This is annoying me. I need to give my students a view of the perils of advertising and how the media use ploys to sell stuff. (eg subliminal messages etc)
This book was from the 60's and it explained these pitfalls in lay terms and was quite a best seller.
I have no idea of title or author. Not a lot I know, but someone may recognise it. Thanks.

I know the book you mean, ren, I think. Can't remember the name either - all I can come up with is "The Selling of the President" which is not right, though covers some of the same ground with a slant toward campaigning. Let me think, see if I can come up with it.

Thanks. This was definitely slanted towards persuading people to buy concrete goods,using ploys such as dwelling on enhancing beauty , slimness in females, undermining confidence in physical appearance etc.
Grateful for your help.

Ren,

Would it have been something from Marshall McLuhan? He wrote lots about that sort of thing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marshall_McLuhan

Wow! That is so like it ("Understanding Media" I mean).
I can use that anyway, and quote from it. Thanks a lot.

Another book from the period (originally published in the late 50s, I think) was "The Hidden Persuaders" by Vance Packard.

Yay!!! Well done TT! That's it! Wow. Thanks so much to all.

Another bestseller along those lines might be of interest: "Subliminal Seduction" by Wilson Bryan Key. Online information indicates it came out in 1973.

Thanks That sounds helpful too.