Book description in short Power point presentation

1. PDPU
NAME – HARSHIT N CHAUHAN
ROLL NO – 17BCL025

2. Introduction
 Friedman shows, the exponential increase in computing power defined by
Moore’s law has a lot to do with it. The year 2007 was a major inflection
point: the release of the iPhone, together with advances in silicon chips,
software, storage, sensors, and networking, created a new technology
platform. Friedman calls this platform “the supernova” ―for it is an
extraordinary release of energy that is reshaping everything from how we hail
a taxi to the fate of nations to our most intimate relationships. It is c reating
vast new opportunities for individuals and small groups to save the world―or
to destroy it.

3. Introduction
The book is divided into four parts -
 Reflecting,
 Accelerating,
 Innovating
 Anchoring.
When a friend arrived late for lunch, Friedman said, "Thank You for Being Late",
as it gave him time to reflect, to listen to what was taking place around him and
to slow down the pace.

4. Summary
 Friedman reflects upon the speed of modern life. Not only is it fast, it is
accelerating. Friedman began a deeper understanding of this reality when he was
forced to pause while waiting for a late breakfast guest. When future guests were
late allowing him additional pauses, he thanked them—hence the title of the book.
Friedman also relates how a pause led to a deep and meaningful connection with a
parking lot attendant that further opened his understanding of the accelerating
world
 Friedman recalls 2007 as a vintage year in technology with several major
technology products and platforms being released almost simultaneously. People
today are faced with exponential growth of change in computing, globalization,
and climate change.
 The author details accelerating change in technological capability with an
examination of Moore’s Law playing out in processor speed along with similar
accelerating change in complementary computing components.

5.  Friedman examines the power of the cloud which Friedman refers to as the supernova. How does
the cloud impact productivity in the Air Force? Friedman continues the chapter tracing the
growth of computing from the “Tabulating Era” to the “Programming Era” to the current
“Cognitive Era”. Friedman gives several illustrations of the impact of cognitive computing and
the cloud on human endeavors. How does cognitive computing impact Air Force operations?
 Friedman discusses a variety of flows of information. How do the variety of “flows” described by
Friedman contribute to an interconnected, globalized world? What will be the impact of “flow”
between interconnected devices? He posits that the utilization of “flows” going through a
company will be a growing measure of valuation. How will the Air Force’s utilization of “flows”
be measured?
 Friedman examines climate change. He gives many illustrations to validate his thesis that
climate change is accelerating. How does the “rain room” described by the author illustrate the
impact of human activity on the climate?

6.  Friedman focused on finding and creating an eye of calm in the storm of change. Friedman
illustrated such calm with an example of community in his hometown. As accelerating change
threatens to overwhelm our ability to keep up with today’s events, where is there room to learn
from the past? How can we best learn from past? How does the Air Force’s present sense of
community compare with its sense of community in the past?
 Examines the impact of accelerating change on the role of diversity in society. Friedman wrote
that America is becoming a minority-majority country. How will the ideals of e pluribus unum be
championed in the midst of accelerating changes?
 Friedman wrote that we need collaboration and trust to continue the pace of accelerated
innovation. Personal interaction still underlies all the advances made by humanity. How are
some ways to overcome forces that impose isolation and bring people together for durable
communities?

7. Critique
 As enthralled users of new communications devices, we are all attuned to the
transformative power of technological innovation. But what does this
phenomenon really signify?
 Didn’t earlier generations also experience innovations and dislocations as
ruptures? For more than a decade, New York Times journalist Thomas
Friedman has been raising his hand to offer emphatic answers to these
difficult questions.
 As in his earlier writings, he again insists in “Thank You for Being Late: An
Optimist’s Guide to Thriving in the Age of Accelerations” that the present and
the future are different from the past, especially in how rapidly and
significantly things change.
 And as his subtitle suggests, he is remarkably sanguine about what this might
portend.