How to Put Your Book Together and Get a Job in Advertising [Paperback]

Maxine Paetro (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1887229019 | ISBN-13: 978-1887229012 | Publication Date: August 25, 1997

The number one advertising career book is better than ever!

Editorial Reviews

Review

Maxine’s book was my bible and helped me land my first job in advertising. I owe where I am in large part to her. (Jim Hord, Creative Director at R/GA )

Maxine's book was the only one I read back in the day that inspired me to become a copywriter. For if not for her book, if not for becoming a copywriter, I would have never started this magazine as well (CMYK). (Curtis Clarkson, Founder/Editor of CMYK Magazine )

I recommend the book to every young creative person (and some old ones) who I talk to. I tell them read the book, get a copy of the Communication Arts Annual, and if they still think it’s something they want to do, I’ll help them in any way I can. I have probably sold a couple of hundred copies over the years and given away dozens. (Mike Malone, Creative Director at The Richards Group )

Max has always had a way with words, and with this revision to her timeless ‘how to’ guide, she hasn’t lost her touch. This book is a great example of news you can use. It is also an example of common sense that, unfortunately, is not always common practice. Write on, Max! (Michael Donahue, Executive Vice President, American Association of Advertising Agencies (AAAA) )

If you are trying to break into the ad business, read this book. It’s like having a really smart guardian angel whisper all the right things to you. Things that will not only make your book better, but your interview better, your search better, you better. (Luke Sullivan, author of Hey Whipple, Squeeze This: A Guide To Creating Great Advertising )

Want to put your book together? Max's ‘how to’ is still the bible. What makes a great ad hasn't changed a whit, but the industry has changed dramatically; and this new edition is the pitch-perfect guide for breaking into today's ad world. (Flinn Dallis, coach and consultant, and former SVP Director of Creative Operations, Leo Burnett Company, USA )

Buy this book. The latest edition of Maxine Paetro’s up-to-the-minute go-to source remains a classic, and still the only book that dares to tell the whole gory truth about how to get into advertising. (James Patterson, Former Chairman, JWT North America Worldwide Creative Business Director, and best-selling author ) --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

About the Author

Maxine Paetro is a former advertising executive and the author of nine #1 bestsellers with James Patterson. She lives in New York City. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 212 pages
• Publisher: Copy Workshop (August 25, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1887229019
• ISBN-13: 978-1887229012
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,590,807 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not everything in this book is true..., November 9, 2001

By 

J. P Snedeker (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: How to Put Your Book Together and Get a Job in Advertising (Paperback)

I bought this book in the mid-80s when I was a fledgling copywriter in New York City.

It was helpful in focusing on what was important in putting my book together. But not everything in this book is a hard-and-fast fact. For example, in the author's opinion, it is okay to simply have stick figures for your visuals. But every ad person I talked with said this thinking was completely wrong. The truth is, you need to have as professional-looking a book as possible, which means you need to hire, at the very least, a professional art director to draw your visual for you. Better yet, get some photos for your ad if that is what is meant to be there.

Competition for jobs is just so fierce, you need to do whatever you can to package yourself ahead of the next guy. Great ideas are not enough anymore; they need to look great, too.

In the end, I was always given the "great book, no jobs" refrain. After three years of pounding the streets of NYC, I never got a job. There was even an ringing endorsement from a New York creative director on the back cover which read "I will give anyone who follows this book's advice an automatic interview!" I never even got a return phone call from the guy.

I would recommend this book to a beginner, but with the caveat that the ideas inside are just one person's opinion, and should not be considered gospel.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Advertising Student, March 6, 2000

By 

ZAK (Truth or Consequences, New Mexico) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How to Put Your Book Together and Get a Job in Advertising (Paperback)

Who better to give advice on getting a job in advertising than someone who's been doing the hiring for some of the world's finest agencies in New York? But this book is more than a bible to those looking to join the game, it's the Cliff's notes to your future in advertising. Even better, it's simply a fun book.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Definitely worth the twenty bucks!, June 24, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: How to Put Your Book Together and Get a Job in Advertising (Paperback)

This book was well worth it! I was pleasantly surprised and read it from cover to cover. If you are serious about getting into a career as a creative, this will help you. The title delivers exactly what it says. Good advice, plain and simple.