Piyush Pandey’s Pandeymonium isn’t your typical advertising playbook filled with theories and data. Instead, it’s a collection of stories, experiences, and insights that feel more like a casual conversation over coffee with one of India’s most celebrated ad men.
If you’re looking for a book that deciphers advertising through statistics and frameworks, this isn’t it. But if you enjoy storytelling infused with wisdom, you’ll find this an engaging read.
What stands out most is Piyush’s ability to weave life lessons into advertising. He emphasizes the power of human connections, instinct, and learning from criticism.
His anecdotes—from cricket fields to boardrooms—illustrate how advertising is deeply rooted in everyday experiences. The book is light, conversational, and refreshingly unpretentious.
However, it does feel like an extended love letter to Ogilvy. While Piyush’s admiration for the agency is understandable, a broader perspective on the industry—acknowledging work from competitors—would have added depth.
At times, it feels more like an Ogilvy memoir than an industry-wide reflection.
That said, for anyone who grew up watching some of India’s most iconic ads, this book is a trip down memory lane. It connects the dots between familiar campaigns and the creative mind behind them.
Whether you’re in advertising or just someone who appreciates great storytelling, Pandeymonium is a breezy, insightful read.
Quotes from Book
That’s the beauty of family and friends. You are close to them because they are family and friends. And because they are close to you, they will influence you. They will inspire you, they will enrich you, they will help you become what you finally do become.
That’s precisely the beauty of trivia. What is trivia today can be transformed into spectacular insight tomorrow.
There is a strange, powerful chemistry between people who seem completely dissimilar; so, do not reject those who you think have nothing in common with you.
Whatever you say, say it with respect for the audience, say it in a context that the audience can understand, say it spontaneously, say it without fear, say it not to intimidate or frighten, but to delight.