Books with author Dana Thompson

Why would a smart New York investment banker pay $12 million for the decaying, stuffed carcass of a shark? By what alchemy does Jackson Pollock's drip painting No. 5, 1948 sell for $140 million? Intriguing and entertaining, The $12 Million Stuffed Shark is a Freakonomics approach to the economics and psychology of the contemporary art world. Why were record prices achieved at auction for works by 131 contemporary artists in 2006 alone, with astonishing new heights reached in 2007? Don Thompson explores the money, lust, and self-aggrandizement of the art world in an attempt to determine what makes a particular work valuable while others are ignored.This book is the first to look at the economics and the marketing strategies that enable the modern art market to generate such astronomical prices. Drawing on interviews with past and present executives of auction houses and art dealerships, artists, and the buyers who move the market, Thompson launches the reader on a journey of discovery through the peculiar world of modern art. Surprising, passionate, gossipy, revelatory, The $12 Million Stuffed Shark reveals a great deal that even experienced auction purchasers do not know.

Why would a smart New York investment banker pay $12 million for the decaying, stuffed carcass of a shark? By what alchemy does Jackson Pollock’s drip painting No. 5, 1948 sell for $140 million? Intriguing and entertaining, The $12 Million Stuffed Shark is a Freakonomics approach to the economics and psychology of the contemporary art world. Why were record prices achieved at auction for works by 131 contemporary artists in 2006 alone, with astonishing new heights reached in 2007? Don Thompson explores the money, lust, and self-aggrandizement of the art world in an attempt to determine what makes a particular work valuable while others are ignored. This book is the first to look at the economics and the marketing strategies that enable the modern art market to generate such astronomical prices. Drawing on interviews with both past and present executives of auction houses and art dealerships, artists, and the buyers who move the market, Thompson launches the reader on a journey of discovery through the peculiar world of modern art. Surprising, passionate, gossipy, revelatory, The $12 Million Stuffed Shark reveals a great deal that even experienced auction purchasers do not know.

This Peak Athletic Performance guided self-hypnosis program was designed to assist the listener in gaining athletic confidence, getting into the zone, gaining motivation to train, and increasing mental edge in competitive situations. The hypnosis induction features isochronic tones which are a form of brainwave entrainment to help achieve deeper relaxation. Also included within this program is an extended affirmations track, a meditation track (partly guided, with ancient Solfeggio frequencies), and as an extra bonus, an exciting and powerful drum journey, bodywork track. Using an alternate induction, hypnotic drum beats, and posthypnotic suggestions related to peak athletic performance, this drum journey is designed to get the listener out of their brain and back into their body. Many find this useful for releasing energy blocks, healing and integrating the mind, body, and spirit. Written and narrated by Anna Thompson, MA, MHP, LMHC, Advanced Clinical Hypnotherapist. Life is short, live it well.

Almost two decades after the human race fell to the might and fury of the ancient dragons, the last of humanity is gathered together in Nottinghill Castle. Barely a thousand souls have survived in that time and they face constant threats from the evil forces of the Chaos lords. But thanks to their mages, their warriors, and the indomitable human spirit, they have managed to cling to life. So far.But things are now changing on the New Earth. The dwarves, long isolated in their empire deep beneath the surface, have been attacked by the goblin hordes and this has roused the dwarven people's fury. They have finally realized that, even in their secluded cities hundreds of miles below the ground, they are not safe.And now, a new player has returned to the world. The elves have been driven from their home of Trillfarness, a planet given to them in ancient times by the lords of Light. Evil has destroyed that sanctuary and only a handful of survivors have managed to return to the world where they were first created. Shattered but not broken, the elves are weak and vulnerable and in need of allies. But who can they turn to in their darkest hour?Old suspicions linger between the elves and the dwarves. Once rivals, neither race trusts the other and many dwarves would rather stand alone. Will they be able to work out their differences in time to save the world and themselves? The human race may be the key.If they can bring both sides together and forge an alliance between all three of the mortal races, perhaps they can finally take the fight to the forces of Darkness and take back their world. If not, then the New Earth may finally fall to evil.

Why would a smart New York investment banker pay twelve million dollars for the decaying, stuffed carcass of a shark? How does Jackson Pollock's drip painting No.5 1948 sell for $140 million? And why does a leather jacket with silver chain attached, tossed in a corner and titled 'No One Ever Leaves', bring $690,000 at a 2007 Sotheby's auction? The Twelve Million Dollar Stuffed Shark is the first book to look at the economics of the modern art world and the strategies which power the market to produce such astronomical prices. Don Thompson talks to auction houses, dealers, and collectors to find out the source of Charles Saatchi's Midas touch, and how far a gallery like White Cube has contributed to Damien Hirst becoming the highest-earning artist in the world. The result is a fascinating, shrewd and highly readable insight into a world where brand is everything.Don Thompson is an economist and professor of business specialising in art. He has taught at the London School of Economics and the Harvard Business School. This is his first trade book. He lives in London and Toronto.

Megaera, Tisiphone and Alecto are The Furies: Motorcycle riding Goddesses of Revenge, strong women kicking ass and celebrating the feminine divine. They track and kill those who’ve murdered and have escaped justice, killing them in as bloody a fashion as possible. Morbidly funny.A primordial demon, Sorath, AKA "The Beast", has escaped the bonds of the underworld, hopped a ride on an unsuspecting human…and is on a warpath, determined to bring about Armageddon, killing every god he can find along the way. Becoming a small-town serial killer is just the power-up he needs.Detective Dan Lanahan doesn’t believe in gods. He certainly doesn’t believe in dragons and demons. All he knows is that someone just left his niece tied to a tree, eyes gouged out, mysterious symbols carved into her flesh, and now they’re on a murderous rampage through his town. He’s going to stop this killer if it’s the last thing he does…even if that means going face to face with the impossible.To make matters worse, now Megaera is in love with him.Meanwhile, Hades and his domain, the Underworld, are embroiled in a Civil War. The Dragon Demon, Bune, was left in command when Sorath escaped and is busy killing innocent young women on the surface. The Demon Bune has teamed up with Nazi Germany’s mastermind of tactics, Rommel.Once Sorath returns, they’ll launch their war against Hades, the Underworld, and the surface.Only one thing is standing in their way: The Furies.Angels of Vengeance is a fantasy adventure full of violence, morbid humor, an unsuspecting detective, and three sister goddesses out for revenge.

A rollicking new adventure story from the creator of Rip Haywire!Rip Haywire thinks he's got it made. Instead of going to bed early, doing fractions and eating Brussels sprouts, he gets to accompany his soldier-of fortune dad on laughably dangerous international missions. He's the only 12-year-old in the world with a working knowledge of the Seven Most Common Booby Traps Used by Ancient Civilizations to Protect Their Precious Treasures. It sure beats school, right? But Rip's life is about to change when his dad, in a sudden fit of responsibility, assigns Rip his toughest mission yet: a historically all-girls summer camp. Will Rip learn how to get along with his feminine camp mates, most of whom have never even seen a flame thrower, let alone used one to fend off a pack of rabid hyenas? Can Rip solve the mysteries that surround the camp and one intriguing girl in particular? Readers will follow Rip's misadventures in his whimsically illustrated journal, helping him to solve puzzles and beat the bad guys, as he learns that friendship can be more valuable than ancient treasure, and more powerful than a well-placed land mine.

Action! Danger! Dysfunctional Romance! The adventure comic strip is back — with a twist! Rip Haywire is a soldier of fortune, a contemporary adventure hero in the classic mold: a brave, square-jawed man of honor who lives for danger. Accompanied by his cowardly dog, TNT, and his venomous ex-girlfriend, Cobra, Rip tracks down lost treasure, takes down madmen, and takes any job that promises heart-pounding action, danger, intrigue — and cash!

My enemy had seen me naked. He was holding the proof right before my eyes, and my stomach lurched sickeningly."Seems like you had too much to drink last night," he remarked in that condescending tone he always used with me.I looked up at him as he stood watching me from the doorway with his attitude of superiority. In that moment of weakness, I actually tried to plead with him. "Please. I've never done anything to you.""Begging me on your knees. That's a good start."Dread turned my clammy skin cold. Mason Sumner hated my guts, and he would have no compassion for me. This was bad. This was really, really bad.Not intended for younger teens due to adult content.