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Creative Mischief
Creative Mischief collects together all the highlights from Dave Trott's online blog about advertising. Part autobiography, part short story, part how-to advice, each of the entries will refresh your thinking about any creative process, whether it belongs to advertising, writing a book, or managing a team of employees. Published for the first time in book form, Creative Mischief, is a perfect prompt for anyone looking for new ideas, or for readers who simply enjoy the kind of funny story that, as Dave says, he would normally tell over a drink or three .
208 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2009
45 people are currently reading
699 people want to read
About the author
Dave Trott
14 books109 followersDave Trott is a creative director, copywriter, and author. Trott studied at the Pratt Institute in New York City, majoring in advertising before going on to found the advertising agencies Gold Greenlees Trott, Bainsfair Sharkey Trott and Walsh Trott Chick Smith. In 2004 he was given the D&AD President's Award for lifetime achievement in advertising.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
August 18, 2020
Trott is the archetypal creative director, and if you’ve ever worked under one, you know exactly what I mean. Creative directors are men and women who have worked their arses off as advertising creatives for 10 years or so under other creative directors and spent the whole time thinking “when I’m creative director I’m going to show this pompous old fool how you REALLY creatively direct”. Then they get the job and immediately become that same old fool. That is the circle of life, that is the way of things, and it will never and can never change. I tell you this as one who has recently been made creative director of the company I’ve worked at since 2011.
The thing about creative directors is that they really have been there and done it a thousand times before, and they are a bit tired and a bit bored and this can be frustrating to hotshot young creatives who think they’re going to change the industry with their BIG DISRUPTIVE IDEA. Listening to a creative director hold court, as they are wont to do, can be trying, but it has been my experience that there is nearly always a nugget of gold, or some kind of key that unlocks new ideas and inspires better work. You just have to wade through a lot of war stories to get there.
As it is in life, so it is with this book, which I picked up last week after first reading at the beginning of my career, and was instantly struck by how I had basically ripped off my entire presentation style (one of the things I get the most backslaps and pints for) from Trott’s singular, declarative, staccato sentence structure.
So there it is. I have reviewed this book by talking for three paragraphs about myself. Evidently, I am settling into my new role well.
The thing about creative directors is that they really have been there and done it a thousand times before, and they are a bit tired and a bit bored and this can be frustrating to hotshot young creatives who think they’re going to change the industry with their BIG DISRUPTIVE IDEA. Listening to a creative director hold court, as they are wont to do, can be trying, but it has been my experience that there is nearly always a nugget of gold, or some kind of key that unlocks new ideas and inspires better work. You just have to wade through a lot of war stories to get there.
As it is in life, so it is with this book, which I picked up last week after first reading at the beginning of my career, and was instantly struck by how I had basically ripped off my entire presentation style (one of the things I get the most backslaps and pints for) from Trott’s singular, declarative, staccato sentence structure.
So there it is. I have reviewed this book by talking for three paragraphs about myself. Evidently, I am settling into my new role well.
September 11, 2021
If you love Dave Trott, you are going to love this book.
April 21, 2018
This is a seemingly random collection of thoughts, pointers, insights, reflections and anecdotes from a prolific writer of thoughts, pointers insights, reflections and anecdotes.
You've probably encountered most of these already if you follow Dave Trott -the adman/writer not the telescope maker, I kid you not, look up davetrott.com- on Twitter, on YouTube or through his blog (davetrott.co.uk). He's expressed these thoughts before -there's even some overlap with his book "Predatory Thinking". But that doesn't diminish their value.
It's a quick read. A snack for thought.
You've probably encountered most of these already if you follow Dave Trott -the adman/writer not the telescope maker, I kid you not, look up davetrott.com- on Twitter, on YouTube or through his blog (davetrott.co.uk). He's expressed these thoughts before -there's even some overlap with his book "Predatory Thinking". But that doesn't diminish their value.
It's a quick read. A snack for thought.
February 9, 2014
Dave Trott turns his life experience into short, engaging stories full of wisdom that you can take and apply to your own life. Fun read. Very captivating. Can never put it down. I can read it over and over. Check out his blog too.
January 2, 2014
Fantastic read, just one of those books you would read, and read and read again. Hats of Mr. Trott.
December 17, 2020
I’ve read my fair share of Dave Trott’s stuff in the past and so I pretty much knew what I was getting myself into here, although I will say that I was pleasantly surprised that I still enjoyed it as much as I did, considering his stuff can start to feel repetitive after a while.
The idea here is all about using your creativity to approach life a little differently. Trott gives a great example of this by telling us the story of a practical joke he played on a colleague, who’d been afraid of The Exorcist and so had gone to the end of Brighton Pier and tossed it into the water. Trott went to the bookshop and bought another copy, ran it under the tap and then left it in the guy’s drawer for him to find.
If anything, I’d have to say that this is pretty much the quintessential Dave Trott book, and so it’s probably the best place to start. Really, everyone should read him at least once, whether they’re in advertising or not.
The idea here is all about using your creativity to approach life a little differently. Trott gives a great example of this by telling us the story of a practical joke he played on a colleague, who’d been afraid of The Exorcist and so had gone to the end of Brighton Pier and tossed it into the water. Trott went to the bookshop and bought another copy, ran it under the tap and then left it in the guy’s drawer for him to find.
If anything, I’d have to say that this is pretty much the quintessential Dave Trott book, and so it’s probably the best place to start. Really, everyone should read him at least once, whether they’re in advertising or not.
September 21, 2017
4.5
Chỉ không hay bằng 2 đàn anh thôi.
Chỉ không hay bằng 2 đàn anh thôi.
October 17, 2022
If a book makes you laugh and teaches something, that's a god damn good book.
June 5, 2023
I really enjoyed the book. Easy reading and interesting stories, with sharp points, can be read in one breath. I recommend!
August 18, 2023
Desire, permission.
September 13, 2012
This book is essentially made of anecdote after anecdote, some more interesting than the others. At the very most, these examples spur some reflection. But with short chapters focused on making one point, it frequently felt like the author didn't add value to the sum of its parts (anecdotes).
The writing style felt like a zen and pithy Seth Godin, with Seth Godin being the guy who repackages old ideas into short paragraphs of "wisdom" that are digestible by the masses. Thankfully, unlike Godin, Trott isn't a hardsell.
The anecdotes on advertising from an insider's point of view, were Trott's strongest.
The writing style felt like a zen and pithy Seth Godin, with Seth Godin being the guy who repackages old ideas into short paragraphs of "wisdom" that are digestible by the masses. Thankfully, unlike Godin, Trott isn't a hardsell.
The anecdotes on advertising from an insider's point of view, were Trott's strongest.
November 13, 2012
Dave Trott communicates his learning and experiences in the Ad industry in a very witty and humorous manner. Some of the chapters provide some key learnings not just for the industry but any business in general. The content is profoundly entertaining. I love the way he constantly quotes the legendary Bill Bernbach and George Lois. Must read for people looking to put their first step in the ad world.
July 18, 2016
As it was recommended for a resource for public speaking I was initially surprised. When the examples and experience supported the core message I did enjoy the book. It is quite personal which does appeal and contains lots of solid reasoning to be creative. I am sure much of the book will help my writing and speaking.
August 26, 2012
I absolutely loved it. Everyone loves a good story and this book is made up of tons of great anecdotes that showed me a good many things about advertising from a perspective I'd not seen before. I was sad when I came to the end of the book and that says a lot about it.
February 9, 2013
read this at work when i was bored. that's normally verboten, but seeing as i was in an ad agency at the time, i thought i could get away with it. some nice anecdotes and lots of good advice about the biz, none of which i'll remember.
August 24, 2016
Great stories about creative thinking... and a great style. For those of you who feel I write too many one sentence paragraphs... This is the benchmark. Never found a book easier to read.
Right then... Just one more...
Right then... Just one more...
February 7, 2013
"Have you ever had that? When someone tells you the opposite of what you've always thought but it makes perfect sense?"
June 7, 2013
Buy it. Read it.
October 11, 2014
If you're in the advertising or related creative industry, Trott is mandatory reading. Witty, concise, storified titbits of a lifetime of wisdom from one at the pinnacle of the industry worldwide.
March 8, 2010
simplicity!
April 1, 2012
A great read from one of my favorite creatives.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews