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Mad Men Unbuttoned Paperback – July 20, 2010

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Natasha Vargas-Cooper (Author)
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22 customer reviews
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Product Details

  • Paperback: 231 pages
  • Publisher: HarperDes; 1 edition (July 20, 2010)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0061991007
  • ISBN-13: 978-0061991004
  • Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
  • Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #779,791 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Educational and Entertaining
By Prentiss Mann Jones on September 10, 2013
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
I enjoyed this book as much as I am the television series. I grew up in the sixties, so I am getting reacquainted with many parts of my childhood that I had long forgotten. The book is very entertaining, well written.
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Interesting
By R. Hill on March 25, 2014
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
Interesting book. If you like the show, this will be cool for you. Watch first, this might spoil the story even when talking about ads.
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12 of 14 people found the following review helpful
An Excellent Study of the 1960s, and What the Show Represents
By Lauren G VINE VOICE on December 5, 2010
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.Read more ›
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2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Made for Mad Men lovers and children of the 60s (and before)
By I Love Amazon.com on November 23, 2010
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
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. Leaves you longing for the good old days as well as another season of AMC's Mad Men. Pour yourself a Scotch into a Roly Poly glass, have seat in your favorite Barcolounger, and enjoy being transported back in time to the world that was created by the Don Drapers of Madison Avenue. A must-read for fans of the show and the era.
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10 of 13 people found the following review helpful
The annotated Man Men
By M. Maynard on July 22, 2010
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
I've been a fan of Natasha Vargas-Cooper's Web site and was looking forward with anticipation to Mad Men Unbuttoned. It casts intriguing light on the behind the scenes story of many aspects of the show, from flight attendants to the lives of housewives and models to literature. I'd recommend it for those who are interested in 1960s history, and who've been driven to Google by the references made by the characters. Just don't expect the book to be the definitive answer on these subjects. Some of the essays are a little sketchy and seem a bit cobbled together to pad the book. The Grace Kelly one in particular could have been more comprehensive. The Web site Basket of Kisses has analyzed the Betty Draper-Grace Kelly connection in a much more insightful way. Likewise, there's no question what Carla would be called in Westchester -- she's a "housekeeper." But aside from the quibbles, it's a fun read and it will be a good companion to Season 4.
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Culture is Advertising's currency; "Mad Men Unbuttoned" unpacks the 60s to better understand both better
By Them on September 25, 2013
Format: Paperback
Many books have been written that ride the long and lucrative coattails of AMC's "Mad Men". And because so many of them are the kind of quick-turn, fast-buck affairs that would make Roger Sterling smile as he counted his profits, the ones that actually attempt to be more than fanzines are often lost in the crowd. These are books that strive to be relevant not simply to admirers of the show, but to those who believe that the Mad Men era holds some insights into why we are the way we are today.

That Natasha Vargas-Cooper's "Mad Men Unbuttoned" belongs to that latter, smaller, more contemplative group, is apparent from the opening pages when she writes that

"["Mad Men" 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 how that pressurized time in history formed modern America, its families, its consciousness, and its consumers."

The resulting book is therefore (to read the rest of this review, please visit: theagencyreview.wordpress.com/unbuttoned)
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Five Stars
By Pearlraindrop on July 8, 2015
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
Interesting and insightful.
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4 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Recommended for younger viewers and readers
By ECWB on September 16, 2010
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
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 did offer information and insight. As a Baby Boomer who remembers the racism, sexism, materialism, and many other isms from the '60s, I was underwhelmed by the treatment the author gave these issues. However, younger viewers of Mad Men who are seeking a quick overview of the world the way it was then should find the book helpful. It is easy to read and well-designed. Salvatore Romano would approve.
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