The Art of Business Wars

"A ROLLICKING READ ABOUT THE CORPORATE WORLD'S GREATEST RIVALRIES." ADAM GRANT, New York Times bestselling author of Think Again and Originals, and host of the TED podcast WorkLife

Based on the chart-topping BUSINESS WARS podcast, here are the stories and lessons from history's greatest business rivalries - retold as you've never heard them before. Some of the companies here have been featured on the podcast, many are entirely new, and ALL of the material presents a fresh perspective, with each chapter thematically inspired by a chapter of Sun Tzu's classic, The Art of War.

From the pocket showdown of iPhone vs Blackberry to the epic stand-off of Beats vs Monster, The Art of Business Wars goes deep into the business trenches to explore the stories behind the stories. In this gripping study of triumph and disaster, you'll discover the real-life love spat between the co-founders of Tinder which led to the creation of its competitor Bumble, the battle of the fast fashion giants H&M and Zara where speed is everything, how Wrigley almost bit off more than it could chew, and Nintendo leveled up in America. With these and many more tales from business battlefields all over the world The Art of Business Wars reveals the strategies, positioning, dirty tricks, and eye for exploiting vulnerabilities, that make the difference between success and failure.

David Brown, host of the hit podcast Business Wars, masterfully frames some of the biggest business rivalries in history using the wisdom and pragmatic advice of revered Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu. Each battle Brown examines tells a story of contending wits, strategies, and resources. He chronicles the rise of companies as they formulate innovative plans, vanquish foes, and adapt to shifting societal needs. The goal: stay ahead of the competition and emerge victorious as an industry titan.

Compiling powerful insights uncovered over hundreds of episodes and more than a year of in-depth research, Brown offers an extraordinary formula for victory woven into a series of gripping, real-life tales straight from the business trenches. The stories in The Art of Business Wars are fascinating, but the lessons we draw from them - about determination, ingenuity, patience, grit, subtlety, and other key traits that contribute to a victorious enterprise - are invaluable, whether you're a software-slinging freelancer or the CEO of a multinational corporation.

A rollicking read about the corporate world's greatest rivalries. If you're worried about a well-known competitor or an unseen disruptor - or fascinated by the decisions of founders, the strategies of leaders, or the fates of businesses - this book brings together the best of a hit podcast for your learning and enjoyment. -- Adam Grant, New York Times bestselling author of Think Again and Originals, and host of the TED podcast WorkLife

Anyone who thinks business is all about balance sheets and income statements should be required to read The Art of Business Wars. Whether he's telling the story of how Apple crushed BlackBerry or how Mattel created Barbie and Ken, David Brown has done a masterful job of getting beneath the numbers to illuminate the real stuff of business: ego, passion, ambition - and all-out combat. -- Joe Nocera, Bloomberg business columnist

The Business Wars podcast is a must-listen for anyone trying to understand how new entrants can topple even the most powerful and entrenched industry leaders. The Art of Business Wars leverages the key takeaways from the podcast to illustrate how putting the consumer first exploits the vulnerabilities of incumbents who find it challenging to disrupt their legacy business models. If Blockbuster had learned the 'art of war' from Business Wars, maybe they would not have been toppled by Netflix. -- Rich Greenfield, partner and analyst, LightShed Ventures

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