A Secret History of Brands cover art

A Secret History of Brands

The Dark and Twisted Beginnings of the Brand Names We Know and Love

Preview
LIMITED TIME OFFER

3 Months Free + £10 Audible voucher

£5.99/mo after 3 months. Cancel monthly.
Get this deal
Offer ends on 5 July 2026 at 11:59 BST.
More purchase options

A Secret History of Brands

By: Matt MacNabb
Narrated by: Matt Godfrey
Get this deal

£5.99/mo after 3 months. Offer ends on 5 July 2026 at 11:59 BST. Cancel monthly.

Buy Now for £12.62

Buy Now for £12.62

We live our lives immersed in name-brand products. It's hard to drive down the street without seeing a plethora of chain restaurants, car dealerships, branded clothing; they're all around us. What most of us don't know is that the origins of many of the most well-known and beloved brands in the world are shrouded in controversy, drug use, and sometimes even addled with blatant racism.

A Secret History of Brands cuts through the rumors and urban legends and paints a picture of the true dark history of famous brands, like Coca-Cola, Hugo Boss, Adidas, Ford, Bayer, Chanel, and BMW among others. Explore the mystery of the cocaine content of Coca-Cola, the Hitler-Henry Ford connection, and why Bayer is famous for aspirin but began their journey with heroin, and how Kellogg's Corn Flakes were crafted to deter sexual arousal. Thoroughly researched, MacNabb details firsthand conducted interviews alongside fairly weighed research to present the decisive view of brands histories that you haven't heard of yet.

(P)2021 Tantor
Advertising Economic History Economics Marketing & Sales Social Sciences Marketing
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1
All stars
Most relevant
I really enjoyed this book and it appealed to the history nerd in me. It's informative, full if facts and detailed so no questions are left. The narrators voice let's the content flow which is a bonus; it's well worth the listen.

Shocking truths about some of the brands I love

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.