Where The Suckers Moon: An Advertising Story

by Randall Rothenberg

The former advertising columnist for the New York Times provides a close-up look at the advertising industry, following Subaru of America as the company selects a new ad agency and tracing the history of American advertising. 25,000 first printing. Tour.

478 pages, Hardcover

First published October 25, 1994

Reviews

[Carla Remy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A super interesting, well-written book about advertising. Great. The only problem (for me) was it being entirely about Suburu. And this, to a limit, was quite interesting too. I like learning about things I know little about. But after a while . . . I can only care so much about cars. Heck, I take the bus.

[Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Weiden & Kennedy and their brand of Postmodern advertising learn the hard way that the ultimate consumers of an ad campaign are not the people who purchase cars, but the dealers and auto executives who need to be convinced that all of their (petty) concerns are met. Weiden & Kennedy learn to do this, and then become Just Another Ad Agency making Just Another Car Ad, which loses the attention of the customer in the first place.

Really interesting author decision to spread the history all over the book, e.g. covering the history of Fuji at the end.

Great angle for the book, using the review process as a lens into the world of advertising.

I also wonder how many of the lessons learned by Subaru are still relevant to the way they think today, 25 years later, e.g. the niche strategy vs. mainstream.

[Bridget · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books ever read pertaining to the advertising world. Excellent!