James P. Othmer, advertising executive turned novelist, gives us a hilarious, personal, and sneakily profound chronicle of the past, present, and f...
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Aug 08, 2011
Nura
rated it: 
I had always thought the advertising scene overseas would be drastically different from here in Malaysia. Boy, was I wrong! In a way James Othmer shattered one of my long-kept dreams that the grass on the other side would be greener.
The book itself is divided into 3 parts. The first part for me, was a trip down memory lane which was basically a combination of dreamy and nightmare-like existence. The second part was about the changes currently going on in the industry. And the final pa More...
The book itself is divided into 3 parts. The first part for me, was a trip down memory lane which was basically a combination of dreamy and nightmare-like existence. The second part was about the changes currently going on in the industry. And the final pa More...
Nov 07, 2009
Ben
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When I was in elementary school, and in the Gifted-and-Getting-Made-Fun-of-for-It Program, the best thing we ever did was study advertising. We had to bring in all the magazines we could find at home, and then go through them and examine all the ads. There were all these different types and approaches, and we had to say which was which and explain why. I remember my favorite was "cardstacking," which was when they added up all their brand's good points side-by-side with the competition
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Jul 28, 2011
Nura
rated it:
I had always thought the advertising scene overseas would be drastically different from here in Malaysia. Boy, was I wrong! In a way James Othmer shattered one of my long-kept dreams that the grass on the other side would be greener.
The book itself is divided into 3 parts. The first part for me, was a trip down memory lane which was basically a combination of dreamy and nightmare-like existence. The second part was about the changes currently going on in the industry. And the final More...
The book itself is divided into 3 parts. The first part for me, was a trip down memory lane which was basically a combination of dreamy and nightmare-like existence. The second part was about the changes currently going on in the industry. And the final More...
Jan 16, 2010
Taracuda
rated it: 
I couldn't wait to read this book after reading the first chapter on AdAge.com. The fact that there were at least three references to Mad Men on the Amazon page should have warned me off, but I clicked "buy".
And I couldn't wait to finish it. Because I couldn't wait for it to JUST BE OVER. The egos. The self-centered stupidity. The arrogant assumption that what they were doing was revolutionary.
If the mention of Ad Age didn't tip you off, yes, I work in adverti More...
And I couldn't wait to finish it. Because I couldn't wait for it to JUST BE OVER. The egos. The self-centered stupidity. The arrogant assumption that what they were doing was revolutionary.
If the mention of Ad Age didn't tip you off, yes, I work in adverti More...
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Jan 07, 2010
Kelley
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James Othmer's Adland isn't the sort of book I'd normally read. It's a memoir and it's about a business I've never been in: advertising. I picked it up because I needed something to read at lunch. The adjective most often associated with Othmer's style? Acerbically funny. Yup. I kept reading.
The book opens with a series of questions about advertising's supposed moral dilemmas: would you work on an account for the military? a tobacco company? for an alcohol product targeted at underag More...
The book opens with a series of questions about advertising's supposed moral dilemmas: would you work on an account for the military? a tobacco company? for an alcohol product targeted at underag More...
Jan 13, 2010
Fast company Best Business Books of 2009 list
A hilarious, personal, and sneakily profound chronicle of the past, present, and future of the advertising business, "Adland" is the wickedly funny, compelling, and personal chronicle of the rise and fall of a modern-day ad man.
From the Publisher:
"Liar's Poker" meets "The Tipping Point" meets "Mad Men"-a hilarious, personal, and sneakily profound chronicle of the past, present More...
A hilarious, personal, and sneakily profound chronicle of the past, present, and future of the advertising business, "Adland" is the wickedly funny, compelling, and personal chronicle of the rise and fall of a modern-day ad man.
From the Publisher:
"Liar's Poker" meets "The Tipping Point" meets "Mad Men"-a hilarious, personal, and sneakily profound chronicle of the past, present More...
Feb 04, 2011
Lisa
rated it: 
The book is clearly written by someone in advertising: the intro introduces several intriguing themes to draw you in, but the product doesn't deliver as advertised.
The title and introduction suggest that the book will discuss ethical issues inherent in advertising, or some of the main issues that the field is struggling with today. However, the weightiest issues are treated superficially. For example, one day he counts the number of ads he is exposed to in one form or another an More...
The title and introduction suggest that the book will discuss ethical issues inherent in advertising, or some of the main issues that the field is struggling with today. However, the weightiest issues are treated superficially. For example, one day he counts the number of ads he is exposed to in one form or another an More...
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Sep 18, 2009
Patrick
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Jan 22, 2012
Dave
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I think Othmer needed to write this book more than I needed to read it. The first section about his life at an ad agency was compelling and reminded me why I didn't want to be an ad man. The remaining sections detailed his exploration of why his agency failed and where advertising was headed. There were a few gems of wisdom, but a lot of talk of people and agencies that either ended too abruptly or went on too long. The section headers were quite enjoyable.
Dec 16, 2009
Brian
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Adland provides an entertaining tour through one career in the advertising industry. That career just happens to span the space between the dominance of the 30 second spot and the emerging dominance of new media, from extravagance to anomie, you might say.
Pick Adland up for the 300+ page equivalent of an agency internship.
Pick Adland up for the 300+ page equivalent of an agency internship.
Jul 01, 2010
Jason
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This book may be more interesting to someone who is not familiar with advertising, but the first-person narrative and lack of an obvious story arch just had it read like an autobiography of an advertising guy reflecting on his career. I honestly did not finish the book--the first hundred pages were enough for me.
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Oct 04, 2010
Richard
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Othmer was an ad writer for twenty-some years, working for some the biggest ad agencies in the US. The book talks about how he became an adman, about his experiences in field with a focus on the upheavals in the industry in the last twenty years and his thoughts on the future of the advertising business as digital technology, interactive media and shifting consumer habits force some big changes in promotional strategies. Well written. I found it interesting how out of touch our family is with
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Jul 27, 2011
2011- This was an interesting read of one man's experience in the advertising world, even though, at times, it seemed a bit disjointed. My favorite section was the third section, about the future of advertising, and how advertising students are being prepared for it.
Sep 19, 2009
Sarah
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He's a breezy, funny writer, but there's two very different books smushed together here - a memoir and a tour of the digital ad agencies of the future. Both imperfect but interesting.
Jun 23, 2010
Meredith
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Such an interesting insiders take on the shifting dynamics of the Advertising industry -- thought it was informative, entertaining and truly funny in all the right places.
Feb 10, 2010
Katherine
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The first half of this book was an amusing look back at the author's trip through several large advertising agencies and accounts. I enjoyed the recounting of creative v. client conflict and how decisions about advertisements were made.
There was a clear division into a second half where he started to investigate more about branding and marketing in general. He approached this with a flippant tone similar to the first half, but separated from his personal experiences it came across as self- More...
There was a clear division into a second half where he started to investigate more about branding and marketing in general. He approached this with a flippant tone similar to the first half, but separated from his personal experiences it came across as self- More...
Feb 05, 2010
Brynne
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othmer is a great writer. good book to be entertained while also learning about the ad industry.
Apr 21, 2011
Dan
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After just finishing Adland I was left hoping that there was more. It's not that it felt incomplete but because it was an enjoyable and enlightening read. Perhaps it was my total ignorance to the advertising industry but I thought it was a fascinating read. It wasn't a fluff piece nor was it polemical. I expected, foolishly the latter. This is a book I would recommend to just about anyone because of the humor and humility it takes to reflect on 20 years in such a challenging and often confoundin
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Dec 17, 2009
Jim
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interesting from insider in the advertising world but didn't get into how advertising interacts with culture or how it has evolved and why since the 1st sale or barter to current times
Aug 17, 2009
Matt
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3 books for the price of one: a short biography; a sociological survey of the field;
May 26, 2010
JulieK
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The first half of the book is a memoir of his career in advertising; the second half contains his more philosophical thoughts about advertising and ruminations on how the industry is changing. When I picked up the book, I thought I was going to be more interested in the latter than the former, but ended up finding the second half to be a real slog and gave up before I finished.
Feb 10, 2011
Kitt
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Pretty good, but not very well organized. My favorite parts were when Othmer talked about his own career.
Feb 06, 2012
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