All Marketers Are Liars

The Power of Telling Authentic Stories in a Low-Trust World

By: Seth Godin

Narrated by: Seth Godin

Length: 4 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

Every marketer tells a story. And if they do it right, we believe them. We believe that wine tastes better in a $20 glass than a $1 glass. We believe that an $80,000 Porsche Cayenne is vastly superior to a $36,000 VW Touareg, which is virtually the same car. We believe that $225 Pumas will make our feet feel better, and look cooler, than $20 no-names... and believing it makes it true.

Successful marketers don't talk about features or even benefits. Instead, they tell a story. A story we want to believe.

This is a book about doing what consumers demand; painting vivid pictures that they choose to believe. Every organization, from nonprofits to car companies, from political campaigns to wineglass blowers, must understand that the rules have changed (again). In an economy where the richest have an infinite number of choices (and no time to make them), every organization is a marketer and all marketing is about telling stories.

Marketers succeed when they tell us a story that fits our worldview, a story that we intuitively embrace and then share with our friends. Think of the Dyson vacuum cleaner or the iPod.

But beware: If your stories are inauthentic, you cross the line from fib to fraud. Marketers fail when they are selfish and scurrilous, when they abuse the tools of their trade and make the world worse. That's a lesson learned the hard way by telemarketers and Marlboro.

This is a powerful book for anyone who wants to create things people truly want as opposed to commodities that people merely need.

©2005 Seth Godin (P)2005 Audible, Inc.

love the title love the book!

As usual, Seth Godin doesn't disappoint. Once again, he's delivered a title that can't be resisted. He practices what he preaches (teaches). His titles always make me stop in my tracks and my marketing mind starts to drool a bit at the juicy morsels of wisdom that I know I will find within the pages. This was a fun and inspiring book. It really made me think about my own story. Thank you so much Seth, for never letting us down. I look forward to reading your next book!!

A simple yet innovative marketing principle.

I've always loved Seth Godin, and followed his blog while I was working in marketing. Even now, as I work retail while in between careers, this book resonates how I should be sharing a product on the day-to-day.

Best Godin book

I haven’t read all of Seth Godwin’s books, but I’ve read several, including “This Is Marketing.” This one, even more than a decade after it was published, is the best. It gives a big picture of where marketing has been & where it’s going, & it goes into enough detail that you can see your next steps & even some strategies to implement. I have taken a ton of value away from this audiobook in terms of perspective on the work I do & ideas on how I can do it better.

Wonderful book

Well read. I’m not a marketing guy but learned a lot about storytelling and worldview.

A must read/listen for marketers

This and The Purple Cow are MUST reads/listens to every serious marketer and entrepreneur.

Light on Details but Pretty Good Overall.

This book reads like an abridged version, as it's quick, light in details and rather short. That being said, the topic doesn't require much detail and perhaps is best delivered like this anyway. While I may argue with a few points in the book based off of my experiences, Seth's insights are pretty sharp and cohesive with his overall marketing vision and well worth the listening. While I wouldn't say I walked away with a ton of insights, I am glad I own this book and listened to it and would recommend it to others. I definitely enjoy the fact that Seth reads his own books and his delivery is superb.

insightful book

Seth Godin's All Marketers Are Liars is an interesting read. The book has numerous interesting insights on marketing and marketers. I truly enjoyed listening to this audiobook and couldn't stop listening to it. The narration is ok as well.

new perspective

New perspective on your old beliefs and how we are drawn to products based on what feels right to us.

Could’ve summed it up in 10 minutes

Marketing is all about telling a story the audience believes. 4+ hours was unnecessary. Long and drawn out. Over and over about how marketers tell stories.

Great Marketing book

I am a big fan of Seth's work, but he always surprises me.
I was curious about the title and the subject and he manages to surprise me in a delightful way. He narrates in such a way that you feel like he's talking to you, this making everything even better.