Twitchell, James B.

Examines the changes in publishing, movie making, and television programming since the 1960s that have affected Americans' tastes.

Uses an art-historical approach to examine twenty advertisements and advertising campaigns, named by the author as the most influential of the twentieth century; considering what makes each ad work, the story behind it, and how it changed viewers' perceptions of the advertised item, and other things as well.

Explores how religion, higher education, and the art world have fallen prey to branding, trading in their morals and ethics to capitalize on the money and popularity of branding.