Blue Ocean Strategy By W. Chan Kim, Renée Mauborgne

A must read strategy book for entrepreneurs and practitioners, The Blue Ocean Strategy has stood the test of time. This breakthrough work provides insights on how to take advantage of “white spaces” in the marketplace and compete against non-competition. The primary argument by Chan and Mauborgne is that organizations should focus on making markets instead of competing within them.

In a classic example, the authors reference Cirque du Soleil, who created a high-end market space in the circus business, creating a new brand of entertainment, capturing market share and charging a price premium of more than 10 times that of a traditional circus. In an age when markets can be transformed overnight, Blue Ocean provides a framework for focusing on the most productive and profitable market segments.