I’m finishing up the second biography of Albert Lasker, The Man Who Sold America. The story is set in the early twentieth century, but it’s still a remarkable one for learning about the history of the advertising industry and one of the figures who heavily influenced it and American consumption habits.

Lasker was a complex person who struggled with bouts of severe depression and anxiety. Even with those ailments, he managed to understand consumers and how to communicate to them in an unrivaled way. It took decades, but his skills and his agency’s success eventually shaped American consumer behavior and politics. Lasker’s ability to communicate messages that resonated with everyone led to him heavily influencing American politics all the way to a presidential election.

I’m glad I decided to read these books about Lasker; they’ve made me aware of a period in the advertising industry that I might not otherwise have known about. They also helped explain the strategy behind some of the advertising methods still in use today.

I’m looking forward to reading more about Lasker and others who helped birth modern advertising.