This document provides a summary of the book "Thank You for Being Late" by Thomas L. Friedman. It discusses that Friedman argues we are living through an unprecedented period of acceleration due to rapidly advancing technology, increasing globalization, and the effects of climate change. These forces are changing the world at such a fast pace that humans and societies are struggling to keep up. However, Friedman maintains an optimistic viewpoint, believing that by enhancing our ability to adapt through lifelong learning and more responsive institutions, humanity can thrive in this new age of accelerations.

1. A book review : “Thank you for being late (an optimist guide to thriving in the age of
acceleration)”
Submitted by : Ruturajsinh (17BCH008)
Nihar mehta (17BCH022)
Sunidhi Mishra (17BCH023)
Om Rauniyar (17BCH029)
Tathya Shinde (17BCH052)

2. FULL NAME:THOMAS LOREN FRIEDMAN
 Thomas Loren Friedman (born July 20, 1953) is an American journalist, columnist
and author. He has won the Pulitzer Prize three times and currently writes a weekly
column for The New York Times. He has written extensively on foreign
affairs, global trade, the Middle East, globalization, and environmental issues.

3.  When the author Thomas L Friedman meets someone for breakfast and they get caught up on the
way, he thanks them for being late. That unscheduled wait is a perfect time for reflection, and
gave Friedman the title for his latest book: Thank you for being late – an optimist’s guide to
thriving in the age of accelerations.

4.  In 2016, Thomas L. Friedman published a book titled “Thank You for Being Late”. The
book is a reflection on the ever increasing pace of life, the reasons why it’s happening, and
how to cope (from an optimist’s point of view). Friedman postulates that mankind has
entered an Age of Accelerations, dominated by the rapid shifts
in technology, globalization and the effects of Climate Change. Friedman also believes we
may be at the brink of, or even past the point, where the speed of change is outpacing
human’s ability to adapt. He goes on to propose ways to enhance humanity’s adaptability,
centered around the need for a resurgence of people being connected to “healthy
communities”.
 Friedman, taking some time to reflect on the state of the world, argues that we are living
through “one of the greatest inflexion points in history”. That critical point is to dominated
by “the three largest forces on the planet – technology, globalization, and climate change –
all accelerating at once.” We shouldn’t panic about this, he says. Instead, we should pause,
try to understand it, and then engage productively. That’s what the book tries to do.

5.  The Age of Accelerations took a great leap forward around 2007, at least technologically, the
first of Friedman’s three major accelerating forces. In late 2006, Facebook opened its platform
up to the world, and Google bought YouTube. 2007 was the year Apple released the first
iPhone, Amazon released the Kindle, Twitter was spun-off from a broader start-up,
development started on GitHub, and “Satoshi Nakamoto” began working on Bitcoin.
 According to Friedman, all of this growth in technology and globalisation has caused alarming
changes to the planet, with the potential to significantly reshape its ecology and biosphere.

6.  The first part looks at those three accelerations, beginning with technology. It explores
Moore’s law and the boom in computer processing power, leading to new opportunities in
big data, the internet of things, and cloud computing. We can all do more, as individuals,
than any generation before us – and that’s true for both makers and ‘breakers’ – those who
want to do good in the world, and those who want to wreck stuff. It weighs up the benefits
and dangers of hyper-globalization, and sets the whole thing in the context of climate
change.
 One of the key points here is that these three trends are accelerating so fast that change
“can outpace the capacity of the average human being and our societal structures to adapt
and absorb them.” That leads to cultural angst, unrest, failing institutions, conflict and
migration, scapegoating and extreme politics.

7.  If we think we can slow the world down and catch up, we’re deluding ourselves, Friedman
suggests. Technological advance won’t be curbed, and neither will globalization. Climate
effects are only beginning. We urgently need to find ways to adapt faster. As individuals,
nothing will help more than a commitment to lifelong learning, something I would agree with.
As nations, we need faster and more responsive governments and workplaces.
 The world is changing more quickly than ever. Rapidly evolving technology, global markets
and climate change all imply significant accelerations to the pace of life – and these factors are
exerting a major impact on our lives. In this wild new world, working together for the
common good may be humanity’s last hope.