Books with author Doreen 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.

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.

What if coins could talk?What if coins could talk? In “The Adventures of Lucky and Nicky” they can! And much more! On one hand, Lucky (The Penny) and Nicky (The Nickel) are like your typical 12 year old boys that like to run and play. But on the other hand, the predicaments they encounter are very different. This book “Lucky Gets Trapped in a Penny Loafer” finds our coins in an unusual situation. As Lucky and Nicky are racing down the sidewalk, Lucky sees a boy running towards them.”Let’s get out of here!” shouts Lucky. Timmy chases the coins until they slow down and fall over with exhaustion. He scoops them up and runs towards his mother. He is very excited because he knows coins are valuable and plans to add them to his piggy bank. But his mother has a better idea for Lucky. She shows Timmy how to put the coin between the flaps of his penny loafer. Lucky is trapped. Later that night while Timmy is sleeping, Nicky finds Lucky sad and frightened under the bed. Unable to free him, Nicky dashes off looking for help. Soon, he finds Diana, a beautiful young dime. She tells Nicky “I don’t think I can be much help, but my father will help you.” She yells, “father, come quickly!” Out of the crack in the wall, like a locomotive coming through a tunnel, appears a big and powerful 50 cent piece called Mr. Jack. Nicky leads Diana and her father to Lucky. Soon Lucky will be free.