Advertising is riddled with myths and misunderstandings. It is simultaneously believed to be both immensely powerful and immensely wasteful, to increase economic prosperity, and to be morally questionable. Neither its historic origins nor its modern operations are well understood. Winston Fletcher, a leading authority on advertising, looks at the ways in which campaigns work (or fail to work), and the role of advertising in commerce, in the media, and in society. From the history and structure of the advertising industry to controversial areas such as advertising aimed at children, he highlights the benefits of advertising, and what the future may hold for the industry.