Book Review- Thank you for Being Late by Thomas Friedman

To finish this 550-page book “Thank You for Being Late: an Optimist's Guide to Thriving in the Age of Accelerations”, I had to become a fan of Thomas Friedman. This is not merely for the sake of finishing the book but also because, as I have completed the book, I can visualise the beauty and the ugly of the world's progress going hand in hand.

The book revolves around the theme that technology (Moore’s law ), Market (globalisation) and nature (climate change and biodiversity loss)- the confluence of these three accelerating forces driving human life which are caught in the nebula of supernova (a term given by the writer for the ever-expanding e-world) are transforming the workplace, politics, geopolitics, ethics, and community. 

However, amidst these dizzying accelerations, he requests us to allow ourselves to slow down and be late for pausing to appreciate this extraordinary historical epoch we’re passing through and reflect on its possibilities and dangers.

The book is an example of how nations and individuals must learn to be fast (innovative and quick to adapt), fair (prepared to help the casualties of change), and slow (adept at shutting out the noise and accessing their deepest values).

It is a definite read for people hoping to choose between managing life and living a life.


Quotes from the book-

“Nothing in life is to be feared; it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.”


“As the world speeds up, stocks of knowledge depreciate at a faster rate.”


“What comes from the heart enters the heart.” What doesn’t come from your heart will never enter someone else’s heart. It takes caring to ignite caring; it takes empathy to ignite empathy.”


“never, ever say to someone in need: “Call me if you need help.” If you want to help someone, just do it.


“In the twenty-first century, knowing all the answers won’t distinguish someone’s intelligence—rather, the ability to ask all the right questions will be the mark of true genius.”