Reviews (61)

The Antithesis of Winner-Take-All
If you became hopelessly depressed after reading "The Winner-Take-All Society" by Frank and Cook, then "The Long Tail" will provide you with some solace. Nothing ever reaches its logical conclusion, and economic rewards will not aggregate to the top ad infinitum. The ability to make an infinite number of copies of the "best" song or movie or book contrasts with the infinite shelf space available on the internet. "The Long Tail" demonstrates why that shelf space will be a highly democratizing force. People are always looking for something new, and the traditional, monopolistic channels (or gatekeepers) are under siege, even now.

Pop-science goes marketing
The big thing these days seems to be science writers like Malcolm Gladwell coming up with best-sellers that, charitably put, are very light on facts and very long on sometimes outlandish assertion. Chris Anderson, editor in chief of Wired magazine, joins the parade with his silly - yes, silly - claim that businesses like music and movies are no longer driven by hits, but by the "long tail." That it is the thousands of titles that people buy or rent infrequently. Somehow, according to Anderson, the idea of web merchants making a zillion titles available and some of those titles being sold or rented once or twice will be the "transformation . . . coming to just about every industry imaginable." Uh, no it ain't. Nowhere in the book does Anderson factor in the reality that someone pays for the production of all those videos and music tracks that rent or sell infrequently. Nor does he account for the reality that not every web merchant can acheive the volume of an Amazon or eBay. In other words, Anderson has discovered the obvious: if you make 30,000 movies available for rental, let's say, through a Netflix, many of the cult titles and dogs will be rented. Anderson pounds on this "long tail" effec while glossing over the fact that the neighborhood video rental store won't carry 30,000 titles. The profits from the occasionl rental of the 30,000th item on the list won't match the cost of acquiring and keeping it in stock in a store, while it makes little difference to a Netflix.
Insights that influence Google's strategic thinking.
98 Rule: Netflix reckoned that 95 percent of its 25,000 DVDs rented at least once a quarter. Amazon using an independent academic research on its book sales suggested that 98 percent of its top 100,000 books sold at least once a quarter.Digital space cost per DVD is very cheap and represent almost no physical inventory space excepting magnetic medium storage.In the sale of one or two DVDs, the traditional retail runs out of steam because it can turn inventory fast enough to pay for physical space, but the economics of online retail keep going.Eventually, Amazon will localize and print digital media using high-speed printers producing a book in seconds from an electronic catalog, the birth of a book replication. DVDs will be replaced by wireless iPods, who are paying subscribers to iTunes, will increase the speed of distribution and volume of sales of the media they prefer. The 80/20 rules are changing.
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Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Consumer Behavior - General    5. Economic Conditions    6. Economics (General)    7. Economics - General    8. Internet marketing    9. Market segmentation    10. Marketing    11. Marketing - Research    12. Sales & Selling - General    13. Technological innovations    14. Business & Economics / Economic History   

Reviews (11)

Very Good Text For MBA International Marketing Course
I don't understand how people could complain about this book being too complex, poorly-written, or poorly organized. Everything is presented clearly and logically, and the case studies are relevant and interesting. I found it simple to read, informative, enlightening, and actually fun for the most part. My only criticism is that the authors don't, in my opinion, give an entirely neutral treatment of some of the politically-charged issues raised in their book. It seemed as though they would sometimes more heavliy emphasize one point of view (their point of view, quite obviously) over others.

Not as bad as others are saying!
I purchased this book for an International Marketing course I had to take for my MBA Program. I have to disagree with what I have read about in other reviews - I found this book easy to read, and simple to understand. The examples used help clarify concepts and I felt the book was well organized. I especially liked the Country Notebook section in the back of the book. It was the perfect course-long project to apply the concepts and knowledge we learned about in class. I feel that this book is just about as good as an International Marketing MBA textbook can get!

Knowledgeable authors-boring writing
I took an International Business class for my MBA. I read every chapter in this book.There was a lot of knowledge included but there is often too much wordy writing and the book drones on. The definitions need to be in the margins. The last chapters are more of a cross cultural study of doing business with Japanese. It was a boring read-but good before bedtime for those that do not fall asleep easily. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business/Economics    3. International - Marketing    4. Industry & Industrial Studies   

Features

• Abridged
• Audiobook

Reviews (43)

Rediculous!
After listening to 2 of 5 CD`s I was ready to give the audio book away. After listening to #3 and #4 it only got worse. Trump & Kiyosaki should be ashamed of themselves for passing this nonsense off as business advice.
You will learn from this book if you are ready and willing to do the work
There is a basic rule in taking advice:Never take it from someone who has not achieved the thing you want to achieve. That means, if you want to be rich, you must learn to ignore people who are not rich when they spew their opinions at you. This rule has never been more relevant than now, when comparing these two men of great achievement with the envious, entitlement-minded people who are disparaging the book with ignorant, negative reviews.
Kiyosaki is a broken record
After reading this book and Rich Dad Poor Dad, I have come to one conclusion...Robert Kiyosaki is a broken record. How many times can I read him write the same sentance and paragraph- over and over again in the same book?Kiyosaki's portion of the book provides some surface information but little depth on how to become wealthy, eventhough he specifically claims that he wants to teach us how to become rich.His writing style is a bit arrogant and provides little value to a person wishing to learn about personal finance.I agree with previous reviews about this book being a cheerleader book.
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Subjects:  1. Abridged Audio - Business/Professional    2. Abridged Audio - Self-Help    3. Business & Economics    4. Economic Conditions    5. General    6. Personal Finance    7. Personal Finance - General    8. Social Stratification    9. Self-Help / General   

Editorial Review

Thomas L. Friedman is not so much a futurist, which he is sometimes called, as a presentist. His aim, in his new book, Read more

Reviews (822)

Friedman's history is great, but "Flat" has its drawbacks
Friedman's substantial, "The World Is Flat" is a summary of the dramatic changes in the economy of the world in the first few years of the 21st century.The book is full of great stories from all over the world that shows how, while the geography of our planet hasn't changed, that geography is becoming less and less an obstacle for business.The author shows, in a fairly amusing way, how certain dates in history (e.g. 11/9/89 - When the Walls Came Down and the Windows Went Up) represent major milestones in the progress to a flat world.These events, called flatteners, helped usher in the new globalization (version 3.0), which is exploding and resulting in a new world economy where India and China are on the same production and creative level as the United States.
The future is here, and it is starting to be evenly distributed
I have to admit I only read this book based on the fact it was topping all the best seller lists. I found it to be a worth while read. Even though I follow technology closely, I wasn't really aware of some of the points that the author made, so hopefully many will pick up something from this book. Many parts of the book I had difficulties relating to, but the new insights it provided were defently worth it.

How to destroy the United States 101 - What the book should be titled
It's a shame that US leaders have based a lot of its US policies on this book.It's like they want to make the US North Mexico or some Third World country. Really it's traitorous.
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Subjects:  1. Diffusion of innovations    2. Economic aspects    3. General    4. Globalization    5. History & Theory - General    6. History: World    7. Information society    8. International - Economics    9. International Economic Relations    10. International Relations - General    11. Politics / Current Events    12. Social Forecasting    13. Social Science    14. Social aspects    15. Sociology    16. Social Science / General   

Reviews (43)

Comprehensive and with depth
Well, I wrote about 10 reviews on trading books so far, so that should clear off some doubts of the previous reviewer.
You've got to wonder
Every reviewer rates this an exceptional book and every reviewer has only rated one book, this one. Isn't that strange (rhetorical question). I read a great many reviews of trading books; go to a book by Elder or one of the other market gurus and you'll find reviewers who have read and reviewed scads of trading books. There's of course no way for me to know, but maybe the author's real talent is writing trading book reviews.

The best traders manual
I bought this book due to the excellent reviews and I agree with all the 5 stars that everyone has given it.
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Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Day trading (Securities)    5. E-Commerce - Online Trading    6. Investment analysis    7. Investments & Securities - General    8. Investments & Securities - Options    9. Portfolio management    10. Business & Economics / Investments & Securities    11. Domestic trade & commerce    12. International trade    13. USA   

Reviews (17)

First we start with a mistake...
Having observed the healthcare industry for the last couple of decades, I would like to point out a flaw in the author's recommendations:
the next 20 years, explained
Michael Porter, of value chain and competitive advantage fame, has taken on the US health care system.Your reviewer, who is speaking from inside the system, can guarantee that both his diagnosis and his proposed fix are bang on. In short, you bring the US healthcare system in line with other industries by making information about the outcomes of healthcare available to consumers, then letting them choose. How to get there from here takes up most of the book, and it is as brilliant and thoughtful as Porter fans have come to expect. Read this one.

A sentinel work on healthcare reform
Michael Porter and Elizabeth Teisberg have presented a sentinel work in the field of healthcare management.American healthcare is capable of providing the very best skill, professional expertise, and technology the world has ever seen. What is failing in our healthcare system is the management and business organization required deliver value to the recipients of this expertise-- patients.
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Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Cost control    5. Cost effectiveness    6. Economic Conditions    7. Evaluation Of Health Services    8. Health Care Issues    9. Health Policy    10. Industries - General    11. Management - General    12. Medical Economics    13. Medical care    14. Public Policy - Economic Policy    15. Quality control    16. Business strategy   

Reviews (3)

Very Helpful in Understanding Globalization
Most discussion of globalization consists of uninformed opinion that is not worth listening to or reading.Not so with "Making Globalization Work" - the author is a Nobel prize-winner in economics and has worked at the IMF and the White House.He provides an excellent summary of the current problems with globalization, and a number of suggestions for improvement.
Globalization is the greatest reorganization of the world since the Industrial Revolution
Globalization is an irreversable trend, and the current form of it led by transnational corporations that use their lobbies to create unfair trade agreements will drive us to the brink. Many have been misinformed about globalization by reading Thomas Friedman's pean to corporate globalization, a runaway bestseller.
A well-informed and thought-provoking work
In this book, Stiglitz gave his advices on how to make globalization work for most of the population on earth:how the world - especially the developing countries - can reap the enormous benefits of globalization while containing the equally enormous problems -- problems well documented in his previous book "Globalization and Its Discontents" - that globalization creates.
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Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business/Economics    3. Economic aspects    4. Economics - General    5. Globalization    6. International - General    7. Politics / Current Events    8. Business & Economics / Economics / General    9. Miscellaneous Items    10. POLITICS & GOVERNMENT   

Editorial Review

John Perkins started and stopped writing Read more

Reviews (431)

Yawn...
While it does contain a few interesting bits here and there (mainly in the first half of the book) this book fails to live up to the buzz surrounding it. There were few actual "insider" details (or details of any kind, in fact) and the author's voice grated on my nerves -- very self-serving. I suppose those interested in U.S. foreign and overseas development policy during the Cold War and post-Cold War era will find it worth reading, but getting through it is something of a chore. It took all my will power to plow through the last quarter of the book...

Sadly not the book it's been touted to be
The premise for "Confessions Of An Economic Hitman (COHM)" couldn't be more intriguing and the book did after all sell tons of copies and has remained on most booksellers' recommended reading list for ages. So my expectations were high for John Perkins' blow out confessional, the product of a conscience that struggled with but manfully prevailed against the temptations of a financially lucrative and high flying career as an "economic hit man".
enlightening insight into US foreign economic policy
I am so glad I read this book. While it has been critized for relying largely on the testimony of the author, John Perkins' book fits squarely into a lineage of books that are beginning to reveal the United States' plans for "global empire." Like Chomsky, Perkins reveals the actions behind the double-speak and PR-sanitized language that occludes the economic domination that is really going on in the form of "aid," "development," etc.
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Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Business    6. Conspiracy & Scandal Investigations    7. Economists    8. Energy consultants    9. Foreign Relations Of Developing Countries    10. Government & Business    11. Intelligence officers    12. International - Economics    13. U.S. Government - Intelligence Agencies    14. United States    15. Business & Economics / Economics / International   

Reviews (5)

Avoid if you can
I think this is one of the worst textbooks I've ever read. It uses 14 different sentences to say the same thing, and makes basic concepts seem complicated by overstating/analyzing them. This book could be significantly shorter...maybe the author was getting paid by the word?
Macroeconomics
The book was in great condition and the book was delievered in reasonable amount of time.

wrong order
i received the order on sept. 12, 2005, and it was the wrong book, and i still haven't received a refund for their mistake. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Economic Conditions    5. Economics - Macroeconomics    6. Macroeconomics    7. Business & Economics / Macroeconomics   

Reviews (11)

A REAL MARVEL
I OWN THIS BOOK. I REFERRED THIS BOOK DURING MY MBA PROGRAMME. THIS BOOK IS SIMPLY GREAT. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE AUTHOR, PUBLISHER. IT IS RALLY A MARVEL TO OWN IT. WORTH POSSESSING IT. I HAVE NO WORDS TO DESCRIBE IT.
there is a 6th edition
I apologize for writing a "review" before reading the book... I couldn't find any other forum to let people know that there is a 6th edition of this textbook, but Amazon does not yet carry it.I found this out when I arrived at my class with my brand new 5th edition, and it wasn't the right one.The bookstore apparently has the 6th edition.Make sure you know which edition you need before purchasing this one!

Review
This book contains a lot of unformation concerning the international market and how to function within its barriers.It offeres many cases which help explain the issues and problems concerning the market.Alhough, the book is confusing and is hard to understand the language if you do not have a background in business.The information is inbedded in the text which makes it difficult to find what your looking for, and also offers many points of view which make it difficult to understand what is the correct answer. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. International - General    5. Business & Economics / International    6. International business   

Reviews (53)

Magical
FBP is an intriguing concept and the model can be scaled up or down in size in all parts of the world. The book serves as a wake up call to businessmen across the world.

its a perfect strategy for the 21st century: for all MNCs to follow
A new approach which in fact is so easy but psychologically so difficult to accept. We have tried it out and and observed companies doing it since 16 years: to design and market low end products for the "Bottom of the Pyramid" (BOP) with high profit margins at low cost. We have developed a tool which we call MMP or Multiple Market Positioning which shows step by step how to implement this BOP idea successfully. Regards, Dr. Peter Oertli, OEC Oertli Consulting, CH-8142 Uitikon-Zurich, Switzerland.

Reducing the Impoverished, One by One

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Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Corporate Planning    5. Developing countries    6. Economic Theory    7. Finance    8. International business enterpr    9. International business enterprises    10. Investments & Securities - General    11. Non-governmental organizations    12. Poor    13. Social aspects    14. Business & Economics / Systems & Planning    15. Management & management techniques    16. Multinationals   

Editorial Review

In a global economy, it is crucial for business peopleto be sensitive to cultural differences. And although the best reason for doing so may be ethical, it's great for business as well! This is an invaluable book for "doing well while doing good" in your intercultural relations, covering the protocols of appointments, business entertaining, greetings, forms of address, gestures, dress, and gifts in 60 of the nations you're most likely to be doing business. Some interesting excerpts:Read more

Reviews (27)

Avoiding the cultural faux pas...
Today's business world is such that you are very likely to have working relationships with global business partners.And you *should* know that "when in Rome, do as the Romans do".But what exactly is that?Terry Morrison and Wayne A Conaway bridge some of that information gap with the book Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands.This is one of those books that could help you close a big deal (or avoid killing one).
A resource for me
Written for the international business traveler, this book was a great resource for me as characters in the Marketplace novels came from around the world. For my fans who keep asking me for "the protocol:" hey, start here and you tell me.

Dissapointing!
60 countries, and the only country in the entire continent of Africa the authors wrote about was Egypt? C'mon. While the authors do, in a similar compilation published after this one, include South Africa (the only other country in Africa included) and a few other countries, it is still a disgrace that books and compilations such as this one ignore the importance of proper business ettiqute in countries such as Kenya, Senegal, Ghana, and Tanzinia and do nothing more than perpetuate falsehoods, myths and fears about doing business in the aforementioned African countries and many others. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business Communication - General    4. Business Etiquette    5. Business communication    6. Business/Economics    7. Corporate culture    8. Etiquette    9. International - General    10. International Business    11. Business negotiation   

Editorial Review

Celebrated economist Jeffrey Sachs has a plan to eliminate extreme poverty around the world by 2025. If you think that is too ambitious or wildly unrealistic, you need to read this book. His focus is on the one billion poorest individuals around the world who are caught in a poverty trap of disease, physical isolation, environmental stress, political instability, and lack of access to capital, technology, medicine, and education. The goal is to help these people reach the first rung on the "ladder of economic development" so they can rise above mere subsistence level and achieve some control over their economic futures and their lives. To do this, Sachs proposes nine specific steps, which he explains in great detail in Read more

Reviews (14)

At least it got people talking about global economics...
I really wanted to love this book. It came strongly recommended by a good friend who is very interested in development work.Whenever I read a review I always try and figure out what angle the reviewer is coming from, so for the record I'm deeply interested in development work and I have a background in economics and environmental science, but mostly I'm just really well read.
why we lost the poor
The End of Poverty is an excellent book. It shows how economic thinking can provide a better wealth situation in the underdeveloped world. Jeffrey Sachs describes his last twenty years on development economics. He is the driving force behind the mayor developments in Bolivia and Poland. The book contains his experiences in Bolivia, Poland and Russia. If you introduce economic measures in these countries you can take a big step to let the people help themselves. But if you go to Africa, it seams that these measures are really not the first aid you can give them.