Guts: Advertising from the Inside Out [Paperback]

John Lyons (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

In a book that is far more subtle and interesting than its title, Lyons gives us the un-prettied-up facts of advertising agency life. He recounts outrageous behavior on the part of agency people and clients as well. He has interviewed a good number of the more successful creative people and shares with us their comments and beliefs. There is even a section advising would-be writers how to get started in advertising. A very good book about advertising, particularly from the copywriter's point of view. Joseph E. O'Connor, M.L.S., Beaufort,
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Amacom Books; 1st AMACOM Paperback Ed edition (September 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0814477216
• ISBN-13: 978-0814477212
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 6.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,780,749 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Good overview of the world of creating advertising but..., June 10, 2009

By 

Peter C. Geisheker "Marketing Consultant" (Green Bay, WI, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Guts: Advertising from the inside out (Hardcover)

This is an okay book. I think the author focuses too much on creativity for the sake of creativity and not enough on generating sales for his clients. Also, whenever an ad man talks about being creative to win advertising awards (and this author often does), that should be a huge red flag. The purpose of advertising is to sell product and grow a businesses, not create wall art and win awards for creativity on your client's dime.

4.0 out of 5 stars Worth the price alone, July 28, 2007

By 

M. Meyer (Colleyville, TX USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Guts: Advertising from the Inside Out (Paperback)

John Lyons definition and explanation on "strategy" is worth the read all by itself. I read this book 20 years ago and have crystalized my thinking with John's words countless times since. He says, "Strategy is a carefully devised plot to murder your competition."

4.0 out of 5 stars The goods on, February 24, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Guts: Advertising from the Inside Out (Paperback)

Lyons takes his years of experience in the advertising world and turns in Guts, an enjoyable read with anecdote-laden accounts of life inside one of the most controversial professions.