Blue Ocean Strategy by W. Chan Kim, Renee Mauborgne

Blue Ocean Strategy is based on a decade-long study of strategic moves that organizations have made over 100 years in various industries.  The results of the study are presented as the Blue Ocean Strategy, which is better described as a strategy to differentiate or create market space.  The book is written well and presents a great paradigm for strategic business moves.  Examples in book, including Home Depot, Curves, Cirque du Soleil and Netjets, make for intriguing readership although slightly pitiful to make a case solely on successful cases.  The authors at one point try to differentiate themselves from the classic book, Good to Great by Jim Collins, by pointing out an exemplary organization in that book that has since contradicted Collins claims.  I didn't care for the cheapshot, but understand the reasoning to do so.

Overall Blue Ocean Strategy is a wonderful read and I highly recommend it.  This book will be specifically insightful to marketing, advertising, product development and entrepreneurial professionals.