Renowned art connoisseur and connoisseur Don Thompson immerses the reader in the world of auctions and marketing in the art market. Frankly, wittily and harshly, he talks about how, thanks to hype and scandals, the names of contemporary artists become brands and why at least strange, or rather, creepy, anti-aesthetic works are sold at exorbitant prices, about who buys them and what is the motivation of buyers . Thompson looks at the growing influence of superdealers and the duopoly of major auction houses, reflects on the challenges of authenticating works of art, how reputations are made and broken, and the behind-the-scenes turmoil of the art world. His sources include dealers and former and current auction house employees and galleries from New York and London to Abu Dhabi and Beijing.