Thank You for Being Late: An Optimist’s Guide to Thriving in the Age of Accelerations

by Thomas L. Friedman

Overview: In Thank You for Being Late, Thomas L. Friedman exposes the movements that are reshaping the world today and explains how to get the most out of them and cushion their worst impacts. The author attempts to get the reader to look at the world differently: how you understand the news, the work you do, the education your kids need, the investments your employer has to make, and the moral and geopolitical choices our country has to navigate will all be refashioned by Friedman’s original analysis.

Why is change happening? As 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.

In Chapter 1, 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. In what areas does Friedman highlight the impact of accelerating change in the world? What examples of accelerating change are most evident in daily life?
In Chapter 2, 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. How does the exponential characteristic of acceleration cause difficulty in comprehending the impact of that change? What is the best response to the difficulties posed by accelerating change?
Chapter 3, 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. Increased processing power has been accompanied by increases in sensor capability, computer memory, efficiency of software, along with the bandwidth and mobility of networking. How is this computational growth manifested in the Air Force?
Chapter 4, 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?
Chapter 5, 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?
Chapter 6, 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?
In Chapter 7, Friedman addresses two questions: are things getting too fast, and how do we adapt? Friedman gives several examples of how the pace of technological change has affected him. How have you experienced these changes? The author also writes about policies not keeping up with change. What Air Force policies are falling behind the pace of change?
Chapter 8, the author examines the nature of work in the context of accelerating change. Friedman writes that people will need to continuously change and adapt, a process he calls “dynamic stability” to keep a job. He also writes that entrepreneurial thinking will be required at all levels. Further, he describes new platforms for learning that involve intelligent assistants and include innovative solutions such as micro-degrees. These allow broader access to specialized education. How can the Air Force adapt from the model of Airmen finding jobs to allow Airmen to invent a job? How does “dynamic stability” manifest in a successful Air Force career? How will the Air Force best give room for entrepreneurial thinking? How could these strategies be incorporated into Professional Military Education?
Chapter 9, Friedman defines the post-post cold war era of international relations. International relations and geopolitical stability are deeply impacted by accelerating change. Friedman points out several challenges to productive international relationships. While accelerations may benefit nations, they also bring additional stresses. How does the “age of accelerations” make it more difficult to revive a failing state? What roles do “super-empowered” individuals play in the ”age of accelerations”? An international relations strategy Friedman recommended is “amplify, deter, and degrade” or ADD. What does the Air Force offer in an effort to ”amplify” as defined by Friedman?
Chapter 10, Friedman describes natural systems as an extended metaphor for how political and social systems could better adapt to accelerating change. Friedman wrote that the most adaptive systems will intentionally choose to mimic “Mother Nature’s killer apps for producing resilience and propulsion.” How do the five “killer apps” he lists apply to the Air Force?
Chapter 11 discusses moral aspects of the increased scalability of individual behavior brought about by accelerating change. Technology, especially, has leveraged the power of the individual to be much greater than the past. What should be the place of the liberal arts in today’s STEM focused education?
Friedman focused Chapter 12 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?
Chapter 13 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?
In Chapter 14 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?