The ninth edition of this book includes new material on consumer behaviour, retailing, and channels of distribution. The various sections are leavened with case studies. The book aims to give students a practical understanding of how marketing operates in business today.
Stray not thee from the principles There are 8 parts in total (with 3-4 chapters per part): 1: marketing and its environment 2: target markets 3-6: product, price, distribution, promotion 7: marketing in special fields 8: managing the marketing effort
The first two parts are dealing with the context (the 'playground') and where to start from (the consumer's side), if we are to be interested in marketing at all. Part 3-6 the details (the producer's side). Part 7 some special cases (like that of nonprofit organizations). Part 8 is the introduction to what I call 'high marketing' (forecasting, evaluation etc) since it is basic no more.
I like the way this book by Stanton et al. forces us readers to recognize first the concept of marketing, before going into details. It's more or less like in recognizing people. Our understanding (or relationship with) them will almost surely end up in confusion if our first impressions are based merely on anatomical body parts.