Review
For most Americans, the term "public relations" has little middle ground - it either evokes mystique and glamour, or is shrouded with suspicion and contempt. "Spin doctors" have come to be a part of our pop culture and public conscience, though many of us, and maybe even a few of them, can't explain how they work their particular magic to get their clients their 15 minutes of fame. Is it through hard work, dumb luck or great timing? The answer, says Thomas Madden, in his highly entertaining autobiography Spin Man, is all of the above. Madden began his career as a journalist with the Philadelphia Inquirer, worked in PR at ABC and NBC, and then founded the award-winning firm TransMedia, one of the largest public relations and marketing firms in the Southeast, with his wife Angela. Over the years he has worked with clients as diverse as AT&T, the City of New York, former mayor Ed Koch and Drexel Burnham Lambert, and delt with celebrities like Yoko Ono, Muhammad Ali, Regis Philbin and Dick Clark. While he's undoubtedly an expert on "spin" he tells his tale in a straightforward manner, with candor, charm and humor. His book reads like a how-to PR manual as he recounts handling a wide range of interesting challenges, and in doing so, de-mystifies the curious world of public relations pros. Madden's conversational style suits the narrative well, and the constantly revolving door of stars and situations make it a true page-turner. A must for anyone considering a career in media, advertising or marketing. -- From Independent Publisher
