My Life in Advertising
, subject: Claude C. Hopkins's advertising career, campaigns, and practical lessons in testing and salesmanship
Claude Hopkins turns an advertising career into a practical argument for service, testing, traced results, and persuasive demonstration.
About the book
Published in 1927, Hopkins's business autobiography turns his career into practical lessons on traced results, product demonstrations, samples, customer psychology, service, and learning through small experiments.
Why read it
Best if you want advertising principles taught through the campaigns, tests, mistakes, and working habits of an early direct-response practitioner
Key themes
- Start with service
- Test and trace results
- Tell the full selling story
Evidence and original sources
David closes by highly recommending the book to listeners.
- David Ogilvy (The King of Madison Avenue) — David announces Claude Hopkins' autobiography, My Life in Advertising, as part of next week's episode.
- Claude Hopkins (A Life in Advertising) — David ties Hopkins's autobiography to last week's David Ogilvy episode.
- Chuck Feeney (The Billionaire who gave all of his money away) — David points back to the prior week's Hopkins episode.
- Joe Coulombe (Founder of Trader Joes) — David points to his Hopkins episode, Founders #170.
- David Ogilvy (The book I've given as a gift the most) — David names My Life in Advertising and identifies it as Hopkins's autobiography.
- Sid Meier (Computer game designer) — David identifies Founders #170 while returning to Hopkins's autobiography.
Unofficial listener-built companion, not affiliated with or endorsed by David Senra or Founders Podcast.