To bring the principles of finding the obvious to life, Trout finds obvious solutions to today's troubles for the likes of GM, Coke, Wal-Mart, newspapers, and the bewildering beer business. The fundamental problem is that professional marketers overlook the most obvious and effective ideas entirely, in an attempt to be clever or creative. But if an idea is obvious to you, it will be obvious to your consumer - which is why it will work.

Jack Trout, one of the most respected marketing gurus in the world, shows why some of today's biggest brands are having trouble and how to avoid repeating their mistakes. With the help of in-depth case studies chronicling the events leading up to the falls from grace of Sears, Miller Brewing, Xerox, Crest, Burger King, and other past market leaders, he identifies the ten most common mistakes...

This month, we'll hear summaries of three great business books: Who by Geoff Smart and Randy Street; In Search of the Obvious by Jack Trout; The 29% Solution by Ivan R. Misner

The first book to deal with the problems of communicating to a skeptical, media-blitzed public, Positioning describes a revolutionary approach to creating a "position" in a prospective customer's mind, one that reflects a company's own strengths and weaknesses as well as those of its competitors.

Best selling author Jack Trout doesn't beat around the bush. He takes marketers to task for taking the easy route too often, employing high-tech razzle-dazzle and sleight of hand when they should be working to discover and market their product's uniquely valuable qualities. He examines successful differentiation initiatives and outlines the many ways you can achieve differentiation.

Calling upon over 40 years of marketing experience, authors Al Ries and Jack Trout use vivid examples and fascinating anecdotes to explain the keys to today's tough, competitive marketplace. Learn how to avoid the danger of ego and arrogance, the need to understand trends, and many other crucial marketing lessons, as Ries and Trout point you solidly in the direction of success.