Cigarettes: Anatomy of an Industry from Seed to Smoke

Tara Parker-Pope. Cigarettes: Anatomy of an Industry from Seed to Smoke. New York: New Press, 2001.

Cigarettes are the world's most conspicuous consumer product and arguably the biggest business success of the twentieth century. In her new book Tara Parker-Pope, a reporter for the Wall Street Journal, provides some interesting insights and background on this $350 billion industry.

Much of the information Parker-Pope supplies is presented in chart form. Her data is informative and often provocative. For example:

I. World's Most Popular Cigarette Brands

Marlboro (Philip Morris), with 9.4% world market share, is the leader. Mild Seven (Japan Tobacco - 2.790 and L&M (Philip Morris - 1.8%)...