Customer Reviews

Adland: Searching for the Meaning of Life on a Branded Planet

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4 star:		(1)
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James P. Othmer is one of the funniest writers at work today. Period. His keen eye for the absurdities of the modern world rivals the likes of George Saunders and Sam Lipsyte. You could sharpen knives on Othmer's sentences.

Prior to his 2006 debut novel, The Futurist, Jimbo was honing his mad skills in the advertising racket, as an exec at Young & Rubicam. And though I daresay it was a colossal waste of his talents, I, for one, am glad he endured it, or we wouldn't have Adland, a hilarious and insightful chronicle of the rise and fall of a modern ad man.

Thoroughly enjoyed this fast moving tale. Hilarious, quick witted telling of the internal workings of advertising. Reminiscent and researched account of advertising's evolution from Darrin Stevens to Product Branding.

A very funny, realistic account of the ups and downs of the advertising world. Where its been and where its going. Bright, sharp, entertaining & informative. A must read for those considering the Marketing/Advertising field & those who were/are a part of the Ad Land.

James Othmer's witty & satirical look at the world of advertising is a fascinating and most compelling expose. It also demonstrates why conventional advertising campaigns and public relations strategies are changing faster than a speeding tweet on Twitter.

We've entered an age of internet information; businesses are moving away from conventional forms of advertising (bad news for newspapers, television & radio) in search of ways to actively engage their customers in the marketing process. The platforms are varied---from Facebook to Twitter---and the feedback is vital in helping them establish effective brand recognition.

Of course, it didn't used to be that way. Commercial television's advertising campaigns were rarely creative; for the most part, they were comprised of tired platitudes and bland voice-overs. Occasionally, some campaigns became tremendous hits, although many, such as Wendy's "Where's the Beef?" irritated people as much as entertained them. Othmer's hilariously satirical mock depictions of certain aspects of advertising will leave you rolling on the floor with laughter; literally.

In the end, the message delivered by Othmer becomes one of ethics and practicality. Is it worth it to be part of a dubious ad campaign that violates an individual's basic core values? Nowadays, would anyone even be listening?

James Othmer takes the reader through the advertising industry as it was 20 years ago until the dawn of the digital age through his own eyes and experiences as an industry insider. He is a talented writer and this book will be difficult to put down if you are a marketing, branding or advertising wonk. Heck, even if you simply enjoy watching the ads during the Super Bowl you'll enjoy this book.

Othmer takes you back in time when the large, traditional ad agencies were at their peak creating consumer perceptions and delivering sales for clients. He takes you back to a fascinating and sometimes absurd world of excess, manipulation, craziness, greed, hard work and irrational exuberance dotted with flashes of brilliance and unmatched creativity. 30-second TV ads ruled the land and advertising execs fell prey to the human tendency to believe that the good times were here to stay and that the money would just keep rolling in from clients forever. He tells first-hand stories of his experiences and his cynicism belies the fact that he is actually on the path to redemption by deconstructing the digital revolution, honestly assessing the stumbling of traditional ad agencies and seeking ethical recovery in present and future advertising and brand building practices.

The last few chapters have you staring into the light of the future by looking at how savvy marketers are now engaging with consumers in ways never before imagined using media and strategies that none of us envisioned just a few years ago. He gets to the heart when he recounts a statement made by Rick Boyko, former chief creative officer of Ogilvy & Mather and now professor at VCU's Brandcenter when Boyko states, "Now more than ever the brand steward isn't the corporation or the agency, it's the consumer." This is a truism that I have stated many times (just see my reviewers profile 'In My Own Words' section) and it is a truism that branders must accept and embrace and then meet consumers where they are engaging with brands--in online forums, on Facebook, online reviews, YouTube, blogs and LCD screens both large and small everywhere. This shift in brand stewardship is the pivot point upon which this book built and you'll enjoy taking a stroll with Othmer during the shift.

I believe this book coupled with 'Obsessive Branding Disorder' by Lucas Conley ought to be required reading for anyone involved in marketing. I am happy to highly recommend "AdLand: The Meaning of Life on a Branded Planet." I couldn't put it down.

~~Review by the author of the e-book, "How to Build and Manage Your Brand (in sickness and in health)."

James Othmer is at his best in Adland when he offers a wide-eyed, insider's view of the ad agency industry that he has experienced first hand. The sad stories of lost pitches and bad bosses offer what "Ogilvy on Advertising" forgot to mention. Then, his exploration of the future of marketing and advertising presents a well-researched and well-thought-out range of possibilities. The book is a must-read for traditional marketing and advertising people who are trying to figure out where the market is going and how to hit the personal reset button. But it is also a LOL ride through an ad agency business that we know so well.

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 found this book fascinating. It neither 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 confounding industry.

It is very funny to see how the author reacts to such a soul sucking environment that is the ad agency.

First those suited folks at the Madison Avenue type company worked together to create the world's first two atomic bombs. Now we get to the dirty truth from a former ad executive who regularly gets bombed night after night after seeing his creativity and hard work gets gang banged out of job security day after day. Filled with brillant history/memoir and insights toward advertising's future in being given the business as usual, it is one of the finest crash course in advertising that will strip one's of his or her self respect and dignity and leave him or her laughing bitterly.

Those of you who sing the Whitney Houston's song 'The Greatest Love Of All', in the shower, shut up immediately. There's a larger and a more honest shadow over you all that might take your poll, does heavy research on culture and products like Youtube and Elf Yourself, and charm you by telling self desprecating jokes.

Those who are are urged to be clinically depressed while being middle-aged, beware. According to various pharmacological companies disclaimers in various ads, it will destroy what's left of your will to live.

The only negative is that the book is very light and breezy and I wish more of his humorous outtakes on the secretive world of advertising.

This guy seems to regret his entire career working in large advertising agencies on accounts many would love to have experience with. In the final pages he assumes a reporters hat and does a very good job of investigating the direction of today's and tomorrow's media consumption and how it is and will be used. If you are a real fan of advertising you might find it interesting but better to spend money and time with the likes of Godin and Gladwell fo insights into tomorrow's media.

ADLAND: SEARCHING FOR THE MEANING OF LIFE ON A BRANDED PLANET comes from an author with over two decades in the business as a former Executive Creative Director at an advertising firm. His insights on the advertising industry and its demands offers an insider's survey of how ads are created and brought to life in a lively, outstanding analysis recommended for both business and general libraries.