A lot of people ask me which books I would recommend to someone who’s trying to break into the ad game. My answer has always been “Hey Whipple, Squeeze This,” by Luke Sullivan and also “How to put your book together and get a job in advertising.” But the new second edition of "How to Succeed in advertising when all you have is talent,” by Laurence Minsky, is my new go-to for anyone trying to get into this messed up biz. But even for you old timers, it’s a rich read and a great reminder of why you got into advertising to begin with.
The way Minsky structured the book makes it tough to put down and incredibly easy to pick back up. Each chapter follows the career and work of one super star ad legend after another. It’s cover to cover lessons and inspiration from the geniuses of the ad world––literally, Alex Bogusky is chapter one and it ends with Lee Clow on the final chapter. And you’ll find cats like Rich Silverstein, Steve Hayden, Tom McElligott and a whole lot more in between.
Perhaps what I like most about “How to Succeed in advertising…” is that it gives context and background to the work we have all come to love and admire. There's a story behind every ad. And for someone who’s trying learn what this business is all about, you might as well get it straight from the men and women who shaped it. I learned a lot from this book. And I think you will too.
Buy it here
Book Review
Written by Littlejohn on Friday, September 21, 2007
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2 comments:
I read this book too. It's like a cheatsheet for your boss if you're at one of the "geniuses" agencies.
Yeah, I read this book, it was certainly worth the price. Unlike a lot of the advertising textbooks they made me read when I was in school.
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