Rating: 
Summary: Slywotzky is a Genius
Review: Simple profit models make it easy to apply to your own business. But Slywotzky also crunches the numbers to show how the models work--it's not just theory. Powerful stuff. Highly recommend for any business executive seeking to maximize the hidden pockets of profit within his or her company.
Rating: 
Summary: If you have extra time and money - it's alright
Review: The Good -
The main concepts of the book are sound and time proven, and it has some interesting and novel ideas. Moreover, the book has decent recommendations of other books (not surprisingly they were written by the same author). The Bad -
What was meant to be an entertaining fictional side plot, in the fashion of The Goal or The Max Strategy, doesn't work. It ends up being both corny and archaic. Basically, the main character of the book is a 20 something trying to save the large conglomerate which employs him. Give me a break. The vast majority of my peers including myself (in that age group) could care less about the slow and large, uncaring bureaucracies we work for. If anything we're dreaming up of escape plans to start our own businesses. Throughout the book I just kept wondering whether Steve was a complete moron or whether the story took place 30 years ago. A related flaw is how the book's concepts are delivered. Hearing the mentor character, Zhiao, give lessons is akin to listening to Bill Cosby's or Grandpa Simpson's random rambling for hours. It's very difficult to differentiate the useless/nonsensical crap from the good pieces of data, Zhiao keeps jumping from here and there. Sadly I could go on and on about how horrible the plot and side dialogue are... For ex, "What kind of fish do you think you are? I am a light fish." - enough said. Conclusion
Unless you have spare money or time, read Slywotsky's other books instead to get to the meat of his ideas. This is largely a waste of time.
Rating:
Summary: SIMPLE POWERFUL CONCEPTS TAUGHT IN INNOVATIVE WAY
Review: This book is focused on explaining 23 different models of profitability that different firms have followed. The author uses the realtionship between a wise mentor and an eager mentee to take the reader through the process of understanding the different models. The book is aimed at describing and giving the reader some insight into each model; it is not an in depth analysis of profitability. Given its aim, it is well written. It is not a step by step process to apply at a business. This is a book to make a manager reflect, not follow. Each chapter is one story that describes a model; the style seems to follow the general outline of Harvard Business School cases, which, given the author's professorship there, is not so surprising. I highly recommend it to someone looking for an entertaining read that will make one reflect. However, disregard the recommendation that you go through one chapter per week. It is too little, I think I would probably lose the book by the 3rd week. It is, instead, a book to be read in 3 days, and be referred back for ideas.
Rating:
Summary: SIMPLE POWERFUL CONCEPTS TAUGHT IN INNOVATIVE WAY
Review: This book is focused on explaining 23 different models of profitability that different firms have followed. The author uses the realtionship between a wise mentor and an eager mentee to take the reader through the process of understanding the different models. The book is aimed at describing and giving the reader some insight into each model; it is not an in depth analysis of profitability. Given its aim, it is well written. It is not a step by step process to apply at a business. This is a book to make a manager reflect, not follow. Each chapter is one story that describes a model; the style seems to follow the general outline of Harvard Business School cases, which, given the author's professorship there, is not so surprising. I highly recommend it to someone looking for an entertaining read that will make one reflect. However, disregard the recommendation that you go through one chapter per week. It is too little, I think I would probably lose the book by the 3rd week. It is, instead, a book to be read in 3 days, and be referred back for ideas.
Rating:
Summary: If you want to UNDERSTAND PROFITS look no further
Review: this is one of the best books on strategy I have seen and read. QUite frankly it is comparable to Goldratts "The Goal". This should be a required reading for every executive, business owner and marketing strategist.
I have purchased 10 copies of this book to distribute among my friends, BUY IT and READ IT and you will know why it can be ESSENTIAL FOR SUCCESS as you move from CHAOS TO CONFUSION in the world of how PROFITS CAN BE MADE
Rating:
Summary: Practical & Mind provoking
Review: This is one of the most interesting, practical and mind provoking business strategy books I've ever read. Executing business strategy is always more challenging than formulating one, the book can help readers to align business strategy formulation and execution together, by focusing on generating and sustaining profitability. Slywotzky's vivid storytelling style also makes the book a higly enjoyable reading.
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