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Summary: Must read for undergraduates considering strategy consulting
Review: I was told to read this book by a management consultant when I expressed interest in the profession. It's excellent. It really helped me organize my thoughts when I analyzed cases in case interviews. I can definitely see why it is held in such high-esteem. If you are an undergraduate thinking about doing an analyst program in management consulting, this book is well worth your money.
Rating: 
Summary: An unpleasent surprise
Review: I've heard about this book and Michael Porter for a long time; the people I have talked to absolutelly adore him and his writings, but I must say I was througly and repeatedly disappointed in this book. The strategy itself is - without a doubt - a brilliant approach to strategic management but as a piece of writing all I can say is: Dull, dull and dull!
Rating:
Summary: If you have to read one book on Strategy, read this one.
Review: I've read this book many times and in each one I discover new things. Having used Michael Porter's theory to analyse the long term performance of the Brazilian Apparel Industry , the theory has been fully validated to even predict future financial results.
Rating:
Summary: Act One of Three in a Symphony
Review: In act one Dr. Porter's sets up his model and makes it internally consistent. It allows for analysis of industries, just like the second act allows for this analysis to demonstrate which entitities within an industry have achieve competitive advantage. It is a great book but it must be read as a trio or you miss the point.
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Summary: Deserves six stars, but this was not a choice.
Review: It is known that Bill Gates (of Microsoft) is a fan of Michael Porter's work. This book perhaps best and succinctly captures Porter's simple yet brilliant methods of analyzing competitors in business. Those who would detract from his work should try to refute it, which would be in vain.
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Summary: Starting point for business strategy
Review: Michael Porter is a Harvard Business School professor and a leading authority on competition and strategy. This book is a landmark in the field of strategy/strategic management, which later has become known as the positioning school. The book provides a great framework.The book consists of three parts - General Analytical Techniques, Generic Industry Environments, and Strategic Decisions. In addition, the two appendices - Portfolio Techniques in Competitor Analysis, and How to Conduct an Industry Analysis - should also be mentioned as they are very useful. In Part I, Porter discussess the structural analysis of industries (with the world-famous five forces), the three generic competitive strategies (overall cost leadership, focus, and differentiation), an excellent framework for competitor analysis, competitive moves, strategy toward buyers and suppliers, structural analysis within industries (strategic groups, strategic mapping, mobility barriers), and industry evolution (life cycle, evolutionary processes). In Part II, Porter discusses competitive strategy within various generic industry environments, such as fragmented industries (with no real market leader), emerging industries (e-commerce and Internet are excellent examples, although not mentioned in this book as it was written in 1980), mature industries, declining industries, and global industries. In Part III, Porter discusses strategic decisions which businesses/firms can take, such as vertical integration (forward, backward, partnerships), capacity expansion, and entry into new industries/businesses. Even after 20 years, most of this book still stands strong, although some people will argue this. It is a MUST for MBA-students and all other people interested in strategy/strategic management. The book is good to read (simple US-English) and thus does not become a struggle.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent intro to biz strategy
Review: My background: BS in CS, but looking for a Management Consulting position. I feel this book provided me with a structured way of analyzing any case questions I might get in an interview. For a non-business graduate, it is easy to understand (though I can imagine it is a bit too simple for people who've studied business before). My only complaint is that I wish there were more examples, and that sometimes the chapters felt like long lists of items.
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Summary: Competitive Strategy
Review: Porter gives a clear and concise review of the basics that everone in an organisation needs to understand to ensure that their business is effective and efficient v's the competition. Essential reading for the board room down.
Rating:
Summary: the bluest of the blue
Review: Simply put, if you haven't read Competitive Strategy yet, you are unfit to talk about business strategy. And only after reading it, are you fit to read the sequel, Competitive Advantage, which if you haven't read till now, makes you unfit to talk about business tactics. These two books are the Old and New Testaments of business.
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Summary: Concepts great -- writing barely readable
Review: Thank goodness there have been so many articles written that regurgitate Porter's ideas. I'd read many of them before reading his book, and looked forward to reading the original material. Talk about painful!!! Long, long, long lists in sentences (reminiscent of the "begat" sections in the Bible), passive voice for no good reason, examples that are vague and unenlightening. Clearly, the concepts Porter preaches are wonderful. I just don't see why he makes it such a chore to learn them.
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