The Real Mad Men: The Remarkable True Story of Madison Avenue's Golden Age

Andrew Cracknell

The Real Mad Men: The Remarkable True Story of Madison Avenue's Golden Age

In New York City in the late 1950s and the 1960s, advertising went through a revolution. In a booming market, a punchy and proud new workforce of younger, multi-ethnic writers and art directors gorged themselves on a vibrant and artistic social scene. The story of modern advertising starts here, with these real Mad Men — and women — of Madison Avenue who created the most radical and influential advertising ever, transforming the methods, practice and execution of the business. 2.5 out of 5 based on 2 reviews
The Real Mad Men: The Remarkable True Story of Madison Avenue's Golden Age

Omniscore:

Classification Non-fiction
Genre Business, Finance & Law
Format Paperback
Pages 224
RRP £14.99
Date of Publication August 2011
ISBN 978-0857384270
Publisher Quercus
 

In New York City in the late 1950s and the 1960s, advertising went through a revolution. In a booming market, a punchy and proud new workforce of younger, multi-ethnic writers and art directors gorged themselves on a vibrant and artistic social scene. The story of modern advertising starts here, with these real Mad Men — and women — of Madison Avenue who created the most radical and influential advertising ever, transforming the methods, practice and execution of the business.

Reviews

The Observer

Leo Benedictus

"... despite the book's rather episodic structure, Cracknell always has an anecdote to keep things moving … There is one big question, however, which the book could not possibly invite more openly, and yet never adequately answers. What in blazes has any of this to do with Mad Men? ... One might just as well repackage the New Testament as "The Real Life of Brian"."

07/08/2011

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The Financial Times

Christopher Bray

"Cracknell sees what he calls candour in so many ad campaigns that one keeps hoping he might spot a little dishonesty. He never does but he gives the game away during his analysis of a campaign for Braniff International Airways. He says that the problem facing the copywriter was the simple fact that: “An airline is an airline — they fly the same planes, seat you in the same seats, serve the same food.” An ad campaign, in other words, can work only by pointing out non-existent distinctions."

19/08/2011

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