This booklet (28 pages) was originally published in 1940 and some new material was added twenty years later. The Foreword to the edition I have (published by Waking Lion Press in 2009) was provided by William Bernbach (1911-1982), one-time chairman and CEO of what was Doyle Dane Bernbach, then renowned for many of the greatest ads in the 20th century. The booklet's author, James Webb Young (1886-1973), added a "Prefatory Note" in 1960. His first publication, How To Become An Advertising Man (1963), focuses on core concepts that every ad practitioner and copywriter should know:
o Knowledge of Propositions
o Knowledge of Markets
o Knowledge of Messages
o Knowledge of Message Carriers
o Knowledge of Trade Channels
o Knowledge of How Advertising Works
o Knowledge of The Specific Situation
Today, these core concepts continue to provide the "basics" on which all effective marketing depends when attempting to create or increase demand for the given product and/or service and multi-media advertising is without doubt advertising's most powerful resource. However, for at least the past 75 years, everything begins with a compelling idea.
In A Technique for Producing Ideas, Webb offers what he characterizes as a "simple, five-step formula anyone can use to be more creative in business and in life! " Although the process itself is indeed simple, completing it to achieve the given results is a wholly different matter. Webb's focus is on the process by which to generate ideas. "They appear just as suddenly above the surface of the mind [like a lovely atoll above the surface of a deep blue sea]; and with that same air of magic and unaccountability. But the scientist knows that the South Sea atoll is the work of countless, unseen coral builders, working below the surface of the sea." Keep in mind that Webb developed or encountered this insight decades ago.
The details of the five-step "formula are best revealed in context, within the narrative. I will suggest now, however, that (a) this booklet is by no means relevant only to advertising or even to business in general, and (b) it can help almost anyone to develop more and better ideas when seeking a solution to a problem or an answer to a question. Because Webb thinks and writes so clearly, the booklet offers the additional benefit of helping its reader to reduce (if not eliminate) all the "clutter" in the mind that accumulates relentlessly over time.
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A Technique for Producing Ideas: The simple, five-step formula anyone can use to be more creative in business and in life! 平装 – 2009年 7月 22日
作者
James Webb Young
(作者)
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This short but powerful book has helped thousands of writers, artists, scientists, and engineers to solve problems and generate ideas. Now let James Webb Young's unique insights help you be more creative in every area of life. Advertising mogul William Bernbach wrote, "James Webb Young is in the tradition of some of our greatest thinkers when he describes the workings of the creative process. The results of many years in advertising have proved to him that the key element in communications success is the production of relevant and dramatic ideas. He not only makes this point vividly for us but shows us the road to that goal." Newly designed and typeset in a 6-by-9-inch format by Waking Lion Press.
- 纸书页数38页
- 语言英语
- 出版社Waking Lion Press
- 出版日期2009年 7月 22日
- 尺寸13.97 x 0.25 x 21.59 cm
- ISBN-101434102750
- ISBN-13978-1434102751
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基本信息
- 出版社 : Waking Lion Press
- 出版日期 : 2009年 7月 22日
- 版本 : 第 2009
- 语言 : 英语
- 纸书页数 : 38页
- ISBN-10 : 1434102750
- ISBN-13 : 978-1434102751
- 商品重量 : 68 g
- 尺寸 : 13.97 x 0.25 x 21.59 cm
- 部分系列 : MARKETING/SALES/ADV & PROMO
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James Webb Young was a driving force behind the creation of the modern advertising industry, and is one of advertising's most honored educators and practitioners.
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2013年1月19日在美国发布评论格式: 平装已确认购买
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2012年4月11日在美国发布评论Simple, short "how to" info - knew what I was getting since I previously owned the booklet. The advice works. Have used the techniques for years - from memory. Didn't want to test my recall any more. Which brings me to Amazon's(?) shipping policies. I ordered 2 booklets (which weighed approx. 3ozs and measured 5"x8"x1/4"thick - combined); and they were sent usps in a single mailing envelope. The shipping cost to me was based on 2 shipments, when it was sent as one - at a distance of less than 200 miles (which took 11 days to arrive). If I had sent them anywhere in the USA under the same cover it would have cost me less than half the single shipment charge. When the seller/shipper was confronted with these facts, I was told that the overcharges were to pay for any shipping losses they might accrue in other book sales. As a small businessman, I never realized 'ripoffs' were so easily explained.
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2025年6月9日在美国发布评论Small but very powerful book!
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2012年11月8日在美国发布评论I read about this in a wonderful curated blog called "Brain Pickings." I suggest anyone who enjoys life, literature and just plain thinking, will enjoy it. Years ago, too, I attended a great class through UCLA Extension on the Creative Process. Taught by a psychologist, he outlined over the course of weeks, what this book distills in a few pages. Not that I didn't like that class (I did, a lot), but reading a short book beats weeks in a classroom every time.
The most important part of this process, as far as I can tell, is what I'd call the incubation period - where you take your focus off your problem or issue and just allow the creative process to work. That's really hard for many of us because we don't trust that this process CAN work or WILL work for us on our problem or issue. That strikes me as normal and human and yet, because I have a hard time with this too, rather sad in a way. One way I try to overcome this is to keep some sort of meditation habit in force which just helps me calm the part of my mind that doesn't believe in either the benevolence or at the very least, neutrality, of the universe. Which it seems to me, the creative process, is a big part of.
This book closes with a truth - people reading this will be enthused at first and then not use the process. Oh, maybe once or twice, but over time they'll forget it. I agree with this, but I'm determined to be more active in inviting in the muse to help me creatively. I strongly suggest that you read this, practice, and have fun with it!
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2021年2月7日在美国发布评论I read the entire book. For me although I didn't find the book an exciting read, it wasn't totally boring either. If someone felt they needed help in ideation this may be a good book to read. If you're like me and most ideas come easily there is probably a better read somewhere else.
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2014年7月16日在美国发布评论If you 'drink' this book, as I did, it is because most of the ideas and methods for producing ideas are second nature to you. If you are not by nature an idea person, this book lays out methodical ways for generating ideas. Either way, the book can be used to expand one's normal idea generation process.
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2023年3月21日在美国发布评论It was a great read. I found this book referenced in another publication on sparking ideas and took a Segway into James Webb Young’s book. The biggest take away for me is exposing myself to new experiences (directly and vicariously) and masticating the collected information to generate new ideas.
Quick read, the language is a bit dated but it was written in 1965 (I believe this was the date). The modern day version of this book would’ve easily been a 3 page blog.
I recommend this for any creative looking to get “back to basics” to create.
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2024年7月27日在美国发布评论I only took a couple of things from it, as it was brief and mostly familiar to me. However, it is brief but perfect. No fluff. Right to the point. I am still glad I read it. 10/10.
来自其他国家/地区的热门评论
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JT Morley2021年2月7日在澳大利亚发布评论5.0 颗星,最多 5 颗星 Obvious, Short & Meaty, Lessons!
I love this book because it doesn't take 100 pages of laborious reading to get to the meat of it. Short, concise and enormously valuable reading. I implemented it immediately! JOHN, The Obvious Coach.
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Reinhard Frommann2011年6月29日在德国发布评论5.0 颗星,最多 5 颗星 A must for Designers
This title offers a step-by-step technique for sparking breakthrough creativity in advertising - or any field. Since its publication in 1965, "A Technique for Producing Ideas" has helped thousands of advertising copywriters smash through internal barriers to unleash their creativity. Professionals from poets and painters to scientists and engineers have also used the techniques in this concise, powerful book to generate exciting ideas on demand, at any time, on any subject. Now let James Webb Young's unique insights help you look inside yourself to find that big, elusive idea - and once and for all lift the veil of mystery from the creative process."James Webb Young is in the tradition of some of our greatest thinkers when he describes the workings of the creative process. The results of many years in advertising have proved to him that the key element in communications success is the production of relevant and dramatic ideas. He not only makes this point vividly for us but shows us the road to that goal." -William Bernbach, Former Chairman and CEO, Doyle Dane Bernbach Inc.
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Rose2024年12月23日在加拿大发布评论5.0 颗星,最多 5 颗星 Idea book
Book gave me ways to come up with ideas for projects at work
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GUO Vanessa2023年6月3日在法国发布评论5.0 颗星,最多 5 颗星 short and make sens
I was surprised to see the length of the book 46 pages, but it was written in an easily understandable way, it makes sense the idea producing process. I am motivated to try!
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Juhi Bansal2021年1月10日在印度发布评论5.0 颗星,最多 5 颗星 Are Ideas getting harder to find?
I have always been asked these questions - "How did you get this idea?" or "How are you so creative?".
There was always a creative streak since childhood, and I am happy my right brain is more active than the left one. But if I have to summarize the process, it would be -
Read as much as you can. Not only books, read articles, newspapers, random posts on social media. Do not restrict yourself to a specific genre. Read about politics, romance, history, religion, culture, mythology, management, self-help, etc. Read whatever you can lay your hands on. Sometimes ideas are hidden in the most unexpected places.
Make a note of the things/ideas/topics that strike you while reading. It does not have to be a hi-fi excel or a spreadsheet. Use Google Keep to note down these points. Use any other app if you are already comfortable with it. The goal is to jot down the ideas/points/random thoughts.
Coming to the most crucial step of the process - Sit back, relax, and chill. Mandatorily do one of these activities - Go for a walk, listen to music, watch something and forget about the idea. Stop thinking about it. Just enjoy this me time and let your mind play the game. This step gives you ideas at the most unexpected times - taking a bath, watching random videos, or just when you are about to sleep.
This book talks about the same steps mentioned above, and the reason I loved it because it does not talk about making huge plans and timetables. It does not ask you to follow some random principles from a management book. It is a 40-page book, and it is one of those self-help books which would not make you feel depressed. Instead, it will cheer you up and motivate you to read more and more, something this bookstagram community already loves doing.. right?

























