The Art of Profitability

Features

• Cover Type: Paperback with 272 pages
• Published by: Business Plus September 1, 2003
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 0446692271
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-0446692274
• Book Dimensions: 7.4 x 4.9 x 0.8 inches
• Weighs: 7.2 ounces

From Publishers Weekly
This compact tome from consultant Slywotzky (The Profit Zone) offers 23 business lessons via the tale of a manager's quest to learn the "art of profitability" from David Zhao, a wise master. It's an attractive and refreshing concept that taps into the Zen of business. The author cautions readers to "please read only one chapter per week Think about it. Let it stew." His advice, centered around the mantra that the path to profitability lies in fully understanding the customer, is valuable- e.g., watch out for cracks in a business's foundation, because they can quickly lead to a collapse. Slywotzky has tried to make his text seem ancient, even timeless, by featuring the cliché of the wise sage and the eager pupil, and this forced effort may frustrate some readers looking for a quick fix. But those seeking a new alternative to tired business manuals should revel in Zhao's fable-like teachings.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From AudioFile
Harvard professor Adrian Slywotzky's ART OF PROFITIBILITY brings a holistic approach to the making of money. Read by actors Scott Mosenson and Jack Ong, who play a young businessman and a famous strategist, the book is really a series of lessons on the many ways companies position their products for profit. Why do we willingly pay so much for Coke in a restaurant and so little in the supermarket? Incorporated into the lessons are books the strategist, David Zhao (Ong), assigns to the Mosenson character to help guide him along the path to profit-making enlightenment. Authors from Isaac Asimov to Sam Walton are mentioned, each having a valuable insight into how profit is achieved. S.E.H. 2003 Audie Award Finalist © AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Reader Reviews
This review is from: The Art of Profitability (Hardcover) 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.