I’m always excited to hear from Decode and Conquer readers.
This time we have a win from a USC student who used Decode and Conquer 4th Edition to successfully pass the PM interview and get a PM job offer with Cisco! 😊
Decode and Conquer
I’m always excited to hear from Decode and Conquer readers.
This time we have a win from a USC student who used Decode and Conquer 4th Edition to successfully pass the PM interview and get a PM job offer with Cisco! 😊
I’ve been fortunate to team up with Santa Clara University’s Leavey School of Business to run my tech interview workshop for many years.
They rely on Decode and Conquer 4th Ed. to get amazing job outcomes, and they find mock interview partners through my interview community on Slack.
Here’s the most commonly asked question since I released The Product Manager Interview:
Could you please tell me what the difference is between the two and if you had to pick one, what would it be?
I'm currently looking for switching my focus from product marketing to product management, and my friend recommended me to read Decode and Conquer written by you. When I searched this book, I found that you also published The Product Manager Interview recently. It says it's an ideal complement to Decode and Conquer. Could you please tell the differences between these two books? And which would be more suitable for me as a newbie?
Here's my answer:
Decode and Conquer: focused on frameworks with examples; emphasis is getting *familiar* with those frameworks.
The Product Manager Interview: 160+ practice problems so you can *master* those frameworks
I'd get both, because familiarity and mastery, are important objectives.
If you'd want to tip-toe your way into PM interviews, then I'd get D&C first.
Last time, I covered counterfeit versions of the Product Manager Interview.
The counterfeiters are back at it again, but this time, they’re counterfeiting Decode and Conquer and selling on Amazon. Here are some photos along with some of the key differences.
(And I apologize in advance: my original copy of Decode and Conquer is well-loved. So it’s the one that’s dog-eared and has wine stains.)
The counterfeit versions utilize bright white paper, but a legitimate copy (middle) uses cream colored paper.
In this photo, the counterfeit is on the top, and the original is on the bottom. The original has the cream paper. The fake on top has the bright white paper. You’ll also note that the print quality is different and the fonts weren’t reproduced correctly. The counterfeit on top also has a black smudge mark that’s not appropriate for a supposedly “new” book.
The fake book (top) doesn’t have the UPC symbol or the additional information shared in the original.
The spine is clearly different: the fake books are shorter. The also don’t use the same fonts as the original.
You’ve probably guessed it: the front is different too. The fake ones are shorter, as I’ve mentioned before. Also, the original book is matted, but the fake books are laminated. And you can see the original has some additional text above the book title, which the fake ones do not have.
Lastly, the back of the book is dramatically different. Yes, You see the laminate peeling off from the fake one, and the fake ones are shorter too. However, what’s most revealing is the fake ones:
Do not have an appropriate UPC symbol
The fake books have more printing discoloration, which is most evident in the author photo
The price is $10 more expensive at $39.99 vs. $29.99
And the testimonial text is shockingly different
One last tip: a sure-fire way to avoid buying counterfeit versions of my book on Amazon is to double check and purchase books sold by Amazon.com only. When purchasing, look for the Amazon.com logo.
Just got this note earlier today, and I'm excited to announce that we've got another happy reader. This time, he secured a Microsoft PM offer. 🎉 🍾 🥂
One more thing to note: the reader is absolutely correct. That is, the PM interview frameworks you'll learn from Decode & Conquer can absolutely apply in helping one become a "better product manager." So any time you spend preparing for the interview, will always be time well-spent, whether or not you get the job offer.
Have a happy Monday and conquer those interviews,
Lewis C. Lin
Reviews for Lewis C. Lin's books including Amazon.com bestsellers Decode and Conquer, Interview Math, Rise Above the Noise, and Five Minutes to a Higher Salary.
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