Ogilvy on Advertising

David Ogilvy, whose agency Ogilvy & Mather had 450 offices in 120 countries, wrote a primer covering every part of the advertising trade. He separates advertising that sells from advertising that does not, and explains why. His topics include writing copy that works, finding new ways to engage people, identifying with an audience and the various ways a lifestyle can be sold. The text is illustrated with 185 advertisements. Ogilvy aimed the advice both at young hopefuls entering the business and at veterans who want to raise their success rate. It first appeared in 1983.

Mohnish Pabrai called Ogilvy a terrific writer and said he learned a great deal from it, and podcast host Christopher Lochhead calls its principles timeless and says Ogilvy's no-nonsense style made a big impact on him as a young man.