Synopses & Reviews
Mad Men beguiles like a Christmas catalog of all the forbidden vices
a sleek, hard-boiled drama with a soft, satirical core.” New York Times The years best new show.” Time Magazine ”If this is the future of TV, the futures looking good.” USA Today Not since a certain mob boss battled anxiety attacks has a series tapped into the zeitgeist with such speed. And yet, this sophisticated show about 1960s Madison Avenue advertising house Sterling Cooper has surpassed even The Sopranos in cultural resonance. From critical reviews that swoon over the elegant storytelling to fashion designs that pay homage to the sleek sensibility, everyone is talking about Mad Men. Fans of creator Matthew Weiners show enjoy not only the high-calibre storytelling but the ironic view of recent history. As such, they thirst for a companion volume that will deepen their understanding and appreciation of the show. Kings of Madison Avenue provides detailed episode guides, cast biographies, and rich sidebar content (how to party like the Mad Men and a travel itinerary for the perfect Mad Men Manhattan weekend). But because the fans of this show are also connoisseurs of history, this book offers further historical context not often available in companion guides, such as influences of the show (Sex and the Single Girl author Helen Gurley Brown, Revolutionary Roads Richard Yates, Billy Wilders The Apartment), or historical touchstones intertwined in the storylines (the landmark ”Think Small” Volkswagen Beetle campaign, the Nixon/Kennedy presidential campaign, the creation of Lucky Strikes Its toasted” slogan). A series that not only sketches the cultural landscape with skill but has also taken a place in that very landscape requires a guide that reflects the breadth and depth of this effect. Kings of Madison Avenue: The Unofficial Guide to Mad Men is just that book.
Synopsis
Reveling in the consumerist decadence of AMCs infamous advertising house Sterling Cooper, this complementary volume to the groundbreaking series Mad Men provides behind-the-scenes revelations, episode guides, cast biographies, and rich sidebar content, including How to Party Like the Mad Men.” Delving beneath the glitz and glamour to highlight the workings of a sophisticated modern classic, this definitive fan guide also offers fascinating sociological context and cultural analysis. The details of historical ad campaigns that are woven into the shows storylines are providedsuch as Volkswagen Beetles landmark Think Small” campaign, the Nixon/Kennedy presidential push, and the creation of Lucky Strikes Its toasted” slogan. This is the ultimate guide to a series that has been praised by the New York Times, Time magazine, and USA Today.
Synopsis
"'Mad Men' beguiles like a Christmas catalog of all the forbidden vices ... a sleek, hard-boiled drama with a soft, satirical core." -- New York Times "The year's best new show." -- Time Magazine "If this is the future of TV, the future's looking good." -- USA Today Not since a certain mob boss battled anxiety attacks has a series tapped into the zeitgeist with such speed. And yet, this sophisticated show about 1960s Madison Avenue advertising house Sterling Cooper has surpassed even The Sopranos in cultural resonance. From critical reviews that swoon over the elegant storytelling to fashion designs that pay homage to the sleek sensibility, everyone is talking about Mad Men. Fans of creator Matthew Weiner's show enjoy not only the high-calibre storytelling but the ironic view of recent history. As such, they thirst for a companion volume that will deepen their understanding and appreciation of the show. Kings of Madison Avenue provides detailed episode guides, cast biographies, and rich sidebar content (how to party like the Mad Men and a travel itinerary for the perfect Mad Men Manhattan weekend). But because the fans of this show are also connoisseurs of history, this book offers further historical context not often available in companion guides, such as influences of the show (Sex & the Single Girl author Helen Gurley Brown, Revolutionary Road's Richard Yates, Billy Wilder's The Apartment), or historical touchstones intertwined in the storylines (the landmark "Think Small" Volkswagen Beetle campaign, the Nixon/Kennedy presidential campaign, the creation of Lucky Strike's "It's toasted" slogan). A series that not only sketches the cultural landscape with skill but has also taken a place in that very landscape requires a guide that reflects the breadth and depth of this effect. Kings of Madison Avenue: The Unofficial Guide to Mad Men is just that book.
About the Author
"Goes beyond a detailed episode guide (though it has that, too) with discussions on the cultural, social and political influences that inform the show's characters and plotlines." CTV.ca
"[McLean's] enthusiasm is evident in the prose, which is both witty and informed . . . For new viewers of Mad Men, this is a good primer for the show. But for fans, it's a book that will ultimately sell itself." Scene Magazine