The Art Thief
The story of a French couple who stole $2 billion in art from seven countries over eight years to stock their private museum.
Stats for nerds
4recommend
5mentions
5people
2015–2024years
80% recommend20% neutral
Mentions per year
What Hacker News says
- Not a single instance of theft but Stéphane Breitwieser is probably the most prolific art thief. I read Michael Finkel's 2023 book on the thefts and it was a riveting read.
- Down The Drain by Julia Fox, fun memoir of a nyc fashion icon, it's a beautiful mess, "I know the influence, I know the impact, and I know the vibes, and the girlies love the vibes, and that's just what it's about."
How To Murder Your Life by Cat Marnell, recommended by Julia Fox in an interview, similar book, if you're interested in fashion, publishing or beauty and where it intersects with addiction. Super funny, super sharp, super bitchy, reading her 2nd book now
Walking Through Clear Water in a Pool Painted Black by Cookie Mueller, if you like Nan Golden or John Waters you know who Cookie is, a really fun and crazy ride, made me wish I was best friends with Cookie.
Black Friend by Ziwe Fumudoh, if you like Ziwe, then obvi. An interesting mini memoir, has some of the bite of her talk show but pulls back the mask and makes you realize how damn brilliant she is, really interesting refection of the experience of a 2nd generation Nigerian
I Was Better Last Night by Harvey Firestein, a fun look back at the alt theater scene in NYC, still listening on audible, he has the best voice ever, something that is a must listen
Feeding the Soul (Because it’s my business) by Tabitha Brown, if you fell in love with Tab’s vegan soul during the pandemic like me this audio book was like a warm hug from a super nice auntie. I don’t share a lot of the same beliefs as her, but it was interesting look at one person’s faith and how it made them the person they are
The Fuck Up by Arthur Nersesian, if you ever dreamed of living in the East Village in the 1980s this book was great, paints a lively picture of NYC at that time
The New Animals by Pip Adams, a kiwi fashion scene slice of life, like if Virgina Wolf had written Bret Easton Ellis' Glamorama. Some interesting musings on social media and it's place in the fashion world
Glamorama by Bret Easton Ellis, re-read after 20 years, really appreciated the non stop references, if you want to live in the late 90s fashion world for a bit it’s a great book
I Am Not Ashamed by Barbara Payton, old hollywood starlet who ended her life broke and addicted, an interesting look at the dark side of the old studio system and the seedier parts of Los Angeles. Picked up at Mast Books in the East Village (along with a few others on this list), highly recommend the book store, great selection of artsy fartsy stuff
The Shards by Bret Easton Ellis, didn’t finish it, mostly because it’s massive and I never could bring myself to pack it, intend to finish to next year, but if you like his other books, especially less than 0, it’s worth reading. Picked up at Literati in Ann Arbor, great bookstore near a few other great bookstores on the edge of Kerrytown, highly recommend
Eve's Hollywood by Eve Babitz, if you want to fall in love with a Los Angeles even more, great writing
An Attempt at exhausting a place in Paris by George Perec, a quick read can’t remember if it was the first book I bought from Wakefield Press at Artbook Hauser & Worth LA, but thankful for that bookstore introducing me to that press
Psychology of the Rich Aunt by Erich Mühsam, another Wakefield title, funny and still felt modern despite being a century old. The authors real life was really interesting to me, he was one of, (if not the first, I remember reading somewhere but can’t find the source), victim of the Nazis
The Sundays of Jean Dézert by Jean de La Ville de Mirmont, another Wakefield title, I read it one sitting (easy to do with this press, they publish almost entirely novellas from what I can gather), made me think of Notes From Underground and Seinfeld
Honey I'm Homo by Matt Baume, A really wonderful guided tour of LGBT representation in television. Was not expecting this book to hit so hard. I cried more times reading this than anything else this year. If you grew up gay in the 1900s, it's a really powerful reminder of how vital accurate and compassionate representation is. Made me realize how much things have changed for the better, really made me appreciate being alive today.
The Art Thief by Michael Finkel, really romantic crime non fiction about a prolific art thief, his girfriend, his family, extremely cinematic, would be shocked if it's not made into a movie very soon
Paris by Paris Hilton, a really dark look at the troubled teen industry, made me really respect Paris Hilton as a cultural engineer (she was mostly in on the joke) and abuse survivor. Also, a really dark look at revenge porn, consent, and technology in the aughts
Mean Baby by Selma Blair, really enjoyed the parts about her childhood, a very specific look at the Jewish Detroit suburbs at the last quarter of the 20th century
Unprotected by Billy Porter, if you watched Pose, and wanted to know more about the actor that brought Pray Tell to life . A memoir about demanding your place in the world
Spinning Plates by Sophie Ellis Bextor, read at the start of the year, but love that with Saltburn coming out “Murder on the Dancefloor” is everywhere again. Loved the early parts of the book and the britt pop teenage stories, the obvious music career throughout, and then interesting look at motherhood. She’s so charming, smart and talented, I’ve always wondered why she wasn’t as big as the other pop stars of her era but her podcast Spinning Plates is also great, and most recent album Hana is a charming love letter to japan.
Pageboy by Elliot Page, really made me want to go Nova Scotia, feels like a long late night conversation on a porch chain smoking cigarettes in college while a party is going on inside but the conversation is more compelling
When We Cease To Understand The World by Benjamín Labatut, suggested to me in last years version of this, really beautiful and thoughtful, lots of very specific truths in a fictional history
I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jenette McCurdy, a look back at being a child star, written as if it’s all happening in the present, interesting reflections on Mormonism and Nickelodeon
Atomic Habits, nothing earth shattering but a pleasant, picked up a few things from it i started doing day to day that increased my quality of life
Friends, Lovers, and The Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry, a really dark look at what addiction combined with fame does to a person, didn't enjoy reading it, but when Matthew Perry died I was glad I had.
The Woman in Me (Le Femme en Moi), currently enjoying this as an audio book in French, if you're learning another language and love pop culture, the vocab is simple, being able to slow down the speed on audible is really nice. Read the book in English first and it was a really interesting look at sexism in the media and the commodification of celebrity, super sad
Valid by Chris Bergeron, currently reading, trans dystopian sci fi in a near future Montreal. Enjoying it so far
Bunny by Mona Awad, also currently reading, reminds me of Heathers if it was made by Wilt Stillman
The Love of Singular Men by Victor Heringer, also still reading, really visceral writing, one of those books that really makes you feel like you are seeing what the author is writing about, was suggested by the staff at De Stille in Montreal on Duluth, a great english language bookstore highly recommend
- THESE:
1. "The Shadow Factory" by James Bamford James Bamford takes you behind the scenes of the NSA's domestic surveillance operations, providing an unparalleled look into their methods and motivations. With access to exclusive sources, Bamford delves into the agency's quest for information on modern threats while raising questions about privacy and security.
2. "Fake: Forgery, Lies, & eBay" by Kenneth Walton Discover the world of art scams and online manipulation through the lens of eBay's unregulated auction system. Walton's account details how con artists exploited the platform, luring unsuspecting bidders and amassing fortunes. This captivating narrative sheds light on both high-profile scammers and their unsuspecting victims, prompting shifts in eBay's policies.
3. "The Flying Tigers: The Untold Story of the American Pilots Who Waged a Secret War Against Japan" by Sam Kleiner Sam Kleiner unveils the thrilling tale of American pilots who, before Pearl Harbor, were secretly recruited to aid Chinese allies against Japan. As events unfolded, they found themselves on the front lines of the Pacific war. This untold story sheds light on their bravery and the pivotal role they played during a critical time.
4. "The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit" by Michael Finkel Delve into the fascinating life of Christopher Knight, who disappeared into the wilderness for nearly three decades. Finkel's narrative explores Knight's survival in harsh conditions, his resourcefulness, and the mysteries surrounding his isolated existence. It's a thought-provoking exploration of solitude, community, and the human spirit.
5."The Art Thief: A True Story of Love, Crime, and a Dangerous Obsession" by Michael Finkel Unearth the astonishing true-crime account of Stéphane Breitwieser, one of the world's most prolific art thieves. Finkel delves into Breitwieser's audacious exploits, shedding light on his motivations, the world of stolen art, and the complex dynamics of his criminal pursuits.
6. "Permanent Record" by Edward Snowden Edward Snowden, the whistleblower who exposed mass surveillance by the US government, opens up about his life and the events that led him to expose the system he helped build. This memoir provides an insider's perspective on the motives, challenges, and consequences of his actions.
7. "September's Camera" by Jeffrey Scarborough Jeff Scarborough recounts his harrowing experience as the sole cameraman during the 9/11 attacks. His lens captured the unfolding tragedy and its aftermath, offering a unique perspective on that fateful day and a career spent capturing human fragility in various forms.
These non-fiction gems offer thought-provoking narratives, from the hidden world of espionage to tales of survival and resilience. Dive into these pages and embark on a journey through history, art, and human stories that have shaped our world. Happy reading!
- If you like his book "The Art Thief", I would also recommend "The Art Forger" as well. In the Art Forger, they reference famous forgers and their actual methods. The book goes into pretty deep detail about certain methods that forgers use. If you're an art person, it's pretty geeky. It uses the unsolved heist at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum as a backdrop for the main story line.
http://www.amazon.com/Art-Forger-Novel-B-Shapiro/dp/16162031...
- > All this is recounted, thrillingly, in “The Art Thief” (Knopf), by the journalist Michael Finkel. It is his third book, and also the third one to search for meaning—moral, aesthetic, existential—in criminal acts. This is an interest he comes by honestly, or, more precisely, dishonestly. In 2002, Finkel, who was then a contributing writer at the New York Times Magazine, plummeted from grace when the protagonist of an article he wrote, about allegations of child slavery on West African cocoa plantations, turned out to be a composite character. The Times fired him and soon afterward published a lengthy correction, which took his transgressions from private to public and took a sledgehammer to his reputation.
So a sensational story about a unique person being told by someone who was caught lying about a sensational story about a unique person?
