The Content Trap: A Strategist's Guide to Digital Change Hardcover – October 18, 2016

This is a book that basically explains everything you need to know about the digital revolution over the last twenty years -- and to understand what's about to happen next. I didn't fully know what to expect picking it up -- it is long, and I did not know if I would understand all of it. But I work in media, and deal a lot with digital content, so I thought I'd try it out.It's brilliant. Very simple in its fundamental concepts, but the applications and inside knowledge Anand has into companies like the New York Times, The Economist, Random House, Amazon, Wal-Mart, cable companies...is unbelievably insightful. I feel like most digital change books are about marketing or the top "five hotest tips" and they don't last long. This one is different. It's as much a history book as anything else, and gives so much more perspective on the mega-shifts that have happened and are happening to some of the most major companies out there. It's very much still an ongoing change to digital thinking, but, when you strip away all the hype, understanding the full arc of how we got here makes what is going to happen next seem a lot more clear.All in all, highly recommend. You'll really never see the companies we buy from, the media and newspapers we watch, or your own power to create connections and change the world the same way again.Bharat is a brilliant teacher at HBS. This book is your chance to take a dive into his top lessons.

It's hard to believe that it's taken so long for somebody to cogently bring together what has happened in the digital space over the last few decades and what that history tells us about how to navigate the same space in the future. This book is imminently readable but has s depth that few other publications do. I especially liked the use of real-world examples (perhaps a vestige of Professor Anand's experience using the case method as a professor at Harvard Business School?) to illustrate concepts and give insights about what to do -- and, perhaps more importantly, what NOT to do -- as you consider the best strategy for your organization in a world where content is ubiquitous but monetizing it is not. There are several interesting insights between the covers here and many are so counter-intuitive that without the thoughtful analysis presented by Mr. Anand, it's unlikely I ever would have considered them. The New York Times' strategy for charging for online and physical editions of their papers really stands out here (you have to read it - I can't do it justice in the small space here). I highly recommend this book for anybody who's company touches the digital realm. In other words, it's relevant for any business person.

Lots of stories about making user connecting but his style of sharing the wrong thing to do while presenting it as if it's the right thing then having a "gotcha" was a bit confusing.Years from now will I recall the story or the "gotcha"??

While the specific findings of this book make sense in retrospect, the way Anand presents and ties them together makes the founder/strategist/manager reimagine how to approach innovation, competition, and disruption. The book is highly relevant for those in media and technology, but I would recommend it to anyone running a business - large or small. The core thesis is connections - not to get swayed by a single sexy headline but rather the complete system of business solutions that are relevant for your customer and your specific business.

If you're in business, any kind of business, "The Content Trap" is a must read. Bharat Anand introduces new ways of viewing strategy, competition, and connections with customers in order to succeed in an environment of rapid change. He begins his strategy exercise by asking two fundamental questions: where will you play, and how will you win? Where you will play is no longer exclusively about product or service, but rather identifying connections that you have with your customers. How you win is about strengthening those connections and unlocking opportunities that protect and grow your core business. Significant opportunities may be imbedded in collateral businesses that are being underestimated or ignored in terms of their potential impact on your core business. "The Content Trap" will open your eyes to the realities of succeeding in today's business world by introducing examples of companies that have done a remarkable job of harnessing the power of connections.

A brilliant and clear discourse on how to grow your business in the digital age. Countless staggering insights that changed the way I think and perceive business. This is a bible. Will save companies billions if applied, really.