Sonic Boom: Globalization at Mach Speed

The headlines are filled with claims that the sky is falling and the world is coming apart. But, as Mr. Easterbrook explains in "Sonic Boom," it's not that the world is getting worse: it's just that change is happening faster than ever before and we haven't learned how to cope.In this thoughtful book, Mr. Easterbrook takes the reader through a variety of industries and shows how they have been affected by globalization, information technology, climate change, and other fields. His result is not that globalization is evil, but rather that it is inevitable. Jobs will be lost in some fields, but far more jobs have been created in others.The book is also filled with the tidbits of information that make his "Tuesday Morning Quarterback" blog so entertaining: did you know that the U.S. today produces more steel today than in 1970? That it is smoggy in LA 100 fewer days per year than 20 years ago? That an American company's newest product was designed in India, sold in Japan, and transferred to Saudi Arabia? That global trade has stopped a new Cold War from developing with China?In the end, it's a thoughtful and insightful look at the forces that are changing the world and how to avoid being surprised. Global change is inevitable, but thanks to Sonic Boom you can learn how to react.

When I saw the title, I was not eager to read the book, but as I read each chapter I realized that all literate people should read it. It expands your horizons and helps you to understand future possibilities for our new set of technical objects. All youngsters should read it to feel up with the possibilities of the future of our world and how our new equipment can be used in this world. It is a rather a short read but full of information that all educated persons should know. Patricia Pope Rockett

Don't let the word "globalization" in the subtitle put you off - this is a wide-ranging book about the near future of culture and society as well as the economy. The author is mainly optimistic, but no Pollyanna. He thinks rapid economic growth will resume internationally and that living standards will begin rising again. He thinks ever-better and cheaper international communication is a more positive force in world affairs than we realize at the moment. But he also thinks social anxiety and job stress are going to get worse.Overall Sonic Boom is just a fascinating book - full of original insights and fresh ideas. I was struck by the authors belief that as women in the developing world achieve political freedom, "the world's share of ideas will double" because far more women will be able to contribute their ideas to science, business, engineering and government. That hopeful thought made my day. I would strongly recommend this book.

The current media false narrative is that times are bad and it is a bad time to be alive, and especially American.Sonic Boom does a great job of shining the light on all of the good news and proving with facts that in fact we are healthy, wealthier, safer, more educated, have more freedom, more information, and more opportunity than at any point in human history - it is truly a great time to be alive. Now it is not all just pie in the sky optimism, he does go into depth about the challenges and increased stress, but all in all it is a much more optimistic view then "The World is Flat"One of my favorite books I have read in sometime, interesting and optimistic. Highly recommended.

Was really looking forward to this one, but there is such a lack of legitimacy to the bold statements made about both the future and the past that I couldn't take it seriously at any point. If a history professor would go through and remove the painfully obvious weak points, I've love to try it again. It's a disappointment because there are plenty of valid and exciting points made that get drowned by the euphoric statements about the near future and false claims about history. Damn!

This is an informative book. Not much original ideals but just to stateexplain the phenomenal that we all know. The style is very similar to Thomas Friedman's "The World is Flat".

Mr. Easterbrook's book should be read by all who care about our future. It is particularly important reading for smart, inventive, dynamic individuals who have the capability to mold novel energy and information technologies that can ameliorate global climate change and disseminate freedom. Disruptive change on a global scale is inevitable. Those who can embrace the opportunities that emerge in this chaos will prosper given free-market economic incentives. The book's optimistic stance tempered by a realistic understanding of the stress involved provides a perspective that has the potential to be productive. There is no roadmap as the territory is uncharted but the "can-do, communitarian" spirit is critical to success.

Easterbrook discusses the speed of change of business and society. Most of his observations are based upon solid statistics. It's an interesting book to read for the insights into future trends and the analysis of past trends.