World War Brands: World War II and the Rise of the Modern American Brand

World War II had a profound impact on American brands. In addition to brands directly aligning their products with the war effort, some brands used the war as a clever way to engender positive perceptions by distributing products to American forces. Other brands actually had their roots in the war.

Just as important, the post-war economy led to the rise of the American middle class. The war fueled strong economic growth that turned the country into a major global force. Post-war America became a bubbling cauldron of scores of inventive, innovative brands. When television came along, marketing those brands rose to a whole new level.

Brand marketing expert Barry Silverstein traces the development of the American brand from World War I through the 1920s and 1930s. Then he explores the interrelationship of World War II and American brands, showing how the war itself was “branded,” how brand advertisers leveraged the war, and how the post-war economy helped birth the modern brand. Included are scores of stories about some of the best-known brands of the ‘40s and ‘50s.

Silverstein concludes the book by examining brands in the context of American post-war culture, moving from the war’s end into the 1950s and 1960s. He demonstrates how the consumerism of post-war America led quite directly to the birth of breakthrough brands and modern brand marketing strategies. Many brands from this time have survived and thrived into the 21st Century.

This unique book takes a fresh look at the impact of World War II on America from a marketing perspective. History and brand buffs alike will be enthralled by WORLD WAR BRANDS!

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Release date

Audiobook: 24 July 2025