Download PDF The Dinosaur Artist Obsession Science and the Global Quest for Fossils Paige Williams 9780316382519 Books
Download As PDF : The Dinosaur Artist Obsession Science and the Global Quest for Fossils Paige Williams 9780316382519 Books
In this 2018 New York Times Notable Book, Paige Williams "does for fossils what Susan Orlean did for orchids" (Book Riot) in her account of one Florida man's reckless attempt to sell a dinosaur skeleton from Mongolia--a story "steeped in natural history, human nature, commerce, crime, science, and politics" (Rebecca Skloot).
In 2012, a New York auction catalogue boasted an unusual offering "a superb Tyrannosaurus skeleton." In fact, Lot 49135 consisted of a nearly complete T. bataar, a close cousin to the most famous animal that ever lived. The fossils now on display in a Manhattan event space had been unearthed in Mongolia, more than 6,000 miles away. At eight-feet high and twenty-four feet long, the specimen was spectacular, and when the gavel sounded, the winning bid was over $1 million.
Eric Prokopi, a thirty-eight-year-old Floridian, was the man who had brought this extraordinary skeleton to market. A onetime collegiate-level swimmer who spent his teenage years diving for shark teeth, Prokopi's singular obsession with fossils fueled a thriving business hunting, preparing, and selling specimens, to clients ranging from natural history museums to avid private collectors like actors Leonardo DiCaprio and Nicolas Cage.
But there was a problem. This time, facing financial strain, had Prokopi gone too far? As the T. bataar went to auction, a network of paleontologists alerted the government of Mongolia to the eye-catching lot. An international custody battle ensued, and Prokopi watched his own world unravel.
In the tradition of The Orchid Thief, The Dinosaur Artist is a stunning work of narrative journalism about humans' relationship with natural history and a seemingly intractable conflict between science and commerce. A story that stretches from Florida's Land O' Lakes to the Gobi Desert, The Dinosaur Artist illuminates the history of fossil collecting--a murky, sometimes risky business, populated by eccentrics and obsessives, where the lines between poacher and hunter, collector and smuggler, enthusiast and opportunist, can easily blur.
In her first book, Paige Williams has given readers an irresistible story that spans continents, cultures, and millennia as she examines the question of who, ultimately, owns the past.
Download PDF The Dinosaur Artist Obsession Science and the Global Quest for Fossils Paige Williams 9780316382519 Books
"Although science, paleontology, and obscure policy issues are not my usual interests, I make a passionate exception for this true story told with Indiana Jones-like intensity.
What drama! What characters! What metaphors! What wit!
What a joyride through nerdy paleontology, international politics, and historical epochs!
Loved all the details.
Loved the elegant shifting of multiple storylines, characters, geography, and timelines.
Loved the sympathy with which characters were portrayed, leaving moral questions up to the reader.
I'm too old now to ride roller coasters, but this book will do!"
Product details
|
Tags : Buy The Dinosaur Artist Obsession, Science, and the Global Quest for Fossils on ✓ FREE SHIPPING on qualified orders,Paige Williams,The Dinosaur Artist Obsession, Science, and the Global Quest for Fossils,Hachette Books,0316382515,GENERAL,General Adult,HISTORY / Expeditions Discoveries,History/Expeditions Discoveries,History/World,Law/International,Law/Legal History,Law/Science Technology,NATURE / Fossils,Non-Fiction,SCIENCE / Paleontology,Science/Paleontology,TRUE CRIME / Con Artists, Hoaxes Deceptions,True Crime/Con Artists, Hoaxes Deceptions,archaeology; t rex; fossil hunting; orchid thief; feather thief; dino bones; sixth extinction; mongolia; black market; natural history; stolen fossils; jurassic park; international crime; land o lakes; geology; ivory; adventure; archaeological dig; national treasure
The Dinosaur Artist Obsession Science and the Global Quest for Fossils Paige Williams 9780316382519 Books Reviews :
The Dinosaur Artist Obsession Science and the Global Quest for Fossils Paige Williams 9780316382519 Books Reviews
- A nonfiction book should both educate and amuse the reader. Paige Williams' first book succeeds on both accounts and her research and documentary skills are obvious. Her expertise as a writer is demonstrated by her ability to describe the characters and exotic scenes encountered in following Eric Prokopi's ultimately tragic saga with the exquisite detail which the discerning reader desires. Along the way she manages to add brief primers on paleontology, geology, mineralogy, the economics of fossil collecting, and the history and modern geopolitics of Mongolia. Although I have rated her effort five stars, be forewarned that the inexplicable lack of accompanying photographs of the people she describes, the remote locations, and the fossils themselves will disappoint some readers.
- This book accomplishes something that many non-fiction books fail to accomplish, which is to be both very entertaining and very educational. Who knew there was such a massive black market for dinosaur (and other) fossils? Moreover, who knew that the underground fossil market has significant geopolitical ramifications that crisscross the globe and even involve celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio. The protagonist seems like a normal guy who turned his hobby (hunting fossils) into a business, then got in over his head in a number of ways (financially, dealing with shady characters, marital problems, etc.). And like many crime dramas, he just needed "one more score" to make everything OK again. That may sound like a movie, but it's all true in this case. It's a pretty remarkable story, and well worth the read! Highly recommend!
- Although science, paleontology, and obscure policy issues are not my usual interests, I make a passionate exception for this true story told with Indiana Jones-like intensity.
What drama! What characters! What metaphors! What wit!
What a joyride through nerdy paleontology, international politics, and historical epochs!
Loved all the details.
Loved the elegant shifting of multiple storylines, characters, geography, and timelines.
Loved the sympathy with which characters were portrayed, leaving moral questions up to the reader.
I'm too old now to ride roller coasters, but this book will do! - This book deals with dinosaurs in the modern age. It is science and crime. It is a wonderful mix and a thrilling true story. The author is a great talent and I predict great things from her in the future.
Get this book and treat yourself to a good read. - Very well written book with great insight into the world of commercial fossil dealing. Not to mention a fascinating story.
- This book is very detailed and interesting if one is into archaeology, dino-bones and Mongolian dinosaur treasures. It can get a little too much into detail on occasion, reference the politics of the theft of prehistoric bones from this country, making it a bit dry, but the pace picks back up. Now, I know more than I did before I read it, for sure, especially about this one particular skeleton theft, auction and capture of the thieves.
- Well written. An interesting story of fossil hunting and retail of same. A story of how fossil resale can effect ones life.
- Enjoyed this book. It was very detailed, so it was interesting and informative, but sometimes a little dry. Learned a lot about the history of fossil study and also Mongolia in general. Has helped me to answer some Jeopardy questions!
