From ancient phrases etched in stone, to todays cutting edge multimedia commercials, selling has always meant grabbing attention. Attention from people with chickens to trade or money to spend, the point of which is to move the product, it means tapping into peoples desire and creating need.

This is a story of explanation, exaggeration and even exploitation, a story that extends from Roman highways to Madison Avenue.

Sell & Spin A History of Advertising originally released in 1999 provides us with an in depth analysis of how advertising came to be and how it’s overall effectiveness was gained through much trail and error.