very fine job of considering and articulating how world interactions are changing - and in many ways -- for the better.

I picked this book up because I was interested in learning something about globalization. I'm tired of hearing the same arguments from anti-globalization fanatics, and Legrain's commentary on the issue is crystal clear.

He often begins each chapter with a blurb from a prominent globalization opponent, such as Naomi Klein, and then goes on to refute it. Legrain makes his case crystal clear and uses plenty of solid evidence to back up what he says. Although he does not think globalization is the best thing to happen to humanity, he does believe it benefits us more than we think.

This book is written from a European perspective, so there is a lot of attention given to preserving the "welfare state" for the needy. If you can get past that, you'll love the book.

I needed to write a whole paper overnight on globalization and the environment and just picked this book up at the store the day before. It's very readable, with ideas that are easily accessible; most of which are thoughts that probably have had crossed your mind before; you just needed someone to logically link them all together and prove them for you.

makes for very compulsive reading.

Let me preface by saying that before reading this text, I was firmly against the globalization trends in the world economy. With this in mind, I read this book in order to look at facts and figures that supported the other side. I found the book to be informative, but extremely belittling to anyone who dares to have an opposing opinion. For example, page 33, he quotes a discussion with the former president of Bethlehem Steel, liberally interjecting thoughts such as, "not so, but let is pass". These interjections speak of someone so smug and correct that they need not be bothered to justify their comments.

Additionally, the author fails to cite sources when it would really be important. In the Introduction, he asserts, "Nearly 9/10ths of what Americans consume is produced within the fifty states." Does this include services? Food? Energy? Who knows, because there is no foot-note, nor is there any reference cited.

In summary, this book is a smug counter-point to No Logo and Race to the Bottom, but often is missing facts and references when they are most sorely needed. The authors opinion of himself is quite high, and those who dare to challenge him in this text are ridiculed, interrupted, and put in their place.

Legrain's arguments are contradictory throughout his book and most of them will leave you asking yourself if he is living in the same reality as everyone else. He fails to include human nature in his book and believes that everything will be fine and dandy if globalization were to take full effect. You will question whether this person is capable of using logic. This book is laughable.

Ever wonder why you make less money in real dollar-for-dollar wages than your parents? Why consumers are stuck with paying high prices for cheap goods? Why you are working harder and longer for less and less. You may find the answers here but I still don't have to like it.