The Story of
Obvious Adams
By Robert R. Updegraff
Copyright 1916, 1929, 1953. The Updegraff Press. All rights reserved.
Reprinted with permission by Ancillary Marketing Corp. for Your Marketing Genius at Work. November, 1986.
Obvious Adams was first published as a short story in the Saturday Evening Post in April, 1916. Though it was the story of an advertising man, it was quickly recognized as presenting a germ idea basic to outstanding success in the business world and the professions.
Harper & Brothers brought out the story in book form in September of the year of its publication in the Post.
The book met with a ready sale. In reviewing it, the New York Times said, "The young man who is going to seek his fortune in the advertising business should have Obvious Adams for a handbook. Indeed, any young man who is going to seek his fortune in anything might be aided by the common sense and business acumen displayed in this little volume.
"Obvious Adams" soon became a legendary character. He was quoted in business conferences and at board meetings. Heads of companies wrote the author to ask if the hero of the story was a real person; that if he was, they wanted to engage his services. His "obviousness" influenced the thinking of some of the outstanding industrial leaders of the day — men of the calibre of Elbert H. Gary, head of U.S. Steel, who read the book and wrote the author an appreciative letter.
That was nearly half a century ago. In the ensuing decades, two other publishers brought out editions of Obvious Adams. It became known as a business "classic" and found its way into anthologies of business literature.
For several years all editions of the book were out of print. So persistent was the demand for copies, especially from heads of firms who want to plant the germ idea of the story in the minds of their younger executives and creative people, that this popular-priced edition was prepared.
The story may seem a bit old-fashioned to the modern reader, and at first he may regard it merely as a short story about an advertising man. But there is a basic idea in this simple story that is both universal and timeless.
The Publishers
1980 Memorial Edition
Robert R. Updegraff 1889-1977
Although the author died in 1977 the demand for Obvious Adams is still very much alive with inquiries and orders coming in steadily.
To fill this demand this Memorial Edition has been published by the author’s son under The Updegraff Press imprint in loving memory of his late father.
The author would obviously be pleased to know that a story he wrote over 60 years ago is still in demand today.
Norman C. Updegraff
http://abraham.com/obviousadams/