Kings of Madison Avenue

"'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.