From Those Wonderful Folks Who Gave You Pearl Harbor

From Those Wonderful Folks Who Gave You Pearl Harbor is Jerry Della Femina's insider account of Madison Avenue during advertising's creative revolution of the 1960s. The book chronicles his rise from a working-class Brooklyn background to becoming a major figure in the advertising industry. Della Femina recounts the day-to-day realities of agency life, from pitch meetings and client presentations to office politics and creative breakthroughs. His narrative includes stories about real campaigns, agency personalities, and the high-stakes competition for accounts during advertising's most transformative decade. The book captures the irreverent spirit and dramatic changes in advertising during a period when traditional approaches gave way to more creative and daring strategies. Through personal anecdotes and observations, Della Femina documents how a new generation of advertisers reshaped the industry. The memoir stands as both a historical record and cultural commentary on an era when advertising began to embrace humor, self-awareness, and risk-taking in its messaging. Its influence can be seen in how modern advertising approaches creativity and corporate culture.

Readers describe the book as an authentic, humorous look at 1960s advertising from an industry insider. Most appreciate the behind-the-scenes stories and candid peek into Madison Avenue's culture during its peak era. Likes: - Raw, unfiltered stories about real advertising campaigns - Della Femina's direct, politically incorrect writing style - Historical value as a first-hand account of the era - Insights into creative process and agency dynamics Dislikes: - Dated references and attitudes that reflect the time period - Disorganized structure with meandering anecdotes - Too much focus on drinking/partying culture - Some find the tone arrogant or self-congratulatory Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (300+ ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (100+ ratings) One reviewer noted: "If you want to know what advertising was really like in the 60s - not the sanitized Mad Men version - this is your book." Another said: "The stories are great but it feels like listening to someone ramble at a bar."

Where the Suckers Moon by Randall Rothenberg This behind-the-scenes account of Subaru's 1990s advertising campaign documents the power struggles, creative battles, and agency politics that mirror the experiences in Della Femina's memoir.

Hey Whipple, Squeeze This by Luke Sullivan The book presents raw stories from advertising's trenches and chronicles the evolution of the industry from the 1960s through modern times.

Madison Avenue Manslaughter by Michael Farmer This insider examination reveals the transformation and upheaval of advertising agencies as they moved from the commission system to the modern digital era.

Truth, Lies, and Advertising by Jon Steel The book strips away advertising industry myths through case studies and first-hand accounts from major campaigns of the 1980s and 1990s.

The Real Mad Men by Andrew Cracknell This history of advertising's golden age features interviews with original Madison Avenue pioneers who lived through the era Della Femina describes.

🗸 The book's title came from a rejected tagline Jerry Della Femina proposed for Panasonic during a pitch meeting - a moment that perfectly captured the irreverent spirit of 1960s advertising 🗸 Despite being published in 1970, the book became newly relevant in 2007 when "Mad Men" creator Matthew Weiner cited it as a key inspiration and resource for creating the hit TV series 🗸 Della Femina started his own agency with just $10,000 in 1967 and grew it into a $230 million company by the time he sold it in 1986 🗸 The author pioneered a more casual, creative agency culture that broke from Madison Avenue's stuffy traditions - employees could wear jeans, drink at their desks, and were encouraged to speak their minds 🗸 Many of the outrageous stories and ad campaigns described in the book were considered too controversial to print in 1970, leading the publisher to remove several chapters before publication