Reviews

"Twenty Ads That Shook the World is easily the best book on advertising that I have ever read . . . What distinguishes this work is that it offers the reader an extraordinary amount of information, not only about advertising, but about any sphere that advertising touches (sociology, history, psychology, etc.) and delivers this intelligence with unflagging energy and an abundance of wit."
-- Philip W. Sawyer, director, Starch Advertising Research, Roper Starch Worldwide "Twenty Ads That Shook the World is a triumph . . . James Twitchell not only recognizes and appreciates the many ways that ads shape our culture, he writes about advertising in ways unmatched by any other author. Unlike the clothes dryers and margarine they sell, ads are not a commodity. Making ads, and writing about ads, means thinking and learning about art, design, sociology, psychology, commerce, pop culture, and a dozen other things. Twitchell ties those disciplines together with the deftest of touches. The last page is its only disappointment -- you simply don't want this book to end."
-- Rogier van Bakel, editor, "Creativity magazine "This book is a treat . . . [It is] full of surprises and, as the only essential change in the advertising business through the years is the way one manipulates new technology, it is also a rich tapestry of stimulating thinking. "
-- Mary Wells Lawrence, founding partner of Wells, Rich, Greene "This book is on fire with ideas . . . James Twitchell has ripped the hood off the great American dream machine to show us just how the thing works. Far more than a history of great advertising, this invaluable and highly entertaining guide to the power of simple ideas isbrimming with insights for anybody who's ever wanted to buy or sell anything. He reminds us that even ephemera has a past, and that examining it is not only useful, but quite a bit of fun."
-- Steve Hayden, president, Worldwide Brand Services, Ogilvy & Mather