‘My dear, nothing in this world is worth buying’.

David Ogilvy couldn’t disagree more. ‘Confessions of an Advertising Man’ by David Ogilvy is a MUST read for everyone on advertising, design or just business for that matter. In this book he talks about his beginnings as a door to door sales man to how he set up shop, at age 37, on Madison Ave with only $6,000 and became one of the largest advertising firms in the world.

Ogilvy, Benson & Mather(currently Ogilvy & Mather) developed now legendary, campaigns for Rolls Royce, Dove, Guinness, Shell and ‘the Man in the Hathaway shirt’ among the many. Besides the great ads, this book covers how to start your own agency, how to manage it and, my favorite, the stories of how he got the accounts, which at times can sound far-fetched, but overall only excite and inspire not only creatives but everyone involved in business.

Ogilvy also gives technical advise, highlights the importance of research, discusses the ‘great idea’, shares tactics and layout rules that still apply today.

Great read and one of Ogilvy’s best self serve advertising pieces!

‘The temptation to entertain instead of selling is contagious’
- David Ogilvy