Advertising, The Uneasy Persuasion

Examining advertising as both a business and a social institution, the book challenges common perceptions about its significance and effectiveness. Michael Schudson offers a balanced view that transcends moral outrage and conspiracy theories, placing advertising within a broader sociological and historical context. He argues that advertising's actual impact is often overstated by both supporters and detractors, revealing it to be less influential and scientifically grounded than typically assumed.