The World is Flat and other important things to know for your next career

What Friedman means by "flat" is "connected". This book is about globalization and is a must-read for anyone considering changing careers. Why? Because changing careers is typically a multi-year process and the a worst-case scenario would be to find out too late in the process that the industry you are going into is about to be significantly and severely adversely affected. For example, right now is a very bad time for the record industry as it has been shrinking for several years and will probably continue to do so for the next several years. What are the next industries to be avoided and conversely what are the next big growth industries? "The World is Flat" is a good place to start your investigation.

One of the biggest assets of the book is that instead of just listing industries that will be growing/receding, "The World Is Flat" educates you on the underlying trends that created today's world. For example, "the lowering of trade and political barriers and the exponential technical advances of the digital revolution that have made it possible to do business, or almost anything else, instantaneously with billions of other people across the planet."

One of the interesting observations from the book is that much of today's globalization is being driven not but corporations or governments but by individuals: "desktop freelancers and innovative startups all over the world (but especially in India and China) who can compete--and win--not just for low-wage manufacturing and information labor but, increasingly, for the highest-end research and design work as well."

You are responsible for your choice of career and consider reading this book part of your due diligence process.