In much the same way as Jim Collins did in Good to Great and Built to Last, Michael Brown and Paul Turner draw upon a wealth of detailed research in Britain, America and in other regions, to analyse the qualities that have contributed to firms being ranked the 'most-admired companies' in annual surveys over the past 20 years. Their research, not surprisingly, highlights the close link of being admired to being successful in terms of long-term shareholder value. But how much the different criteria affect how admired a firm is - and how successful it is - is extraordinarily revealing.

This is a book with crucial lessons for anyone who wants their company to be a leader in its field - and to stay ahead of its competitors.