Publishers Weekly (starred review)

• “A fascinating portrait of one of advertising’s most eccentric – and beloved – characters. Lively writing and an affectionate yet honest tone make this an astonishingly charming and informative biography.”

The Wall Street Journal

• “Thanks to The King of Madison Avenue, we now know David Ogilvy.”

The New York Observer

• “An admiring but clear-eyed portrait of David Ogilvy, arguably the greatest advertising man ever – and a character so compelling, so vibrant and unusual, that it would be a pleasure to read about him even if he hadn’t perched for decades at the pinnacle of a notoriously unstable industry.”

Financial Times

• “[Ogilvy's] devotion to research and direct marketing over gloss and snake oil had a Google-like quality before its time. Roman has written a fine book on his former boss. He has a gem of a subject and, as well as a fund of anecdotes, he provides a clear-eyed, unsentimental portrait of a brilliant tyrant. He also places Ogilvy’s skills adroitly in the context of an industry caught up in the postwar revolution.”

Miami Herald

• “Roman does a masterful job of conveying the colorful personality of Ogilvy.”

Bruce McCall, New Yorker writer and illustrator

• “Nobody ever need write another word about David Ogilvy, now that Ken Roman has written The King of Madison Avenue, It’s the definitive biography of the most amazing man the advertising business has ever known. This is the fairest, most thoughtful, most complete and most human biography of that flawed genius we are ever likely to get. The King of Madison Avenue is to other biographies as David Ogilvy’s advertising was to that of other agencies: simply superior. Everyone who ever knew David Ogilvy will find something about the man they didn’t know, and those who never knew him will have a rollicking good time getting to know him. This has to be the most readable book ever written about advertising.”

Jerry Della Femina, Chairman and CEO, Della Femina/Rothschild/Jeary & Partners

• “Having read Confessions of an Advertising Man at least seven times, I thought I knew all there was to know about David Ogilvy. I was wrong. In The King of Madison Avenue, Ken Roman has shown me a David Ogilvy that no one has ever seen before. It’s a must read for anyone in or out of the advertising business. Ogilvy was brilliant and surely one of the original ‘Mad Men’. My only regret is that Cary Grant has passed on. He would have been a great David Ogilvy in the movie that will surely be made of The King of Madison Avenue.”

Louis Auchincloss, National Medal of Arts winner and best-selling author

• “Insofar as it is possible to recreate the unique wit and always unexpected genius of David Ogilvy, Kenneth Roman has succeeded.”

Ed Ney, Chairman Emeritus, Young & Rubicam

• “Great reading. He was by far the most interesting person in the advertising business.”

Management Today

• “A meticulously researched and lucid account of this clever, charismatic and complicated man.”

William Stevenson, author, A Man Called Intrepid

• “This brilliant biography is like the tip of a gorgeous iceberg. It dazzles and below is a mass of weighty research. Kenneth Roman enchants us with his account of the life and times of David Ogilvy, who towered above the world of advertising. Below is the hitherto hidden work of a wartime agent. Churchill, we are reminded, galvanized an entire wartime navy with words written on one side of a small sheet of paper. Ogilvy excited the public with similar brevity. The story is told swiftly. The voluminous research will fascinate those who want to know why it was vital to paint a background of grave historical events in this portrait of a singular man. It should be read by all, in or out of salesmanship.”

Jack Keenan, former CEO, Kraft Foods International and Diageo PLC Wine and Spirits

• “At last! The definitive biography of the most influential advertising executive with whom I had the pleasure of working. Ken Roman has brought more of David’s uniqueness to light. A great read.”

Philip Carroll, former CEO, Shell Oil

• “A great biography of a truly great man. David Ogilvy rewrote the book on modern advertising. With The King of Madison Avenue, Ken Roman tells his story in a fashion that is worthy of David’s accomplishments. Extensively researched and very well written.”

Ron Daniel, former managing partner, McKinsey & Co.

• “A terrific read! David Ogilvy was unquestionably the King of Madison Avenue. This intimate portrayal makes clear Ogilvy’s inspiring leadership of his agency. Ogilvy’s convictions about what made for effective advertising – it sells – are clearly described as is his brilliant personal salesmanship in winning new clients.”

Sir Michael Angus, former chairman, Unilever

• “A most interesting book. It is a sensitive account of the career of this complex man who so successfully melded intuition and analysis. It should be compulsory reading for anyone contemplating a career in advertising or communications.”

Harold Burson, founder, Burson-Marsteller Public Relations

• “A wonderful job recounting the life of so complicated a person. Beautifully written.”

Martin Mayer, author, Madison Avenue USA

• “A surprisingly interesting book about one of the most remarkable characters in advertising history.”

Carlo Vittorini, former publisher, Parade

• “A fascinating portrayal of a unique life and the contribution made to an evolving industry. Really well done.”

Randall Rothenberg, President & CEO, Interactive Advertising Bureau, former advertising columnist, The New York Times

• “A vivid, flesh-and-blood portrait of one of the giants of twentieth century business.”

Louis Begley, prize-winning author of Wartime Lies and other novels

• “The Strunk and White of business writing.”

John Mack Carter, former President, Hearst Magazine Enterprises

• “I don’t believe you can get to the top today in any organization if you can’t express yourself clearly. And here’s the only guide you’ll ever need. Writing That Works works.”

Peter Georgescu, Chairman Emeritus, Young & Rubicam, Inc.

• “In advertising, the challenge is to find the one simple, inspired thought … This book helps all of us.”

William C. Steere, Jr., Former Chairman and CEO, Pfizer, Inc.

• “Roman and Raphaelson offer an abundance of practical tips for helping your written and oral communications.”

Jay W. Lorsch, Professor, Harvard Business School

• “Whether you are writing a brief e-mail or a lengthy report, Writing That Works provides clear and concise ideas for improving your written communications.”

Jeffrey L. Bleustein, former chairman and CEO, Harley-Davidson, Inc.

• “Read this book. Write for action!”

Peter Larson, former chairman and CEO, Brunswick Corp.

• “If you write and want to be understood, you need Writing That Works. An essentiual primer on how to communicate and be understood, this book should be on everyy communicator’s desk.”

David Ogilvy

• “Worth its weight in gold.”

Dallas Morning News

• “Without pulling any punches, the book tells readers what works.”

James Spero, Former Chairman, Association of NationalAdvertisers

• “How to Advertise is a timeless treasure of the enduring principles that everyone in the advertising supply chain – those who create, place, manage, review and approve – should read over and over again. It’s the definitive roadmap to creating great work.”

Don Sexton, Professor of Business, Columbia University

• “How to Advertise is comprehensive and practical. The experience of the authors is evident on every page. I would certainly recommend it to anyone who wants to get a real-world understanding of the many issues involved in using advertising effectively.”