In the first book to quantify the economic returns of reputation, Fombrun shows that by developing strong and consistent images, well-regarded companies create hidden assets that give them a distinct competitive advantage. This book takes readers on a whirlwind tour of how companies build credibility and status. Fombrun shows how major organizations in such diverse settings as the fashion, investment banking, and packaged goods industries - and even U.S. business schools - compete for prestige and achieve celebrity.