vnesting's review against another edition
4.0
I found this nonfiction audiobook about the way marketing tactics in recent years have become murkier fascinating -- particularly the chapter on word of mouth marketing.
ericfheiman's review
3.0
Even as a designer who needs to (begrudgingly) keep up on business trends, books like these usually bore me to death, let alone tell me anything new or interesting. But Walker, who writes the "Consumed" column in the New York Times magazine, is more insightful than most authors in this vein. His candid, intelligent commentary on "murketing" should interest anyone remotely interested in why we buy the things we do, and the ends (and unintentional forces) companies engage to snag our hard-earned cash.
scotchneat's review
3.0
Walker writes about brandonomics for Wired, and this book is an extension of his insights gained over the years.
I like that he writes about case studies and brands that most people will recognize, as I think it helps with "learning". His thesis is that, contrary to what people will tell you and pundits will tell you, it's not that advertising no longer works, it's that it's not driven by marketeers.
Walker calls this cultural shift "murketing", meaning a place where people create their own brands (like all of the upstart hipster t-shirt brands out there), and a place where people embrace brands "on their own" and do things with those brands "on their own", the least of which is following advertising messaging about them.
One thing is not so different, and that's the tight relationship between brand and self-identity. We're all unique snowflakes who love people to know and understand and be the same snowflakes as us (as long as it's not mainstream).
Some good thoughts. Good writing style. Won't change your world.
I like that he writes about case studies and brands that most people will recognize, as I think it helps with "learning". His thesis is that, contrary to what people will tell you and pundits will tell you, it's not that advertising no longer works, it's that it's not driven by marketeers.
Walker calls this cultural shift "murketing", meaning a place where people create their own brands (like all of the upstart hipster t-shirt brands out there), and a place where people embrace brands "on their own" and do things with those brands "on their own", the least of which is following advertising messaging about them.
One thing is not so different, and that's the tight relationship between brand and self-identity. We're all unique snowflakes who love people to know and understand and be the same snowflakes as us (as long as it's not mainstream).
Some good thoughts. Good writing style. Won't change your world.
laureng's review
5.0
The title of the book comes across as a little hokey but I really enjoyed it. It's easy to read and I think that is because the author usually writes for magazines so the chapters are broken up into easy-to-digest pieces.
As the title says the book is about the dialogue between what we buy and who we are; how marketing effects consumers and consumers effect marketing. There are several examples drawn upon with brands such as Hello Kitty, Timberland, Scion, American Apparel, and Red Bull. There is even a section on the DIY movement as punk.
I can actually see a lot of the "murketing" being actively applied on popular YouTube channels. Specifically with treating popular YouTubers as influencers and "Magic people". There is even a strong parallel between what Scion did and what the Ford Fiesta is doing right now on YouTube.
I would definitely recommend this book and I am going to buy a copy for my shelves.
As the title says the book is about the dialogue between what we buy and who we are; how marketing effects consumers and consumers effect marketing. There are several examples drawn upon with brands such as Hello Kitty, Timberland, Scion, American Apparel, and Red Bull. There is even a section on the DIY movement as punk.
I can actually see a lot of the "murketing" being actively applied on popular YouTube channels. Specifically with treating popular YouTubers as influencers and "Magic people". There is even a strong parallel between what Scion did and what the Ford Fiesta is doing right now on YouTube.
I would definitely recommend this book and I am going to buy a copy for my shelves.
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