The Economist: Brands and Branding - Tapa dura

A serious look by a dozen well qualified academics and business consultants at the mysterious yet ubiquitous phenomenon of the commercial brand, which often seems to conjure value out of thin air. A brand can be the most valuable part of a company, even when the profitability of a company is questionable. Yet brand value can also be hugely volatile, as prone to the vagaries of public opinion as political reputations. And our emotional attachment as customers to brands provides conclusive proof that Economic Man is a far from rational animal. Detailed, thorough, definitive. One of the most authoritative studies to date, and certainly the one with the best brand for a business book, The Economist.

The definitive book about brands and branding, written by some of the leading experts in the field. Brands today are key engines of economic strength. Far from being a superficial or cosmetic communications exercise, brands have become a central organising principle behind many ambitious companies. This authoritative book contains contributions from some of the field's leading practitioners, academics and consultants, analysing the nature and benefits of brands - particularly in terms of their sustainable business value and their wider social advantages. This is the definitive business book on brands and branding. It not only explains the economic strength and importance of brands, but also will frame thinking on the best practice of branding now and for the future.