Review: A Century of American Icons: 100 Products and Slogans from the 20th-Century Consumer Culture

A Century of American Icons: 100 Products and Slogans from the 20th-Century Consumer Culture by Mary Cross
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A fun look at iconography through advertising. Each chapter is dedicated to a decade starting with 1900 picking out about 10 or so brands that were iconic to that time. Each brand has a bit of history to the company and / or brand as well as notable advertising campaigns. Most brands are still known today like Campbell's Soup and Morton Salt that made their debut in the early 20th century. Some, including more recent brands like Hathaway shirts, are curious inclusions because they don't seem to be nationally popular. Each chapter is introduced with a short history of life during that decade, giving the reader an understanding of how advertising and brands would impact consumers at the time.

An overall fun read. I would have liked more pictures, but interesting enough. I mostly sat at my computer while reading, looking up the ads mentioned in each chapter.

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