Rating: 
Summary: My marketing sucked
Review: I just bought this book and I am enjoying it a lot. I work for a company that markets a pharmaceutical service. I can honestly say that there isn't anything new in this book, but it does confirm what I have been saying which is we are wasting a lot of money. We think that because we spent money that we have marketed but we don't have any profits to show for the money we've spent. Thank you for reaffriming what I knew. I'm going to make sure that my marketing doesn't suck anymore. And I LOVE the title! (I haven't finished the book yet which is why I gave it only 4 stars.)
Rating: 
Summary: A Beginner's Guide to Sales and Advertising
Review: No original ideas, except of course the title. I guess this is worth something, after all, it persuaded me to buy the book! The book starts off with the annoying phrase, "Extreme Marketing". Let's get one thing straight: Nothing in this book is extreme. The ideas are basic, focusing on sales and advertising. If that's what you need, then perhaps this is a good book for you. Second, this book suffers from the ever-popular confusion between marketing and sales. This book doesn't really touch marketing as a discipline, but instead reads like a commercial for his advertising firm. He spends an entire chapter (one of the longer chapters in the book) describing how a company transformed itself using "his" principles. Guess what? The company is fictional! He made up the company, and made up the results! How is that helpful? Overall, if you are a beginner in sales, this book may be of some help. But if you are looking for marketing tactics, strategy, or new insights, this this isn't the one.
Rating: 
Summary: A very good APPROACH to marketing
Review: While some have written that this book has not presented any new concepts, I believe what makes this book interesting is not its new concepts in marketing, but rather its 'approach' to existing concepts. What the author advocates is not only an intregrated approach to marketing, but also one that has measurable financial responsibility. The lessons may be simple, but unfortunately they also can be all too easy to lose sight of in day-to-day practice. I believe this is a good book for decision makers as an impetus to help re-center any company's approach to marketing. Additionally, I believe this book is just as good, if not better for young marketing people out there. At the end of the day, if a business does not make profits, obviously it's out of business. Marketing people that have profitable sales rather than sales alone at the forefront of their day-to-day focus are going to be that much more at an advantage to not only bring success to a company, but also to further their own careers. For the price charged, this book is a great investment provided the approach is carried through in actual practice throughout a business.
Rating:
Summary: Simple. Straight-forward. Helpful
Review: Yes, you can debate the title. (I liked it, but hey, I grew up in Manhattan.) But what you cannot debate is the message which is: Most marketing is a waste of time and money because the marketers a) don't know exactly who they want to sell too, and b) haven't a clue how to get people to buy. That, alone, justifies the purchase price. I loved the problem, solution, benefit format.
Rating:
Summary: I have nothing to Say because this Book has nothing to Tell
Review: this is the worst book i've ever read. wasted my money and time. the author has no ORIGINAL thoughts and stole all the ideas and comments. TERRIBLE BOOK.
Rating:
Summary: just like the name of the book
Review: I am amazed that there is not a SINGLE idea in this book that is either practical or relevant. The cover design is nice and name of book is catchy....at least got people to open the book...but at the end of the day...it just wasted a lot of trees to print this.
Rating: 
Summary: This is a promo for the Author's Consulting firm
Review: This book is more hype than substance. Great title and admittedly well marketed. But a good marketer knows you have to deliver on your marketing promise to truly be effective. Mark Stevens does not do that. I would not buy another book from this author (fortuneately I got my copy from the library) I also would not reccomend it to others. His themes and concepts are not original. Sergio Zyman's book (End of Marketing...) is much better and insightful. Like most others who write on the subject of Marketing effectiveness, he talks a big game on Marketing ROI, but falls way short when it comes down to how to really measure it. He takes the easy road by speaking at a high, theoretical level. His most egregious mistake is confusing marketing communications (advertising, direct mail, PR) with Marketing. Even the Marketing undergrad knows Marketing communications alone doesn't motivate someone to buy, it is an integration of the product, the price you charge for it, how and where it is distributed and sold as well as the Marketing communications. Reading this book, you'd think just adjusting your advertising or direct marketing or PR will drive results. Shame on you, Mark.
Rating:
Summary: The simplest truths are sometimes the hardest to see
Review: What I've learned over my years in business is that when it comes to marketing most people are always looking for the next big thing, when the reality is it's doing a lot of the little things just 5% better. This book highlights that fact. I love the attitude Mark puts forth, "if you know your stuff, put up or shut up." That's exactly how I run my business. That's why I called his company to set up an appointment to discuss their services.
Rating:
Summary: Give this book to your favorite CEO.
Review: Trying to boost your company's revenues? Don't know the difference between advertising and marketing? Buy this book. If, as a business person, you believe the key to your success is holding employees and contractors accountable for results, you will *love* this book. If you are concerned with how to measure the return on your marketing dollars' investment, you will learn from this book. If you see Internet Marketing as a major part of the future, this book is for you. If you believe most TV commercials are created for ego's sake, rather than to produce extra revenues, this book will explain why. Mark Stevens tells what has worked for him and his clients, gives examples of what to avoid (and why), and itemizes out his approach to weeding out the deadwood, clichéd and self-serving around you. In clear, unequivocal terms, he maps out a practical plan of attack to get your business both noticed and strategically positioned in your marketplace. If, however, you don't like this book, it is likely you are part of the problem he so accurately describes, rather than the solution to it.
Rating:
Summary: Make your markting department accountable
Review: It's a simple premise, but one which can't be emphasized enough - don't spend money unless you can quantify the results. As someone who has worked in both large and small operations, I can vouch for the author when he says most businesses are spending marketing money because they have to - if only to keep their budgets up for the next quarter - rather than because the marketing is increasing their business. That kind of sloppy planning is exactly what is wrong with most marketing today - from superbowl campaigns to the ubiquitous calendars you get at the dry cleaners. This book has a few tired phrases (extreme marketing? - can we stop being extreme please) but it is a valuable blueprint for holding your marketing department accountable for sales.
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