Essay on Hot, Flat and Crowded 2.0 by Thomas L. Friedman

Hot, Flat and Crowded 2.0 is Thomas L. Friedman’s prominent book that became bestseller. With its help a lot of people got an opportunity to see globalization in a new way. The author gives a fresh view to the problem of destabilizing climate change and growing competition for energy ”” both of which can damage our world if we do not act collectively and rapidly. Friedman demonstrates those problems which America and the world both have. The world’s problem is that it is becoming hot, flat and crowded and that transformation causes a lot of negative tendencies. Thomas Friedman is convinced that America’s problem is that it lost its direction as a great country. And the major proof of the book is that it is possible to solve this problem by becoming the leader of solving the world’s problem. The writer describes how global warming, quickly increasing populations, and the expanse of the world’s middle class via the process of globalization have created a planet that is “hot, flat, and crowded”. Friedman proposes an ambitious national strategy ”” which he calls “Geo-Greenism”. He is sure that “it is not only a way to save the planet from overheating; it is what we need to make America healthier, richer, more innovative, more productive, and more secure” (Friedman).

The word “hot” directs to global warming or “global weirding” as the writer calls it. Since the industrial revolution it has been going on at a very gradual step. “Flat” directs to globalization, heightened here with a point how trade increasing hurts the environment. It is a metaphor for the increasing of middle-class citizens. And eventually, the global increase in population simply addresses to steady growth of the population in general, but at the same time the growth of the increasing quantity of people which in a condition to conduct this way of life of middle class. “Crowded” is used to stress overpopulation. Now there is about 6,7 billion people in the world but this number will increase. Till 2020, the world’s going to have another billion people and their resource requirements will be immense. The question: can our planet stand this? It is the great pressure on natural recourses, energy and so on. The only way to solve to these problems Friedman sees in a green revolution. He describes a new era ”” the Energy-Climate era ”” through a chain of recent events. Having in mind the 9th of September, Hurricane Katrina, and the global spreading of the Internet, the author shows that the Energy Technology revolution will be both transformational and destroying; and he tells why the United States must head this revolution ”” with the first Green President and a Green New Deal. “In a world that is Hot, Flat and Crowded, it is essential that the next president also be a CEO ”“ chief energy officer ”“ who finds a democratic way to establish authority over this American energy beast that is shouting and pulling in so many directions, and refocus it on the single priority of innovating and generating clean power, energy efficiency and conservation through a smart system.” (Friedman). In bright, amusing chapters, Friedman forces us to believe that we need the green revolution like no revolution the world has ever needed. It is not so easy, however, it will inspire Americans to nation-building – something that we did not see during a long time – by causing investigation, creative potential, boldness, and anxiety on public advantage which are the American national greatest natural resources. Friedman argues, that global warming will not demand Americans to drop their living standards. More exactly, he predicts large savings through protection, effectiveness, and the finding of new methods of generating electricity. His dream might not come true for many years. The writer points, that Government, must find 10,000 rationalizers who will appear one day with clean and cheap alternatives to dirty fuels. Then, Friedman tells, it would be treacherous to ask poorer nations to forget about their middle-class desires. But the reality is that if other nations were to waste energy at US rates, “it would herald a climate and biodiversity disaster” (Friedman). That is why it is urgent, the book upholds, to start a green revolution now to meet the energy needs of the world, without dependence on contaminating fossil fuels. Remembering the roles of Franklin Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln in historical transformations, Friedman yearns for a leader who will restrain in the “American energy beast” and “refocus it on the single priority of innovating and generating clean power, energy efficiency, and conservation through a smart system” (Friedman). Hot, Flat and Crowded 2.0 is brave, cutting, prudent, and rich in sudden common sense about the issues and the promise of the future. It is an insuperable manifesto that deserves to be worldwide seen, particularly by members of governments, candidates for president and so on

Work Citied
Friedman, Thomas. “Hot, Flat and Crowded 2.0”. Picador USA, 2009. 480 p.
Williams, Bill. “Warmly embracing clean energy”. 12 Sept. 2008. Web. 6 Jun. 2011.
Wyman, Oliver. “Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution – and How It Can Renew America by Thomas L. Friedman”. Macmillan Audio, September 8, 2008, Audio CD, 6 Jun. 2011.



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