Distinguished books to match speakers

Friday marks the opening of the seventh annual Distinguished Speakers

Lecture Series sponsored by the Newport Beach Public Library

Foundation at the Newport Beach Central Library.

This weekend’s guest speaker is Lori Wallach, director of Public

Citizen’s Global Trade Watch, a leader in the global citizen movement

for fair trade and investment policy.

If this important topic piques your interest, or if the discussion

that grows out of the event prompts you to read more, the library has

books that explore the different sides of this complex issue. It is a

topic that affects our community in many ways.

“George Soros on Globalization,” by the world-famous financial

guru, is a good place to start for a basic overview on the question

of standards in a world economy. Though he is in favor of

globalization, he addresses the questions raised by the opponents of

unchecked worldwide economic expansion and offers some solutions as

he summarizes the issues at hand.

“Global Backlash: Citizen Initiatives for a Just World Economy,”

compiled by Robin Broad, professor of international development at

American University, offers a compendium of more than 40 documents

that give focus to the anti-globalization movement. It highlights the

themes that underline their protest whether it is the environment,

fair trade, indigenous people or equality among nations.

For an enthusiastic response to globalization, turn to Thomas L.

Friedman’s near classic, “The Lexus and the Olive Tree.” The New York

Times foreign affairs columnist viewed the wonders of the Japanese

Lexus factory and wrote this engagingly written bestseller in the

spirit of optimism for a new world order.

Both “Spiritual Perspectives on Globalization: Making Sense of

Economic and Cultural Upheaval” by religion journalist Ira Rifkin,

and “The Kimchi Matters: Global Business and Local Politics in a

Crisis-Driven World” by Marvin Zonis, Dan Lefkovitz and Sam Wilkin,

focus on one particular aspect of the overall globalization

phenomenon. The first is an insightful look at how different

religious cultures around the world view globalization and its

potential effects on their communities. “The Kimchi Matters” deals

with the business aspects of globalization and how American

businesses affect and are affected by foreign communities. Naturally,

this message can be translated into other spheres of American

influence abroad.

If you prefer your information in a video format, there is the

award-winning DVD, “Commanding Heights.” The three-part film, based

on Daniel Yergin’s book of the same name, covers the topic through

interviews with leading economists and world leaders. The DVD also

provides an outstanding historical background to explain today’s

world economy, its gains, failures and hopes.

Tickets should still be available for the upcoming programs at the

Central Library. For more information, call toll free at

866-301-2411. To order tickets or to explore the materials discussed

above, go online at https://www.newport beachlibrary.org.

* CHECK IT OUT is written by the staff of the Newport Beach Public

Library. This week’s column is by Sara Barnicle. All titles may be

reserved from home or office computers by accessing the catalog at

https://www.newport beachlibrary.org. For more information on any of

the Central Library’s branch locations, call the Newport Beach Public

Library at (949) 717-3800, option 2.