"Two things are going on at the same time with the flattening of the world: The relentless quest for efficiency is squeezing some of the fat out of life"

This quote by Thomas Friedman speaks with the idea of globalization and the flattening of the world. It recommends that with the increased effectiveness of international interaction and innovation, there is a synchronised push to make life more effective. This effectiveness is ejecting some of the "fat" of life, which might refer to the more leisurely elements of life, such as taking some time to delight in the little things or merely taking a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. This quote might also be interpreted as a caution that with the increased efficiency of the world, we may be compromising some of the joys of life in the process. It is important to keep in mind that efficiency is not the only goal, which taking time to delight in life is just as important.