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Adjust: How Ads Shape What We Think And Do
Have you ever wondered why ads follow you around the internet?
Today, ads are embedded in everything we watch, scroll, and buy — powering the platforms we rely on and shaping what we see, often without us realising it. ADJUST takes you inside the digital ad industry to explain, in clear terms, how this system really works — from data tracking and real-time auctions to the psychological tricks designed to influence what we do next.
Part insider’s guide, part cultural unpacking, this book shows how advertising has quietly become the business model of the internet — and what that means for our choices, our attention, and our sense of self. It’s not a critique — it’s the missing manual for understanding the system shaping your digital life.
Most books tell you that ads are bad. This one explains how they actually work and what to do about it. Inside you will
How your data powers the internet — and why the trade-off is changingWhat really happens when ads follow you — even after you buyThe psychology behind persuasion, and why it worksThe unseen human cost of creating constant “engagement”How families are targeted — from childhood ad exposure to the emotional pressure placed on parentsThe future of advertising — less visible, more personal, and everywhere you lookAnd much morePacked with actionable insights, ADJUST offers practical advice for navigating the advertising ecosystem, helping you make informed choices on-line, whether you're a consumer, marketer, or student.
Are you ready to stop being confused by digital ads and start understanding them? Get your copy of ADJUST and discover the truth behind the platforms, persuasion, and privacy trade-offs shaping your online life every day.
Today, ads are embedded in everything we watch, scroll, and buy — powering the platforms we rely on and shaping what we see, often without us realising it. ADJUST takes you inside the digital ad industry to explain, in clear terms, how this system really works — from data tracking and real-time auctions to the psychological tricks designed to influence what we do next.
Part insider’s guide, part cultural unpacking, this book shows how advertising has quietly become the business model of the internet — and what that means for our choices, our attention, and our sense of self. It’s not a critique — it’s the missing manual for understanding the system shaping your digital life.
Most books tell you that ads are bad. This one explains how they actually work and what to do about it. Inside you will
How your data powers the internet — and why the trade-off is changingWhat really happens when ads follow you — even after you buyThe psychology behind persuasion, and why it worksThe unseen human cost of creating constant “engagement”How families are targeted — from childhood ad exposure to the emotional pressure placed on parentsThe future of advertising — less visible, more personal, and everywhere you lookAnd much morePacked with actionable insights, ADJUST offers practical advice for navigating the advertising ecosystem, helping you make informed choices on-line, whether you're a consumer, marketer, or student.
Are you ready to stop being confused by digital ads and start understanding them? Get your copy of ADJUST and discover the truth behind the platforms, persuasion, and privacy trade-offs shaping your online life every day.
- GenresNonfiction
243 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 22, 2025
10 people are currently reading
961 people want to read
About the author
Alessandra Di Lorenzo
1 book7 followersAlessandra Di Lorenzo is the author of ADJUST: How Ads Shape What You Think and Do, an Amazon #1 bestseller in Online Advertising, E-Commerce, and Global Marketing. A former CEO and seasoned digital strategist, Alessandra spent two decades inside the advertising industry — from Yahoo to lastminute.com — before turning her focus to media literacy and digital well-being. Her mission is to help readers understand how ads and algorithms influence their choices, and how to take back control in a world built on persuasion.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 20, 2025
This book is a must-read if you're curious about how the internet—and especially ads—really work. Di Lorenzo, a longtime ad insider, breaks down everything from the first banner ad in 1994 to today’s AI-powered targeting. The stat about Google making $21 per person on Earth blew my mind! I docked a star because some of the ad jargon (CPM, CPC, etc.) got a bit dry, but overall it’s a super eye-opening and fun read.
June 13, 2025
This book is a total eye-opener! As a blogger, I deal with ads all the time, but Alessandra Di Lorenzo’s deep dive into how they actually work blew me away. Her stories from Yahoo and eBay are like peeking behind the curtain, and I’m shook at how much data’s being tracked (every scroll?!). Her tips for dodging creepy ads are gold. I’m already using her ad-blocker suggestions. If you’re online for work or fun, this is a must-read.
March 20, 2026
This book reads like a college essay on marketing 101. As someone in the marketing industry who knows how much potential this topic has to bring awareness and solutions for mental health and understanding the science behind what makes people click etc, this book instead is written for someone who doesn't realize that when they click on something, they'll get ads for it. 🫣 😅 It's soooo basic.
The target audience also isn't clear. In some places, it reads like it's meant for ad consumers to recognize advertisements, in others it reads like a textbook to determine what kind of advertising job you should get into, and in other spots it seems targeted to companies and the ad experts they should hire. It's all over the place, sometimes in the same chapter section.
ex: When the author talks about ads that attempt to prevent suicide by using storytelling techniques to reduce stigmas, it's followed up by a paragraph that says as a consumer you need to recognize these ad techniques to make "informed choices that align with your values"....like what? Values about the importance of preventing suicide? What?
In other sections, the research & details are skipped over, like when it says that mature women responded more positively to certain ads...but then didn't explain what those ads were or give examples, so it's not actionable research or data for us as readers.
Even towards the end, the book repeats the same thing over and over (ad blockers are mentioned 3-4 times).
This topic had so much potential for a really really good book and in-depth analysis for how to train algorithms to put more of what you want in your feed or from a seller's perspective, understanding how to leverage ads psychologically as an advertiser for more sales (which there's a small portion on in one chapter but then the author tells you to go view outside resources for more details 🤦♀️), but it stays too high level and basic, reading like a report or thesis, rather than an actionable book.
As someone who teaches marketing for a living, I was hoping for more after seeing #1 Amazon Best Seller on the cover.
If you read this book, read chapter 8 on the industry's problems, then chapter 4 to understand how you're sold to, then chapter 7 on solutions.
*I received this book through a Goodreads giveaway and am offering a review voluntarily
The target audience also isn't clear. In some places, it reads like it's meant for ad consumers to recognize advertisements, in others it reads like a textbook to determine what kind of advertising job you should get into, and in other spots it seems targeted to companies and the ad experts they should hire. It's all over the place, sometimes in the same chapter section.
ex: When the author talks about ads that attempt to prevent suicide by using storytelling techniques to reduce stigmas, it's followed up by a paragraph that says as a consumer you need to recognize these ad techniques to make "informed choices that align with your values"....like what? Values about the importance of preventing suicide? What?
In other sections, the research & details are skipped over, like when it says that mature women responded more positively to certain ads...but then didn't explain what those ads were or give examples, so it's not actionable research or data for us as readers.
Even towards the end, the book repeats the same thing over and over (ad blockers are mentioned 3-4 times).
This topic had so much potential for a really really good book and in-depth analysis for how to train algorithms to put more of what you want in your feed or from a seller's perspective, understanding how to leverage ads psychologically as an advertiser for more sales (which there's a small portion on in one chapter but then the author tells you to go view outside resources for more details 🤦♀️), but it stays too high level and basic, reading like a report or thesis, rather than an actionable book.
As someone who teaches marketing for a living, I was hoping for more after seeing #1 Amazon Best Seller on the cover.
If you read this book, read chapter 8 on the industry's problems, then chapter 4 to understand how you're sold to, then chapter 7 on solutions.
*I received this book through a Goodreads giveaway and am offering a review voluntarily
June 29, 2025
ADJUST is an incredible and helpful book written by Alessandra Di Lorenzo, who will help you to understand the world of digital advertising in her wonderful book. In ADJUST, the reader will learn the perfect formula for comprehending digital ads and how to protect their privacy and make informed choices online. ADJUST is the perfect book for anyone who uses the internet and wants to understand how ads influence their behavior and decisions and ultimately make informed decisions.
In ADJUST, the reader will learn from the excellent author Alessandra Di Lorenzo who provides her readers with a step-by-step guide on how to navigate the digital ad ecosystem. The result of this will be a deeper understanding of how ads work, how data tracking and real-time auctions are used, and how psychological tactics influence consumer behavior. Di Lorenzo will provide readers with everything they need and more to accomplish this, making it a brilliant and essential book for everybody.
When I read ADJUST, I was impressed by the wide expanse of knowledge and how the topics laced throughout the book will apply to all readers. If you are in doubt that the book will suit you, then I challenge you to read it because the useful knowledge and information laced throughout it will undoubtedly help and improve your understanding of digital advertising and also imbue you with confidence, and help you in your decision making!
The knowledge and wisdom courtesy of Alessandra Di Lorenzo laced throughout the book impressed me continuously because just when I thought Di Lorenzo could not have any more knowledge, she surprised me and expanded on her wealth of knowledge even more! Di Lorenzo is not only a phenomenal woman for her wealth of knowledge but also for her exceptional literature that flows beautifully throughout. Sadly many educational books are not written well because although the author in question has the knowledge or experience, they do not know how to inform and captivate the reader, but Di Lorenzo does. Di Lorenzo has compiled all of her experience and wisdom into a perfectly organized book that provides you with everything you need in a concise and easy-to-read manner which makes it an unmissable book.
In ADJUST, the reader will learn from the excellent author Alessandra Di Lorenzo who provides her readers with a step-by-step guide on how to navigate the digital ad ecosystem. The result of this will be a deeper understanding of how ads work, how data tracking and real-time auctions are used, and how psychological tactics influence consumer behavior. Di Lorenzo will provide readers with everything they need and more to accomplish this, making it a brilliant and essential book for everybody.
When I read ADJUST, I was impressed by the wide expanse of knowledge and how the topics laced throughout the book will apply to all readers. If you are in doubt that the book will suit you, then I challenge you to read it because the useful knowledge and information laced throughout it will undoubtedly help and improve your understanding of digital advertising and also imbue you with confidence, and help you in your decision making!
The knowledge and wisdom courtesy of Alessandra Di Lorenzo laced throughout the book impressed me continuously because just when I thought Di Lorenzo could not have any more knowledge, she surprised me and expanded on her wealth of knowledge even more! Di Lorenzo is not only a phenomenal woman for her wealth of knowledge but also for her exceptional literature that flows beautifully throughout. Sadly many educational books are not written well because although the author in question has the knowledge or experience, they do not know how to inform and captivate the reader, but Di Lorenzo does. Di Lorenzo has compiled all of her experience and wisdom into a perfectly organized book that provides you with everything you need in a concise and easy-to-read manner which makes it an unmissable book.
May 27, 2025
Confessions of a Digital Insider
Alessandra Di Lorenzo’s The Ad Attention Game is a candid insider's account of the digital advertising world - a space most of us swim through daily without a second thought.
Written with wit, clarity, and a sharp critical eye, Di Lorenzo shows how online ads are created, targeted, and optimized, most importantly, how they affect us psychologically, socially, and culturally.
Di Lorenzo makes a complex and often opaque system digestible through vivid storytelling, self-deprecating humor, and laugh-out-loud metaphors.
She brings authority, having worked at top companies like Yahoo, eBay, and lastminute.com, but never veers into dry jargon or corporate cheerleading. Indeed, the memoir-style introduction humanizes Di Lorenzo’s openness about burnout and her award-winning career.
Complex ideas like cookies, programmatic ad auctions, real-time bidding, and behavioural targeting are explained. The analogies are on point and make the content accessible to non-specialists.
The book doesn’t shy away from tough questions. Di Lorenzo draws attention to the psychological costs of attention-hijacking and the exploitation of children’s screen time. Her discussion of privacy, device fingerprinting, and opaque consent practices is timely and urgent.
From the first banner ad in 1994 to Spotify and Netflix’s pivot to ad-based models, the evolution of digital advertising is skillfully chronicled, providing valuable historical context.
Slight redundancies around cookies and retargeting, with occasional industry-centric bias, result in a slight tonal imbalance. Sometimes the book seems to serve two audiences - consumers and industry insiders. A clearer call-to-action for each group might have strengthened the message.
That aside, The Ad Attention Game is an enlightening and entertaining deep dive into the often-invisible forces shaping our online behavior. This book is essential for marketers, parents, students, and anyone who's ever wondered why that pair of shoes is following them around the internet.
Alessandra Di Lorenzo’s The Ad Attention Game is a candid insider's account of the digital advertising world - a space most of us swim through daily without a second thought.
Written with wit, clarity, and a sharp critical eye, Di Lorenzo shows how online ads are created, targeted, and optimized, most importantly, how they affect us psychologically, socially, and culturally.
Di Lorenzo makes a complex and often opaque system digestible through vivid storytelling, self-deprecating humor, and laugh-out-loud metaphors.
She brings authority, having worked at top companies like Yahoo, eBay, and lastminute.com, but never veers into dry jargon or corporate cheerleading. Indeed, the memoir-style introduction humanizes Di Lorenzo’s openness about burnout and her award-winning career.
Complex ideas like cookies, programmatic ad auctions, real-time bidding, and behavioural targeting are explained. The analogies are on point and make the content accessible to non-specialists.
The book doesn’t shy away from tough questions. Di Lorenzo draws attention to the psychological costs of attention-hijacking and the exploitation of children’s screen time. Her discussion of privacy, device fingerprinting, and opaque consent practices is timely and urgent.
From the first banner ad in 1994 to Spotify and Netflix’s pivot to ad-based models, the evolution of digital advertising is skillfully chronicled, providing valuable historical context.
Slight redundancies around cookies and retargeting, with occasional industry-centric bias, result in a slight tonal imbalance. Sometimes the book seems to serve two audiences - consumers and industry insiders. A clearer call-to-action for each group might have strengthened the message.
That aside, The Ad Attention Game is an enlightening and entertaining deep dive into the often-invisible forces shaping our online behavior. This book is essential for marketers, parents, students, and anyone who's ever wondered why that pair of shoes is following them around the internet.
February 11, 2026
This book showcases the ins and outs of the advertising industry, highlighting various ways in which consumers can protect themselves against the often harmful effects of ads. At times, it reads more like a textbook written for a marketing student, but overall it divulges the reader in myriad interesting examples of advertising campaigns that had positive—and negative—audience reactions. The numerous tips for online self protection are practical and useful to the reader, especially those related to reducing the number of ads that can appear on one’s browser. All in all, this book was well-researched and engaging.
*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for free through a Goodreads giveaway.
*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for free through a Goodreads giveaway.
June 17, 2025
Okay, I’m OBSESSED with this book! As someone trying to make it as an influencer, I thought I knew ads, but Alessandra Di Lorenzo opened my eyes WIDE. Her stories about running campaigns at Yahoo are so juicy, and the way she explains how ads target us (hello, data tracking!) is mind-blowing. I loved the tips on managing my digital footprint, already using her cookie-clearing trick. Plus, her push for ethical ads makes me wanna be a better creator. Total must-read if you’re online all day like me!
June 18, 2025
OMG, this book blew my mind! I’m studying marketing, and Alessandra Di Lorenzo’s take on how ads work is like getting the cheat codes to the internet. Her stories about working at Yahoo and eBay are so cool, she makes all the tech stuff feel like a wild adventure. I was legit shocked to learn how much data companies collect (every click?!). The “Actions for Awareness” tips, like tweaking privacy settings, are super practical, I’m already doing them. If you’ve ever wondered why ads seem to know you better than your BFF, read this. It’s awesome.
June 26, 2025
This book has been a total game-changer for my online store! Di Lorenzo’s journey with lastminute.com and how she transformed it into an advertising powerhouse is incredibly inspiring. Her clear breakdown of ad costs—CPC vs. CPA—has helped me manage my budget more effectively. What really stood out was her emphasis on ethical advertising, which made me rethink how I engage with my customers. And the section on blockchain ad tech? Absolutely mind-blowing. Whether you’re running a full-fledged business or just starting a side hustle, this book feels like having a personal mentor in your hands.
June 23, 2025
OMG, this book’s my new favorite! I’m interning at a marketing firm, and Di Lorenzo’s tips on crafting ads are giving me life. Her stories about Yahoo and lastminute.com make the ad world sound so exciting, and the AI chapter is like sci-fi but real. I’m using her “Ethical Ad Checklist” to impress my boss. If you’re starting out in marketing or just wanna get how ads work, this is THE book. So good!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews