Normally, when I finish a book, I feel a little sad. It could be a novel, an advertising or just a graphic novel, but the feeling it’s the same… until today.

“How Brands Blow”, gave me a smile at the end and not just because it’s a funny reading, it was because the book gave me hope.

Honestly, I can’t recall where I first heard about it. It could be on LinkedIn or Twitter or Instagram where I’m spending big part of my free time either my wife becomes angry with me… at least it’s not OnlyFans, she said. But something told me that I had to have this book.

I can’t talk about this book, without mentioning my favorite parts, the problem is that every part of the book is a favorite of mine. The first thing I have to mention, it’s the Art Direction. You can easily understand what you’re going to read about if you have at least 8 years working on advertising, well, working in advertising agencies. You’re going to laugh, a lot, because you know you’re going to read a lot of trues of our business. As a former Art Director, I must congratulate the designer behind this book. The only thing to add to this is that just me could do it better.*

Delving deeper into this fantastic reading: the content.

The structure is great! It took me to all the parts of the business laughing and crying as I read in the book page. For us who have been in this industry for a long term, you’re going to read according to what you need to know about advertising and I could say it takes an academic approach, because you’re going to remember what has been forgotten or the long talks with some colleagues when, during drinks, you’ve said: “let’s start an agency”.

Have you ever considered how marketing now views people now? I’ve been doing stand-up comedy since a few months ago and I have a joke about the difference between marketing and advertising. I was thinking in eliminate it from my show, but now, after I read the Marketing Chapter, it not only makes more sense to me, I want to make a special show just about that topic. I want to add something: it’s true what the book said about “dying on stage” as a comedian. I’ve experienced failure while performing music (‘cause I used to play trumpet in a ska band) and selling an idea, but dying as a comedian that’s been the most exciting part of my life. Not kidding.

In my opinion, the Creative Chapter is the one that could make you cry if you come from that side of the business. That’s all I have to say about this chapter.

I believe that the part that resonates most with me about the way I feel about this business is Advertising Chapter. This third chapter taught me what I’ve been thought since the beginning of my career in 2004: this is not art or just creativity, this is a business and we’ve forgotten that. Do you know what’s the saddest part of this episode? Every time it mentions about the great ideas that has changed the world in a lot of festival but nobody has seen in action, or for worst, that hasn’t changed the world.

For the other chapters: you’re going to love them and hate them for all the “truths well told” you’ll read, especially the Business Chapter.

I think I read at least 3 chapters loud to my wife and she said: You’re really enjoying it because you never thought that someone can think as you, aren’t you?”, and that’s the reason it gave me hope.

Knowing, that someone can write in this way about what has been my profesional life for over 21 years, put me to think that outside there’s people who love advertising and are waiting for a change to return to the value of our profession.

You’re reading this, and I know it’s not as good as Ryan Wallman and Giles Edwards’ work, but I believe I love this business as they do… or at least the money behind this, ha!**

*If you’ve read the book, you got this 😉

** Read the previous *