<< 1 >>
Rating: 
Summary: Big Ad Agencies Exposed!
Review: I was flattered while working in my first ad agency position when the accountant - a veteran of New York ad agencies - told me I would do very well on Madison Avenue. That lifestyle never appealed to me but I was intrigued enough to buy Up The Agency at the local Barnes & Noble. In a hilarious account from the author's own experiences and observations as a star advertising executive, Peter Mayle reveals the sordid inner workings, dysfunctionalities and shameless greed of the world's most mammoth ad agencies. Detailing the base instincts, typical thought processes and hidden agendas of account executives, art directors, copywriters, assistants and other agency personnel, as well as those of the clients, Mr. Mayle exposes with dire sarcasm how the quest for money, status and ego corrupt the agency-client relationship. The result is bland, ineffective, conservative advertising. But that's what the client wanted and the tradeoff is a second house in the Hamptons and a Porsche in the garage. Add Mr. Mayle's English heritage and it would be easy for those on the outside of the industry to miss much of the dry yet irresistibly funny humor.In fact, I must confess that it was only last night that I dusted it off the shelf to send it to a friend considering a career in advertising that I realized how funny this book is. After flipping through a few pages describing how industry awards are judged (think Salt Lake City Olympics Pairs Figure Skating), and laughing heartily, I reread the entire book. Apparently, I missed most of the humor when I first read it ten years ago. Up The Agency is a quick, fun and worthwhile read for anyone involved in advertising. From elaborate new business pitches and bloated entertainment expenses to excessive awards banquets and inflated egos, agency personnel, clients and vendors alike will enjoy dozens of all too true stories that will in all likelihood mirror many of their own experiences.
Rating:
Summary: Good enough to steer you in or out
Review: I'll be honest, I haven't finished it yet. I've read 3 other books in the week since I started it since it is so boring. I would not buy it again, recommend it or even start it if I saw it. I'll probably finish it as a point of honor, but stick to the author's other works.
Rating: 
Summary: I keep putting it down...
Review: I'll be honest, I haven't finished it yet. I've read 3 other books in the week since I started it since it is so boring. I would not buy it again, recommend it or even start it if I saw it. I'll probably finish it as a point of honor, but stick to the author's other works.
Rating:
Summary: Good enough to steer you in or out
Review: So many people want the glamour of the agency business. So few people understand what it's all about. This book gives us humourous insight and enough of a story line to carry you through. Me? I plan to start my own agency, so this will be mandatory reading for anyone who wants to join me. In or out? I'm in.
<< 1 >>
| 
