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Summary: A very thoughtful analysis
Review: August Bullock's new book, The Secret Sales Pitch, is well-written, provocative and well-researched. Whether you agree with all his conclusions or not, he makes a very persuasive argument. College students will enjoy this thought provoking book immensely. It is a must read for anyone in psychology, marketing or advertising!
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Summary: How the media manipulates the minds of consumers
Review: Author August Bullock provides an informed and informative survey of how the media manipulates the minds of consumers through subliminal messages in The Secret Sales Pitch. By revealing the psychology involved in contemporary marketing strategies and tactics, Bullock has produced a kind of instructional manual which will prove to be a superbly presented introduction into subliminal message and image oriented advertising. The Secret Sales Pitch is strongly recommended reading for all elements of the advertising community, as well as social activists and reformers concerned with media manipulation issues arising from corporate and/or governmental efforts to persuade consumers and the body politic.
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Summary: Shocking and Thought Provoking
Review: With a degree in marketing and experience in graphic arts, I was aware of the basics of subliminal marketing messages. However, I was unaware of the pervasive presence of such hidden messages in mass market advertising --- the traditional marketing classes generally describe subliminal marketing as "untested" (perhaps because the high level advertising agencies keep their research confidential).Bullock describes an ad for an alcoholic beverage -- an ad that I recall viewing in some detail as I rode the subway to work each day. At that time, I found the image in the ad both disturbing and riveting -- but I could not understand what kept bringing my eyes back to further study it. (As I never drink the particular product being advertised, it wasn't due to any obvious interest on my part.) Imagine my surprise when, there in The Secret Sales Pitch, is that ad I remember from the subway train thoroughly dissected and explained. It _does_ have disturbing aspects, I was _not_ going crazy to have been drawn to the image -- there were many distrubing subliminal aspects that I couldn't identify until I saw the discussion in the book. I no longer simply look at any mass market ad without looking for hidden messages ... and I've seen some ads that have an initial "innocence" that, upon reflective examination, have many subtle images that reach out to our most basic emotions. Read this book and you'll never be able to just look at an ad ever again without wondering what secret messages the advertiser is sending you.
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