Even the faintest whiff of lemon sells cleaning products. Negative messages from politicians win votes. Product placement in films rarely works. Many multi-million pound advertising campaigns are a complete waste of time. These are just a few of the findings of Martin Lindstrom's groundbreaking study of what really makes consumers tick. Convinced that there is a gulf between what we believe influences us and what actually does, he set up a highly ambitious research project that employed the very latest in brain-scanning technology and called on the services of some 2000 volunteers."Buyology" shares the fruits of this research, revealing for the first time what actually goes on inside our heads when we see an advertisement, hear a marketing slogan, taste two rival brands of drink, or watch a programme sponsored by a major company. The conclusions are both startling and groundbreaking, showing the extent to which we deceive ourselves when we think we are making considered decisions, and revealing factors as varied as childhood memories and religious belief that come together to influence our decisions and shape our tastes.

Author Biography

Martin Lindstrom is one of the most respected branding gurus in the world. He sits on several boards globally and his clients include The Walt Disney Company, Reuters, American Express, Yellow Pages and Microsoft. He is CEO and Chairman of the Lindstrom company and Brand sense agency, and publishes his own weekly column on branding that reaches a global audience of more than a million people. His previous books, including Brand Sense and Brand Child, have been translated into 19 languages.