The Hidden Persuaders, by Vance Packard (published in 1957 - over 60 years ago!) had an enormous impact on me. And even with that information available, how marketing targets our emotions, they are still at it. Because, sadly, it works.

But it brings up a funny memory. Shopping with my mother in the soup aisle and seeing Campbell's Tomato soup with a special offer - buy so many cans and get a free pair of nylons! Even as a child my reaction was "Soup and feet? Yuck!" Packard uses that example of a campaign that went terribly wrong. :-}