The Art of Writing Advertising : Conversations with Masters of the Craft: David Ogilvy, William Bernbach, Leo Burnett, Rosser Reeves, (Paperback)

by Denis Higgins (Author) "In a recording studio in the offices of Doyle Dane Bernbach on New York's 43rd St. sits William Bernbach..." (more)
Key Phrases: good copywriter, writing advertising, advertising men, New York, Erwin Wasey, Leo Burnett (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
A McGraw-Hill Advertising Classic

"What makes a great advertisement?" Nearly four decades ago, an unmatched group of five advertising pioneers first answered that question in The Art of Writing Advertising.

Their entertaining and historically compelling answers will provide advertising professionals with valuable techniques for applying breakthrough creativity and innovation in the workplace.

From the Back Cover
Five pioneer advertising writers reveal the secrets to great advertising and great writing

Four decades ago, five of the original giants of advertising copywriting--William Bernbach, Leo Burnett, George Gribbin, David Ogilvy, and Rosser Reeves--discussed their writing techniques with Advertising Age magazine. Fascinating and enlightening, these interviews were so popular with writers everywhere that they were compiled into the book you now hold.

The Art of Writing Advertising allows history's greatest advertising copywriters to freely discuss what they know best--writing and creating. The classic primer for professional copywriters, it has over the years become equally prized as a hands-on idea-starter for writers of every stripe from all walks of life.

"To the reader who has any interest at all in advertising, in advertising writing, or indeed in writing or expression of any kind, the five interviews in this volume are certain to be of absorbing interest. Here are the masters of their craft, talking--not writing--informally, freely, and cogently about their craft, their skills, their ideas, their notions, and their ideals. Let's join the conversation."
--From the Introduction

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Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill; 1 edition (January 21, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0071410937
• ISBN-13: 978-0071410939
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #183,226 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What do five legendary copywriters say about advertising?, September 11, 2006

By	D. Ogawa - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The Art of Writing Advertising is a unique collection of interviews conducted about forty years ago by Advertising Age magazine editor, Denis Higgins. Legendary copywriters William Bernbach, Leo Burnett, George Gribbin, David Ogilvy and Rosser Reeves candidly discuss their craft, their writing processes and their lives in this fascinating book.

The interviewer initially set out to find if these pioneering copywriters had any tricks or gimmicks for the difficult task of writing, but ended up with revealing and at times very personal glimpses into the lives of these five men. The interview with David Ogilvy is particularly poignant and enlightening. This book also includes a few example ads from each copywriter and pictures presumably taken during the interviews.

These great ad writers give some useful advice and share their thoughts on copywriting, but this is not a step-by-step guide for copywriting. If you are familiar with these copywriters and you would like to know a little more about their views on advertising, then I highly recommend The Art of Writing Advertising.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Some very serious insights that I believe are timeless, April 20, 2008

By	David J. Roberts "Silver Lion Design, Ltd." (Orange County, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

"You know, only advertising men hold seminars and judge advertising. The public doesn't hold seminars and judge advertising. The public either acts or it doesn't act." Rosser Reeves

The men in this book cut straight to the point of advertising and they don't mind going against the grain of art director clubs and guilds. I have learned to like that because I now subscribe to their point of view. The success of an advertisement cannot be measured by its pleasing aesthetics or its award winning status. It has to be measured by how successfully it met its objectives - which most of the time is to move product.

I think this is a must-read for young designers as many have a very mis-guided view of what advertising is all about. I cannot find a single design graduate who has learned the principles of good advertising from college. This book sets any print, web or such communications designer on the right path if they ever want to create effective ad's--no matter the medium or technique.