Up the Agency: The Funny Business Of Advertising [Paperback]

Peter Mayle (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 15, 1994 | ISBN-10: 0312119119 | ISBN-13: 978-0312119119

Before his glorious retreat to Provence, delightfully chronicled in his best-sellers A Year in Provence and Toujours Provence, Peter Mayle made his career in advertising, beginning as a copywriter and finishing thirteen years later as a creative director ("I think I was also a vice president, " he writes "but I never had the cards printed"). Up the Agency is his caustic valentine to the culture of Madison Avenue, where the tribal customs and rituals are as wondrous to behold as the sights on any anthropological expedition. Treading fearlessly and wittily where no one without a customized BMW and matching Armani suit has gone before, Mayle dissects this odd and endlessly fascinating industry - where the speed of a new talent's ascent can be matched only by his shocking fall months later. Whether describing the perfect ad man, the frenzy and desperation of putting together a new campaign, or the treachery of the fickle product-buying public, Mayle brings his insightful eye to bear on this very funny business, which brings both pleasure and pain to millions - and millions to a few.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Mining the years of his career before his famous move to Southern France, Mayle ( A Year in Provence ) offers an amusing, perceptive and sometimes cynical chronicle of American and British advertising in the '60s and '70s. A former copywriter and creative director, Mayle maintains that the industry "hovers on the fringes of big business and show business, of sports and politics, of sleaze and respectability all at once." He describes the ideal "advertising man" (but not advertising woman) and clients, discussing campaigns, awards and fringe benefits worthy of royalty. Of special note is opinionated analysis of contemporary advertising, e.g., his criticism that "American advertising, for the most part, is in the hands of the committees instead of individuals. . . . The commercials are once again dull and predictable." While demonstrating some need for a stronger editorial hand, Mayle generally offers a worthwhile introduction to the world of advertising.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

The immensely popular author of A Year in Provence ( LJ 4/1/90) and Toujours Provence ( LJ 5/1/91) recounts what he learned during his 13-year career in advertising. Mayle is a gifted raconteur with a sharp wit; he relates the tribal customs and rituals of the advertising business for the interested reader. He does not discuss specific advertising campaigns and strategies; rather, he humorously illustrates the manners and motivations of the people involved in the ad game. For instance, he uses examples to explain why the "perfect advertising man" needs to be resilient, persistent, a shameless extrovert, an immediate enthusiast, and a superb salesperson. While this book is not a necessary purchase for business collections, it will probably be requested by readers captivated by Mayle's popularity and amusing style. Almost any library should consider this book for its general readership.
- William W. Sann wald, San Diego P.L.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 142 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (December 15, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312119119
• ISBN-13: 978-0312119119
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #830,683 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Big Ad Agencies Exposed!, April 1, 2002

By 

Paul Entin "epr - Ideas That Click" (New Jersey) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Up the Agency: The Funny Business Of Advertising (Paperback)

I was flattered while working in my first ad agency position when the accountant - a veteran of New York ad agencies - told me I would do very well on Madison Avenue. That lifestyle never appealed to me but I was intrigued enough to buy Up The Agency at the local Barnes & Noble. In a hilarious account from the author's own experiences and observations as a star advertising executive, Peter Mayle reveals the sordid inner workings, dysfunctionalities and shameless greed of the world's most mammoth ad agencies. Detailing the base instincts, typical thought processes and hidden agendas of account executives, art directors, copywriters, assistants and other agency personnel, as well as those of the clients, Mr. Mayle exposes with dire sarcasm how the quest for money, status and ego corrupt the agency-client relationship. The result is bland, ineffective, conservative advertising. But that's what the client wanted and the tradeoff is a second house in the Hamptons and a Porsche in the garage. Add Mr. Mayle's English heritage and it would be easy for those on the outside of the industry to miss much of the dry yet irresistibly funny humor.

In fact, I must confess that it was only last night that I dusted it off the shelf to send it to a friend considering a career in advertising that I realized how funny this book is. After flipping through a few pages describing how industry awards are judged (think Salt Lake City Olympics Pairs Figure Skating), and laughing heartily, I reread the entire book. Apparently, I missed most of the humor when I first read it ten years ago.

Up The Agency is a quick, fun and worthwhile read for anyone involved in advertising. From elaborate new business pitches and bloated entertainment expenses to excessive awards banquets and inflated egos, agency personnel, clients and vendors alike will enjoy dozens of all too true stories that will in all likelihood mirror many of their own experiences.

18 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for anyone thinking of going into advertising., October 23, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Up the Agency: The Funny Business Of Advertising (Paperback)

Peter Mayle has a hilarious style all his own. He leads you through the advertising business with his witty anecdotes and quirky analogies. When you reach the last page, you'll wish there were more!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very insightful; Fun; A Great Read, June 18, 2009

By 

wrr "WRR" (Digital) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Up the Agency: The Funny Business Of Advertising (Paperback)

It took me a little while to get warmed up to this book, but then I just couldn't put it down. As I read it I felt like a very insightful fly on the wall, as years of experience and experiences were downloaded in a very entertaining and boiled down manner. For people who like an insider view into various industries, or anyone trying to navigate the advertising world specifically, this is a must read.

I have Angela to thank for referring this to me at a Cocktail party at Ad:Tech San Francisco 2009 after I had mentioned my other favorite, Confessions of an Advertising Man.

Confessions of an Advertising Man