Richard Florida's new book
Richard Florida is at it again.
You may remember when the professor and self-proclaimed expert on The Creative Class came to Greensboro a couple of years ago. Florida's book at the time was "The Rise of the Creative Class." He was here to spread the gospel of nurturing "the creative class" in local economies. Those people -- artists, writers, doctors, lawyers and managers -- it seems, can add both cultural and economic vitality to a community.
Greensboro leaders have been chewing over that visit for several months now, and while they've begun to broaden their view beyond Florida's narrow definition, his impact is still being felt here.
Now, he's taking on the world. In his new book, "The Flight of the Creative Class", Florida says that the United States as a nation is seeing a brain drain, as the best minds in the world are choosing to stay in their home countries rather than coming here for opportunity. This could be a sea change in how our nation builds, he suggests.
I just bought the book, and I'll be reading it in the coming days. I'll give you updates as I go through it.