Customer Reviews

Read Me: A Century of Classic American Book Advertisements

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Browsing through this collection of book advertisements, dating back to the 1900s, is like going through the world's coolest high-school yearbook, but one with books instead of people -- you get to see all your favorite books when they were young and fresh-faced, and sometimes a little dorky. ("And the women--what women you meet!" an ad for Joseph Conrad screams, replete with cheesy silent-movie-type illustration of a distressed damsel. And check out the young Cormac McCarthy, from 1968, looking like a sportscaster.) It's an intriguing look at the nature and techniques of advertising (one ad, from the 1940s, wants you to know that the quoted reviews were not written under the influence of marijuana), but, for book-lovers, it's also a really fun romp, with lots of oddball discoveries and familiar old friends.

I really enjoyed reading Dwight Garner's book. The ads represent how readers first heard of many of these books, and the way these classic books were "sold" to the public. It's fascinating social history - and quite a joy to browse. I highly recommend this. You may quote me: "I couldn't put it down!"

For a guy who takes so many "cheap shots" at other writers who publish works that take years of research to write, books that really matter, and often put their lives on the line, this is a nothing book that no publishing company would have ever bought if the name of the writer was not "Dwight Garner", one of the most powerful man in making books a hit or a miss. Everyone kisses his butt.
The book is what it is. An informative book about advertising books. Guess someone had to write it.
What's the matter Dwight, isn't the Times paying you enough?