Thursday 31 October 2013

Nobody's Perfect - Willens 2009

This book provides a new and fresh perspective on the golden age of DDB. A perspective which shows Bernbach not only as the mild genius, but also as a man full of insecurities and one that carefully manicured his public picture and his everlasting legend. Very interesting read, yet it is actually not that good looking.



“”Do it different” was his theme – a theme that later Apple Computer borrowed for its “Think different” campaign.” (Willens, 2009, p.1).

“That on the day of Doyle’s retirement, in 1969, Bernbach exuberantly exclaimed to a trusted colleague, “Now, at last, it’s MY agency.” (Willens, 2009, p.4).

“The ultimate compliment was, ‘You know how good this is? I’m going to put it on my reel.” (Willens, 2009, p.30).

 “The truth isn’t the truth until people believe you.” (Willens quoting Bernbach, 2009, p.89).
“He worried about the agency’s lack of organization and apparent lack of interest in organization. (…) “That’s what everyone cherished,” said Mike Drexler. “You’re given a job, and it’s your job; nobody looks over your shoulder.” (Willens, 2009, p.116).

On not taking on tobacco clients: “Nobody in the home office informed Dusseldorf of the founders discussion and intentions. The wounds of World War II were far from healed, and both Bernbach and Doyle made quips that revealed a lack of concern about safeguarding the health of Germans.” (Willens, 2009, p.160).

Monday 28 October 2013

William Harmon – The Classic Hundred Poems

Well, the title says it all:

 “In folly ripe, in reason rotten.” (Sir Walter Ralegh quoted in Harmon, 1998, p.13).

“Let us possess one world, each hath one, and is one.” (John Donne quoted in Harmon, 1998, p.35).



“A sweet disorder in the dress
Kindles in clothes a wantonness.
(…)
A careless shoestring, in whose tie
I see a wild civility;
Do more bewitch me than when art
Is too precise in every part.” (Robert Herrick quoted in Harmon, 1998, p.50).

“And did those feet in ancient time
Walk upon England’s mountains green?
And was the holy Lamb of God
On England’s pleasant pastures seen?” (William Blake quoted in Harmon, 1998, p.100).

“We are led to Believe a Lie
When we see not Thro’ the Eye
Which was Born in a Night to perish in a Night
When the Soul Slept in Beams of Light..
God Appears and God is Light
To those poor Souls who dwell in Night,
But does a Human Form Display
To those who Dwell in Realms of day” (William Blake quoted in Harmon, 1998, p.106).

“I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,
(…)
And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow.” (Yeats quoted in Harmon, 1998, p.209).

“Streets that follow like a tedious argument
of insidious intent.” (TS Eliot quoted in Harmon, 1998, p.233).

“Do I dare
Disturb the universe?
In a minute there is time
For decisions and revisions which a minute will reverse.” (TS Eliot quoted in Harmon, 1998, p.233).

“Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right
Because their words had forked no lightning they

Do not go gentle into that good night.” (Dylan Thomas quoted in Harmon, 1998, p.251).

Sunday 27 October 2013

Dave Trott - Predatory Thinking - 2013

I love reading Trott’s short stories. Would be very interested to read either a collection of aphorisms or a proper long book from him.

It is a very good looking book, nevertheless.


Thursday 3 October 2013

Frost 1997



This book made me feel America and that tiny bit I know of America Frost poems helped me understand better.

“”I can’t think Si ever hurt anyone.”
“No, but he hurt my heart the way he lay
And rolled his old head on that sharp-edged chair-back.”” (Frost, The Death of the hired man, p.63, 1997).

“There’s nothing I’m afraid of like scared people.” (Frost, A Hundred Collars, p.77, 1997).

“(Nothing could draw her after those two sons
She valued the considerate neglect
She had at some cost taught them after years.)” (Frost, The Black Cottage, p.85, 1997).

“The hand that knows his business won’t be told
To do work better or faster.” (Frost, The Code, p.104, 1997).

“ … I can no more
Let people in than I can keep them out.
I’m getting to old for my size, I tell them.” (Frost, The Housekeeper, p.118, 1997).

“He went behind it to make his last stand.
It was a cord of maple, cut and split
And piled – and measured, four by four by eight.“ (Frost, The Wood-Pile, p.133, 1997).

“I never bore it well when people went.
The first night after guests have gone, the house
Seems haunted or exposed. …” (Frost, In The Home Stretch, p.143, 1997).

“When there was no more lantern in the kitchen,
The fire got out through crannies in the stove
And danced in yellow wigglers on the ceiling,
As much at home as if they’d always danced there.” (Frost, In The Home Stretch, p.152, 1997).

“It wasn’t my not weighing anything
So much as my not knowing anything -
My brother had been nearer right before.
I had not taken the first step in knowledge;
I had not learned to let go with the hands,
As stil I have not learned to with the heart,
And have no wish to with the heart – nor need,
That I can see. The mind – is not the heart.
I may yet live, as I know others live,
To wish in vain tp öet go with the mind –
Of cares, at night, to sleep; but nothing tells me
That I need learn to let go with the heart.” (Frost, The Grindstone, p.2356, 1997).