What am I reading this week? Brandwashed by Martin Lindstrom. Here’s my review of this tell-all book about how marketing changes the way we think, act, and buy.
This book was languishing on my summer reading pile all the way until winter. But when I finally got to it, I was sorry I waited so long.
I find the psychology of marketing fascinating and this book explained the tricks and tactics used by marketing firms to get you to try products, share them, and become loyal consumers.
Martin Lindstrom speaks with authority as someone who created marketing campaigns for companies like McDonald’s and Proctor & Gamble for over 20 years. He’s written two other bestsellers as a consumer advocate: Buyology and Brand Sense.
All that to say, he knows what he’s talking about – even when it seems too crazy to believe!
My honest opinion about Brandwashed…
I already mentioned that I find marketing interesting, but this book was one of the most engaging ones I’ve read. Lindstrom does an amazing job of walking you through the process.
Brandwashed explains how slogans and campaigns were created, how they were changed, and why some worked and others didn’t. He lets us in on crazy tricks that we would never have thought possible.
I was recently at Victoria’s Secret buying a bra. When I tried on my size, it fit all wrong, so I asked the clerk and she brought me some that fit great. She then told me that I was two cup sizes larger than I thought.
Except guess what? I’m definitely not, but I am at that store. Turns out that when you buy the same size jeans today as you did in college, it’s not because you’re the same size. It’s because they have slowly been increasing sizes so that you just think you still wear that size. And I’m pretty sure Victoria’s Secret is doing the same, just in reverse.
(Because who doesn’t wish for a more ample bosom and smaller bottom in this day and age? Now they have a customer for life.) Crazy, right?
But the last part of the book that details a fact-finding mission will truly make you stop and think about how easily we can be swayed by the right tactics.
My recommendations
Brandwashed would be a great read for just about anyone. Whether you’re into marketing or not, we all shop and so we could all benefit from knowing how advertising affects us on a deeper level.
It’s really an easy read as Lindstrom goes back and forth between anecdotes and experiences, and explanations of the why and how. If you’ve ever wondered why soda cans sweat on billboards or why Abercrombie & Fitch has so many male models on their walls, Brandwashed will tell you.
Other recommendations on this topic
- The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
- Hooked by Nir Eyal
- Contagious by Jonah Berger
Happy reading!
(Brandwashed is available for FREE in audiobook form. Just sign up for the FREE AUDIBLE trial and cancel whenever you want!)
So, what are you reading this week? Have any suggestions for me?
Interested in more on books? Then check out these posts:
What I’m Reading… Dare to Lead
How to Encourage Variety in Your Reading Life
What I’m Reading… Present over Perfect
[Disclaimer: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. This post contains affiliate links. So, if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a commission, at no additional cost to you. All opinions are my own and I never recommend anything I haven’t used myself and loved.]
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