The majority of this book reads more like speculation by the author rather than solid fact. The impression this gives the reader is the the author has not dealt with many big brand names on a publicity level. The problem with this is that dealing with smaller entities is quite a far cry from dealing with a major brand such as Nike or Toyota.

I kept reading hoping for some interesting inside scoops into the world of big name brands, but was let down. If you are new to the world of branding you might gain a few nuggets of information from this, but I found it all to be common sense.

This book is not without its good points, particularly the author's ability to address the audience equally regardless of PR background. However, the downsides cannot be ignored. The central theme of the book is credibility and how PR is the surest route to building it. As other reviewers have pointed out, there are a number of arguments based on correlation, rather than cause-effect. Even more irritating are the armchair assessments of what other companies/countries should have done when building their campaigns with no real supporting evidence that the recommended strategies would have been effective. In addition, even though the author asserts that PR is the best way to build a brand, it doesn't appear that the professional PR organizations (which are few and far between) even mention this fact in their charters. So, what it really comes down to is a very specific view of PR, using a very specific PR strategy which, as luck would have it, can't be found at a local PR firm.

I have to agree with Steven Willis from Los Angeles. This book might hold up a little stronger if it wasn't written by a publicist who seems like he is just trying to drum up some business. It's like those chiropractic offices that set up booths for free spinal exams at various sporting events. They give you the free exam, then surprise, surprise! Turns out they seem to think your back needs some chiropractic work. It's the same idea here, and while the book has a few instances of making good points, they aren't really strong enough to persuade the reader to adopt the author's point of view. On the positive side, it is written in a manner that is pretty easy to understand so you can finish it quickly enough, but it's just never all that compelling.

It is painfully obvious that the author of this book, also a publicist, is desperately trying get some high-end companies to hire him. Why else would he write a book so utterly useless and void of anything relevant to the marketing of a brand name?

As any CEO with half a brain knows, PR companies are all well and good to protect or rebuild an image that has been depicted poorly within the media. However, to get the brand name out there, they are certainly one of the last places to look.

The author does manage to point out the difference between advertising and PR, to his own fault unfortunately. Companies are looking to use their tightly plotted budgets to get their name out there the best way they can. That way is through advertising, not public relations. You need to be guaranteed that your brand's ad will be seen by the public, and advertising can do this much more effectively than PR. In advertising, you basically get what you are willing to pay for. In PR, there is too much of a gamble that you can spend a lot and see nothing in return.

Sadly, Levine's writing style is also very ineffective in enhancing one's opinion of him as a publicist. He may have done a little research and found the right buzzwords, but it is obvious he doesn't really grasp the meaning of what he is talking about.

I can honestly say I would never hire this guy to represent my company. Even if the day does come when we need to hire a PR firm (God forbid), I would look elsewhere.

Interested in how you sell products to the public, I stumbled across this book online. It was truly educational, making me aware of the complexity of branding. I learned that it's not just about about finding a product that fills a hole in the market. It is also about how you sell that product by establishing a brand, an image that not only helps to fill a whole in the market but attracts attention from the media and public with an edge. Michael Levine is quite knowledgeable of the subject and it shows in his examples throughout the book. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking to get a better understanding of PR.