Book review of 'Advertising and Consumer Society: A Critical Introduction' (Second Edition), by Nicholas Holm, Routledge, 2023, 224 pages

Abstract

The book titled Advertising and Consumer Society: A Critical Introduction, written by Nicholas Holm, presents itself as an introductory guide into the world of advertising. Written in a semi-informal style, marked with anecdotes, personal experiences and real-life examples from all over the world, the book refers not only to the importance of advertising and its relationship to the consumer, but also to the multiple faces and the intricate inner works within the industry. Since the book is meant to be a preparatory textbook for students, the author having taught this material to his students prior to writing the book, one would expect it to paint an idealistic picture of the advertising world. Instead, Holms diverges significantly from idealistic portrayals. In fact, he effectively critiques the downsides and problems of the advertising world, while also trying to explain them and find possible solutions.