The Wizard of Ads

by Roy H. Williams

Forget Madison Avenue! Learn the unvarnished truth about what works, what doesn't and why from the most fascinating storyteller since Paul Harvey. With the knowledge of a seasoned business consultant and the warmth and wit of a natural storyteller, the Wizard will help you to:

Genres: Business, Nonfiction, Writing, Communication, Audiobook, Psychology

244 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1998

Reviews

[Gregory Downey · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most powerful thing I learned from this book is that "The Only Truth Others Posses Is Truth they Arrived At on Their Own"... Therefore, you must learn to say things without actually saying it, so the receiver of your message arrives at the desired logical destination on their own and therefore owns the message in its entirety.

This book is a must read for anyone in any type of business.
BUT I WARN YOU... If you work in an ego driven industry, you will scare a lot of people into thinking that you are going to take their job..

[Martha · Rating 5 out of 5]

A business book on the cover. Well written and more about sticking to your convictions than about business. I'm glad a marketing rep I deal with at work wanted me to read it!

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bumped into this book while browsing the airport bookstore. On any given trip, I usually take two books. I had finished the first one, but I was having a hard time getting into the the back-up book.

I'm not sure why I picked up "The Wizard of Ads" - I don't work in advertising, but after flipping through a few pages it was easy to see that this book went way beyond just marketing tips - it's basically a manual on Life in 101 easy-to-read one and two page essays.

The use of stories as examples is great; I love it when writing gives you shivers and this one book is full of them. Plus I learned some interesting history. Did you know that when the Statue of Liberty was brought to the US in 1886, they couldn't find anyone willing to donate the $100,000 needed to erect it? In the end, 121,000 people donated an average of 83 cents each toward the effort (and there's more to the story, but I won't ruin it for you).

My only criticism is not with the author but with the book binding. Uneven with rough cut edges. This may have been done on purpose to make it feel like an 'old' book, but I think it's distracting.

[A.R. Hellbender · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is full of very important copywriting knowledge, but some of the chapters felt a bit irrelevant and weren’t what I was looking for, and then the last 1/4th just real like a self help book.
But I would definitely recommend this for the important parts about copywriting.

[Alvaro Berrios · Rating 3 out of 5]

More about life advice than it is about writing great ads. Not that the advice was bad, but it's just not what I was expecting when I picked this book up.

[Justina Kecoriūtė · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that you want to open again and again. It's very easy to read, but it doesn't mean that the content is somehow less valuable. It's simple, but that's why it's great. The Wizard of Ads encouraged me to rethink the common sense about people that I've been carrying with me for some time. It also proved to me that simplicity is the hardest form to achieve, in any type of business.

"The most valuable of all talents is that of never using two words when one will do." – [quoting Thomas Jefferson]

[Cristian Fusoiu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good ideas here and there...

[Petra · Rating 4 out of 5]

The audiobook would get 3 stars, it’s extremely annoying. If you’re gonna read this, don’t choose audio :D the book is awesome.

[Christian Sorrell · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of short, periodical-style columns that are, at times, insightful and, at other times, too general and shallow to create much thought or inspiration in the reader. The book's first third is focused on advertising and marketing, the author's primary claim to fame, and it's certainly the strongest part of the collection, with several pieces giving quick and sharp insight into good marketing practices that hold true to this day. As the book continues though, it leans more and more into generic, pseudo-inspirational business talk. Interesting enough little antidotes with a hastily attached moral to round things out. For those in copywriting and advertising, I'd recommend reading Part 1 and skipping the rest, unless Williams' voice has caught you enough to still be interested.

[Albena Georgieva · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting book if you are into marketing and inspiring people by conveying a clear message.
All marketing classic lessons are told in a compact and simple way. It is almost a collection of life wisdom short stories, told from the perspective of a marketing and communication expert.

My favourite quote:
Most ads are written under the assumption that the customer is asking,
Who are you?
What is your product?
When are you open?
Where are you located?
Unfortunately, the customer's only real question is Why should I care?


For more of the books that inspired me this year check here

[Mark Weeks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was searching for some inspiration on copywriting and boosting my mojo. Finding this gem of a book did both on a rainy Sunday in November. I am now a committed Roy H. Williams fan. This book offers so much human insight that it will require reading more than once. I loved the way it finishes with 'A Message To Garcia' too. It's really not a how to/formula book, but it certainly boosted my mojo:) I'm ready to start his book 'Destinae' next.

'Compared to what we ought to be, we are only half awake.' - William James

Thank you Roy, I've woken up:)

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent motivational book that gives great tips on marketing, sales, and advertising - along with a few life lessons. A slight biblical worldview offers no excuses, only possibilities to explore.

[Alex Obradovic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book with the focus on advertising. Author shares a lot of life lessons and insights, through interesting storytelling. I have finished this fun book in 2 days. Definitely a good read.

[Jantz Garza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life and marketing are strangely similar.

[Tonya · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is worth a read for anyone in sales or marketing. A common sense approach to this crazy world of selling someone else's products.

[Mariquela Calvo Ford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Es sobre marketing, pero cada capítulo me dejó reflexionando. Gran libro.

[Charles A. CALLARI III · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh. Not so good. Don’t waste your time.

[Nichole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read

[Jon Spoelstra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've never met Roy until last year, but I sure had enjoyed his books for a decade.

Roy invited me to host a 2-day seminar last year at his Wizard Academy in Austin, TX.

Roy is a dynamic writer. But, wow, in person his personality out-glows his writing.

While I consider Joe Sugarman the greatest writer for print ads, Roy is the greatest for radio copy. Both are, of course, great marketers that really have a gift for positioning their product.

Roy's got several books, but read first The Wizard of Ads and and then Secret Formulas of the Wizard of Ads.

You also should go to his web-site (wizardofads.com) and subscribe to a FREE weekly email newsletter. The free newsletter comes every Monday and Roy talks about some weird stuff about marketing that make you say wow.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a neat book full of lessons and perspectives related to advertising, but more specifically successful advertising. A must read for any business owner or anyone working or interested in advertising.

[Dana (thatisagreatread) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply wonderful! I read this book in college and recently picked it up again. Great creative tips on how dreamers can become millionaires!

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book should be required reading for everyone!

[Marie Palmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very refreshing and fun-to-read philosophy of advertising.

[Black743 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful insight into what makes people tick.

[Mike Bal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really great approach to writing copy. IT can be easily translated to any form of media.

[Catherine Maina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unputdownable!!

[Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good clear direction for making people attentive to ads and marketing.