Customer Reviews

Seeing the Elephant: Understanding Globalization from Trunk to Tail

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Marber's Seeing the Elephant is a multidisciplinary and holistic perspective of globalization that is long overdue.

He illustrates globalization is more than trade or finance or foreign policy, but instead a complex tapestry that reaches across borders, cultures and religions. This complexity had led to great interconnectedness thereby policies that pursue isolation or harp towards the past are not effective at managing outcomes that lead to peace, prosperity and sustainability.

Marber argues that there is no way to maintain status quo. The rise of emerging economies, particularly the E7, a group in contrast to the diminishing dinosaurs of the G7, means that the global playing field is changing.

While the G7 increasingly engages E7 countries economically through trade and now through China largely financing efforts to bailout the US economy, serious political engagement has been slow and conditional. Early and constant engagement with these countries will tend them towards behaviors that value peace and human rights as well as the environment. Real engagement will also empower and incentivize them to maintain peace in their own regions thereby reducing the need for constant western led efforts.

Seeing the Elephant is a must read to understand the true breadth of globalization, the potential pitfalls and the great opportunities that exist. A five star book from a five star, post partisan thinker.

Best book to help you understand where the world is going.

Marber takes both the intellectual rigor of an academic and the pragmatic insight of an investor to analyze the underlying issues that are changing the world at a break-neck pace.

It is useful both as a primer on the modern international economy and as a go-to handbook for policy makers and portfolio managers alike.

Worth it for the insightful asides and case studies alone. His assessment of the cost of health care to companies is particularly apt in light of Detroit's search for additional bailouts.

Overall, makes complex issues very accessible.

EXCELLENT WRITING, INSIGHTFUL, AND DEFINITELY A BOOK FOR THOSE WITH AN INTEREST AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE CURRENT STATUS OF OUR GLOBAL ECONOMY.

As a student of international affairs (I recently completed my Master's of International Affairs (MIA) at Columbia University) I definitely appreciate Peter Marber's point of view. He brings a fresh, comprehensive viewpoint to the subject of globalization and emerging markets. His discussion of Micro Domestic vs. Macro Quantum is especially timely given the current state of the world economy and international relations in general.

I would definitely recommend this book as a must-read for a person who is interested in globalization and its effects as well as the way forward for the US and G8 countries.

This book is extremely well-written, the clever use of language keeps the reader interested. It is an excellent resource for anyone even slightly interested in this topic.

"Seeing the Elephant" focuses on a multi-disciplinary approach to what Marber identified as seven key issues - trade and finance, energy, security, immigration, health, the environment, and poverty. Unfortunately, reality is less than promised - most of the book is superficial, and offers only recycled old thinking.

For example, the section on immigration contends that the U.S. needs large numbers of new immigrants for construction - never mind the fact that an untold number of American citizens formerly employed in construction are now idle or working in lower-income sectors. Marber also tries to defy facts by claiming that this group does not bring higher social expenses with them. Similarly, Marber seems oblivious to the high social costs of outsourcing and H1-B visas - unemployment, loss of pension and health care benefits, and lowered incomes for Americans. He also fails to make a solid connection between American agricultural supports and the increased illegal immigration since NAFTA. On the other hand, he does make a good point that increased global trade reduces the incentives and motivations for war.

Marber sees considerable need for improving protection against terrorism within the U.S., but ignores the much cheaper and more effective approach of reducing the motivation for others to become terrorists.

On the topic of health care, Marber makes the key point that American health care costs far more/citizen than any other developed country. However, he fails to identify our multiple-payer system, abuse by pharmaceutical companies, large amount of unneeded/harmful care provided, limits on M.D. enrollment, and high costs of medical education as factors. On the other hand, his suggestion of improved self-care is worthy of note.

The book's best section addresses energy. China is now the world's #2 energy user (about 2/3 that of the U.S.), while still using at only 1/7 the per-capita level of the U.S. It also has 2X the U.S. coal reserves. A 2008 study concluded it would require 1,440 nuclear power plants ($45 trillion) to meet climate change goals. Residential energy consumes 25% of our energy in the U.S., and 10% of that is taken by standby power; industrial energy use only accounts for 5% of the total. Improved auto fuel economy and increased use of solar (no reference to wind power) offer considerable opportunity - however, Marber diminishes his point considerable by failing to assess what their most likely (per economics) impact will be on global warming goals.

Interesting Sidebar: One of the charts in the book shows that psychology and education, by far, have the lowest proportions of foreign students.

Overall, "Seeing the Elephant" bites off more than Marber can chew, acerbating his generally superficial knowledge of each topic.

Seeing the Elephant is a book about Globalization in practice and theory. Practically it is broken into seven sections used to describe a key issue (i.e. Energy, Health, etc.). Each section properly addresses the issue, conveys its importance, and leaves the reader with some points and ideas to reflect upon.

It is an enjoyable book, which reads clearly and progresses logically. There is a variety of interesting statistics/facts presented in both absolute and relative terms. They serve as subject background and/or in support of the author's point and are an effective tool. It is a welcome alternative to baseless rhetoric and leaves the reader with memorable takeaways, talking points, and reference material for later use.

The book serves as a catalyst for the reader to think about globalization by providing the groundwork to understand/identify key issues and by posing some important questions. It has an appeal to readers of all knowledge levels and is a valuable addition to any book collection.

This is an excellent treatment of a subject that adds a great deal to the important area of globalization. The book is clearly better than some of the more popular books on this subject, especially Tom Friedman's meandering writing in The World is Flat. Marber writes clearly and has chosen 7 important topics to discuss as related to a global world. I teach in this area at a graduate school and this book is now required reading.

The only idea I do not understand is his use of Macro Quantum - it is as if he had to call his ideas something new and make up a term. (Sorry, Peter, but lose the term and stay with the excellent research that you have done. In fact, your ability to pull in various types of research and data to make your point is a very strong benefit of the book). Marber did not need to fall victim to the popular press, Friedman-like technique of making up words to accentuate points. These new terms confuse rather than clarify.

Finally, his next book has to be one that is clearer about the intersection of trade, immigration, environment, energy etc. The book's title gives a good indication of this treatment but more is needed. Lots to ask for in one book so I anticipate Marber's next book on the topic.

Nicely done - one of the best current books on the topic and readable by people who do not have backgrounds in globalization and its various aspects.

Marber conveys his multidimensional perspective on globalization clearly with examples readers will understand. I strongly recommend this book.

Peter Marber makes learing about globalization fun-
he conveys his knowledge in and easy to understand format that makes you want to keep reading.
I highly recommend this book