Mad Men Unbuttoned is a visually arresting celebration of the cultural and artistic ephemera of the 1960s advertising age, the Mad Men era. Based on the popular blog, Mad Men Unbuttoned “nails the 1960s and the ad industry during this fascinating era,” and is “a good, fast, joyful read.” (Nina DiSesa, Chairman, McCann New York).
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Entering its fourth season on July 25, AMC's critically acclaimed TV series Mad Men takes place on Madison Avenue during the early 1960s in the fictional Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce ad agency. Inspired by the TV series, L.A. freelance writer Vargas-Cooper launched a nicely designed and engaging blog, the Footnotes of Mad Men, to survey not only the show but also the real-world historical and cultural artifacts of that period. Now her attractive blog has been adapted into an equally attractive book. As Vargas-Cooper sees it, the series is "about the culture clash and contradictions that occurred during the twilight of the Eisenhower era, the great societal shake-up of the 1960s" and its impact on modern America. She focuses on advertising, design, films, literature, politics, sex, style, and the workplace in order to probe "the most dramatic cultural shift in the 20th century." She begins by detailing all the series' regular characters and then moves on to profile real-life ad man Leo Burnett (Tony the Tiger, the Pillsbury Doughboy, the Marlboro Man), followed by everything from skinny ties, condoms, John Cheever and Frank O'Hara to Jackie Kennedy's White House tour on CBS and The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit. All are neatly linked with specific TV episodes, making this both an entertaining read and the definitive companion book for the series.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From Booklist
Well, maybe that romp in the subtitle is an exaggeration. In fact, this is a pretty quiet book, although its author is clearly an enthusiastic fan of the hit TV series Mad Men (she operates a Web site with the same name as the book), and the book is sure to appeal the show’s many devotees. Vargas-Cooper uses the show, about advertising executives in the 1960s, as sort of a portal into the decade, showing how television fiction reflects the era in which it’s set. She discusses some real-life advertising giants (Ogilvy, Burnett, Daniels), talks about social mores (particularly sex), and delves into pop culture (books, movies, etc.). The book is packed with information, and some proves quite fascinating; but readers who aren’t serious fans of the show may be put off by the bland prose and the distractingly large number of footnotes. A thoroughly enjoyable handbook, though, for anyone who wants more information about what Don Draper and his colleagues and friends smoked, drank, read, and talked about. --David Pitt
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Too many tv companion books offer little more than boring recaps of episodes with maybe some commentary of varying quality added.
This book is not like that, happily. Instead, we get short essays that are related to the episodes sometimes only tangentially, but illuminate the culture , current events, and aesthetics of the era " Mad Men " is set in.
Grouped by broad categories, these essays ( by multiple contributors) are quick and to the point, and cover many surprising topics. Some expand on small details of the show that you may have missed ( I know I did), or cover a major societal shift.
The book is a pleasure to look at- beautifully designed, with many full color photos and illustrations and a bold and simple overall look.
When I say this is a book that you'd never guess was an adaptation of a website, I mean that as a compliment.
This book is not like that, happily. Instead, we get short essays that are related to the episodes sometimes only tangentially, but illuminate the culture , current events, and aesthetics of the era " Mad Men " is set in.
Grouped by broad categories, these essays ( by multiple contributors) are quick and to the point, and cover many surprising topics. Some expand on small details of the show that you may have missed ( I know I did), or cover a major societal shift.
The book is a pleasure to look at- beautifully designed, with many full color photos and illustrations and a bold and simple overall look.
When I say this is a book that you'd never guess was an adaptation of a website, I mean that as a compliment.
25 of 31 people found the following review helpful
By Jon Wiener
Format:Paperback
This is the smartest and the most fun of all the Mad Men books -- and it's also the most beautiful. Natasha Vargas-Cooper is obviously a fan, but she's also a terrific writer; and I am in awe at her success at finding the photos, ads and images that became the icons of the era. Her explanations of "How to be a Betty" and "Sex and the Single Girl" should become classics.
12 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
When someone asks me what the TV show Mad Men is about (after hearing me rant on and on about its utter genius), I usually say something like: it's about the cultural shift of the 1960s, backed by the history of its time and the extremely pertinent New York advertising age. Natasha Vargas-Cooper says it a bit better:
"It's about the culture clash and contradictions that occurred during the twilight of the Eisenhower era, the great societal shake-up of the 1960s, and how that pressurized time in history formed modern America, its families, its consciousness, and its consumers."
It's because of that overwhelmingly detailed, yet spot on, prose that I was attracted to Vargas-Cooper's writing. Although an unauthorized guide to the show, it's a fantastic companion piece (and I highly Matt Weiner hiring her as a researcher for the show). Separated into different sections (The Ads and the Men Who Made Them; Style; Smoking, Drinking, and Drugging; etc...) the book delves deeper into everything the show represents, giving a grander understanding to each ad, each character trait, and each decorated home.
It's not just an ode to Mad Men - it's a cultural study of the time period (or, as the book says, "a romp through 1960s America"). It uses Mad Men as a backdrop to discuss what was really going on, from fashion to politics. Those who are intrigued by the age would be just as interested in the literary work.
The first chapter, which discussed actual advertising from that time period and the movers and shakers that made it happen, was actually my favorite. It overviewed the historic ad campaigns (Marlboro Man, Volkswagen Think Small, Western Union, etc), showing the actual ad and how it was thought up. After each company and product was discussed, it showed how some Mad Men ads were similar, and how the characters mirror some of the real high power people of that age. It shows how Sal's art was at turmoil due to the fact that many companies started to turn to photographs; how shops were re-designed, much like Menken's. My personal favorite, it showed the start of the font Helvetica, and how it was used as an "everyman" sort of font that people could understand despite size and wasn't too fancy or too bold.
Other chapters went into the style, movies, literature, and decor of the time period, showing where Betty may have gotten her fashion influence. It shows how the times are changing, and how the characters must evolve with it (tighter waists like Joan, fuller skirts like Betty's). Or, how certain movie actors of the time were very similar to some of the leading characters (the Cary Grant/Clark Gable/Humphrey Bogart/John Wayne sexual alchemy of Don Draper). Or, the books the characters read, and how they showcase another side of the character's life.
Indeed, the book is completely inclusive, discussing every aspect the 1960s and show both represent. It offers a fuller look into the program, but more so, a deeper look into the time period and what the characters were up against. It was a book I purchased and figured i'd read on and off throughout the holiday season, as it wasn't a page-turning fiction novel, but greedily devoured in around three days. The chapters are short and too the point, with enough detail piled in that it had me repeatedly wanting to share the information with others. I'm excited to see what Vargas-Cooper has in store next.
Is it time for season five yet?
"It's about the culture clash and contradictions that occurred during the twilight of the Eisenhower era, the great societal shake-up of the 1960s, and how that pressurized time in history formed modern America, its families, its consciousness, and its consumers."
It's because of that overwhelmingly detailed, yet spot on, prose that I was attracted to Vargas-Cooper's writing. Although an unauthorized guide to the show, it's a fantastic companion piece (and I highly Matt Weiner hiring her as a researcher for the show). Separated into different sections (The Ads and the Men Who Made Them; Style; Smoking, Drinking, and Drugging; etc...) the book delves deeper into everything the show represents, giving a grander understanding to each ad, each character trait, and each decorated home.
It's not just an ode to Mad Men - it's a cultural study of the time period (or, as the book says, "a romp through 1960s America"). It uses Mad Men as a backdrop to discuss what was really going on, from fashion to politics. Those who are intrigued by the age would be just as interested in the literary work.
The first chapter, which discussed actual advertising from that time period and the movers and shakers that made it happen, was actually my favorite. It overviewed the historic ad campaigns (Marlboro Man, Volkswagen Think Small, Western Union, etc), showing the actual ad and how it was thought up. After each company and product was discussed, it showed how some Mad Men ads were similar, and how the characters mirror some of the real high power people of that age. It shows how Sal's art was at turmoil due to the fact that many companies started to turn to photographs; how shops were re-designed, much like Menken's. My personal favorite, it showed the start of the font Helvetica, and how it was used as an "everyman" sort of font that people could understand despite size and wasn't too fancy or too bold.
Other chapters went into the style, movies, literature, and decor of the time period, showing where Betty may have gotten her fashion influence. It shows how the times are changing, and how the characters must evolve with it (tighter waists like Joan, fuller skirts like Betty's). Or, how certain movie actors of the time were very similar to some of the leading characters (the Cary Grant/Clark Gable/Humphrey Bogart/John Wayne sexual alchemy of Don Draper). Or, the books the characters read, and how they showcase another side of the character's life.
Indeed, the book is completely inclusive, discussing every aspect the 1960s and show both represent. It offers a fuller look into the program, but more so, a deeper look into the time period and what the characters were up against. It was a book I purchased and figured i'd read on and off throughout the holiday season, as it wasn't a page-turning fiction novel, but greedily devoured in around three days. The chapters are short and too the point, with enough detail piled in that it had me repeatedly wanting to share the information with others. I'm excited to see what Vargas-Cooper has in store next.
Is it time for season five yet?
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very happy, but not ideal for research
This book is very entertaining. However, if you are looking for a scholarly source in regards to Mad Men research, I'd recommend Mad Men and Philosophy before Mad Men Unbuttoned.
Published on April 29, 2011 by McRita11
5.0 out of 5 stars
For the 'Mad Men' buff as well as the history buff.
AMC's 'Mad Men' has opened my eyes to an American culture that I had previously known next to nothing about. Read more
Published on January 8, 2011 by JediOutcast
5.0 out of 5 stars
Made for Mad Men lovers and children of the 60s (and before)
I've enjoyed this book immensely - the pictures definitely make the book and take you back to a time that was a little twisted but certainly more innocent. Read more
Published on November 23, 2010 by I Love Amazon.com
3.0 out of 5 stars
Recommended for younger viewers and readers
I was mildly disappointed by the book because I expected more depth. The short articles on such topics as abortion, divorce, Ossining, gay lifestyle, and the world of advertising... Read more
Published on September 16, 2010 by ECWB
3.0 out of 5 stars
Website in Tangible Form
This book is just fine...if you're not a follower of Vargas-Cooper's website. Essentially, the book is the website in paperback form, as other reviewers have stated. Read more
Published on September 15, 2010 by vleigh
5.0 out of 5 stars
Simply Marvelous
I am a devotee of both Mad Men and of the era it is set in. This book was a perfect match. It's smart. It's witty. It's colorful. Read more
Published on September 2, 2010 by Frank30
3.0 out of 5 stars
Kind of a bell curve
There's some excellent material on advertising in the 1950s and 1960s and in other chapters the material is pretty good but in others it is superficial. Read more
Published on August 30, 2010 by James D. Crabtree
3.0 out of 5 stars
Mad at Mad Men Unbuttoned--a little uneven
Because I have been a Mad Men series devotee since its debut, I thought the book would be more illuminating about the series than I found it to be. Read more
Published on August 24, 2010 by C. C. Smith
4.0 out of 5 stars
entertaining and informative book
I gave this book as a gift, and it was very well-received. The chapters are informative, but short, so it's a very quick read.
Published on August 16, 2010 by art guy
2.0 out of 5 stars
Just her website in paperback form
I was pretty disappointed by this book. I love Mad Men and I love that the author wanted to share some 1960's culture, but it's pretty light on substance. Read more
Published on August 16, 2010 by guinness
Front Cover | Front Flap | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Flap | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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