This book, Competition Demystified, offers a simplified framework for understanding business strategy by focusing on competitive advantages and barriers to entry as the primary drivers of profitability.

The authors, Bruce Greenwald and Judd Kahn, argue that operational efficiency is tactical, while true strategy is outward-looking, concerned with competitors and market dynamics.

They identify three core types of sustainable competitive advantage: supply (cost), demand (customer captivity), and economies of scale.

Through numerous case studies across various industries, the book illustrates how to identify, analyze, and leverage these advantages, as well as navigate competitive interactions like the prisoner's dilemma and entry/preemption scenarios, ultimately aiming to equip managers with a clear, practical approach to strategic decision-making that goes beyond traditional discounted cash flow analysis.