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The Dinosaur Artist
The Dinosaur Artist: Obsession, Betrayal, and the Quest for Earths Ultimate Trophy | Paige Williams
New Yorker magazine staff writer Paige Williams explores the riveting and perilous world of fossil collectors in this "tremendous" (David Grann) true tale of one Florida man's attempt to sell a dinosaur skeleton from Mongolia--"a triumphant book" (Publishers Weekly) that is "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 24 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 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 actor Leonardo DiCaprio. 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. As an international custody battle ensued, Prokopi watched as his own world unraveled. 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.
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jlhammar
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I‘m not really one for selfies, but this is actually a photo of me circa 1994. In high school I volunteered to be Durwood the Dinosaur for the elementary school library “Readasaurus Night.” My sweet grandma clipped this from the local newspaper for me. It was very hot inside that costume!

Started the tagged book last night. Interesting so far.

#CurrentReadAndSelfie #BookMoods
@Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

KateReadsYA This is so cute!!!!! 2y
Eggs 💙 🦖 💚 2y
Dragon 💚 🦕 📚 🐉 2y
See All 11 Comments
Prairiegirl_reading My grandma was a sweetheart too. When she passed away and we cleaned out her apartment we found so many clippings of the sweetest things. Little sayings written out. The things she kept …..💜 2y
Smrloomis Awww that‘s adorable! And so sweet that your grandmother kept the clipping for you 😍 2y
Smrloomis @Prairiegirl_reading awww, lovely 💗 2y
LeahBergen 😆😆 I love this!! 2y
Graywacke How fun! 🦖 2y
Ruthiella Before there was Barney...🦕🦖 2y
The_Book_Ninja @Ruthiella looks like an emaciated Barney 2y
55 likes11 comments
review
Oblomov26
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Pickpick

Okay the key question as to whether you like this story is how you feel about digressions. At heart a simple tale of who has the right to own and sell fossils, especially rare and potentially priceless fossils. But what could have been a long essay becomes a book when the author digresses to Mongolian history, American dinosaur wars, early English fossil hunting in Lyme Regis etc. Which for me is fine because I find this fascinating.

Cathythoughts I love digressions .... are they part & parcel of stories & novels 3y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa Sounds good to me! 3y
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Mitch
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Mehso-so

The subject matter is fascinating - the interdependence of state, market forces, museums & collectors in regard to discovering & owning fossils & the characters involved, across the globe and across centuries - equally fascinating. Lots of side notes, history diversions, a vast array of supporting characters- all take the energy & narrative drive out of the central story. Some surrounding back story would have been great - but it was too much. ☹️

squirrelbrain Great review! Shame the book wasn‘t so good.... 3y
Come-read-with-me Wonderful review! 3y
wanderinglynn Great review. And it‘s too bad as it sounded like it would be a fascinating read. 3y
Mitch @wanderinglynn pockets of it were fab - but it got bogged down in side bars! 3y
75 likes1 stack add4 comments
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Mitch
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Took @Chrissyreadit sage advice and changed my viewpoint today! Spent the afternoon doing a little seed planting ( although it‘s really too cold!) and a lot of reading in the greenhouse! It‘s my spring dacha / cabin in the woods / house on the lake equivalent! 🤣

Bookwormjillk I started my seeds way too early this year too. Just couldn‘t help it! 3y
charl08 And me. Sweet pea seedlings are struggling on... 3y
Chrissyreadit I love this picture so much ❤️❤️❤️ 3y
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Kenyazero This sounds like an amazing day! 🥰 Also, love this shot! 3y
Cathythoughts I love it 🥰 3y
Crazeedi A perfect reading place! 3y
Crazeedi I have things to plant, rain today but next week is to be warmee 3y
Gissy 😍🌺🌸🌹🌷❤️❤️❤️ 3y
Soubhiville Great idea! 3y
Mitch @Bookwormjillk I know - I soooo need it to be spring! 3y
BookNAround What a lovely place to putter about in the dirt and then sit and read. 3y
Chelsea.Poole So lovely! 🌱 🌞 3y
Come-read-with-me This is lovely!! I hope that in two days you will be sitting there opening your spring swap package 😢 My fingers are still crossed that it will arrive! 3y
Phaedra This is lovely! 3y
Mitch @Come-read-with-me 🤞🏼Whenever it comes is absolutely fine - I hope it brings the sunshine with it!🤣 3y
catebutler I love when you post your outdoor reading nook! If the weather holds, I think an outdoor reading session will need to occur for me too. Happy weekend, Mitch! 3y
Mitch @catebutler happy weekend 💕🙌🏼💕 3y
Nute Gosh! I love this post and every post featuring your greenhouse, and now knowing that it is also a reading spot...PERFECT! 3y
108 likes18 comments
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Mitch
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Pairing my bookmark for my new read was easy today ! 🤣

Chelsea.Poole Such an interesting story! 🦕 3y
83 likes1 stack add1 comment
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kyraleseberg
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Mehso-so

Meh, this truly is an interesting story but could easily have been summed up in a feature article; this 270ish page book was full of unnecessary info dumping that too often went off on tangents unrelated to the story.

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Hooked_on_books
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Pickpick

Paige Williams seamlessly blends history, science, and true crime to paint a picture of fossil hunters and a certain, spectacular, illegally obtained fossil skeleton. She veers off on numerous tangents yet it really works, as she ties it all together so well. Such a well-crafted book and great for those looking for non-murdery true crime.

Crazeedi Hmmm sounds like one I'd like! 4y
57 likes4 stack adds1 comment
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readtheworld
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Pickpick

This is a fascinating book about the history of paleontology and the present-day international trade in dinosaur bones and fossils. It‘s set mainly in Florida and Mongolia, and is framed around the case of an illegally imported tarbosaurus bataar skeleton that went to auction in New York City.

#audiobook #nonfiction #dinosaurs #audio

39 likes1 stack add
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suzisteffen
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Pickpick

This book! For me, it‘s a nearly perfect nonfiction book because it explores in a leisurely and detailed manner ALLLLLL kinds of side roads to the “main” story, which is about this partial skeleton from Mongolia. I loved listening to the chapters about US evangelical and GOP players in Mongolia (!?), the founder of the AMNH, and so much more. Geology! Trucks! Even, in the epilogue, Preet Bharara. Engaging & fun & brings up many issues. 4.5 ⭐️

suzisteffen I know this is a more popular #science book than I usually pick, but what a randomly fun one. A little too detailed in some places, but so good. As usual, I listened at 1.5-1.75 speed, on Libro.fm 💪🏽 for indie 🎧 audiobooks! 5y
18 likes1 stack add1 comment
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suzisteffen
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Finally getting back to this and listened both while commuting and while mowing. I like the way the author, as a good nonfiction writer should, has the readers sympathizing with each side or each person as she discusses them. Not in love with any of the characters, but interesting. #science

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suzisteffen
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Started listening to this one too, my #science book for April. It‘s another #audiobook, so we shall see if I can get through both of these with only two days of commuting per week!

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Moonpa
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I‘m enjoying this one. Definitely not something I would have found if I didn‘t need “a non-violent true crime” for the read harder book challenge

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CorinnaBechko
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Pickpick

What an interesting account of a major international fossil incident! While I found the author to be a little overly sympathetic to the criminal at the heart of the matter, I was enthralled to learn the details of what actually happened. And most of it happened in FL, my childhood home! Fast-paced and full of human as well as paleo interest, this should appeal even to those who don't work in museums. #dinosaur #fossil #science #truecrime

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Chelsea.Poole
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Pickpick

I really enjoyed this non-violent true crime book. It reminded me of The Feather Thief in parts (tagged below). I am fascinated by dinosaurs and would have been interested to read more about the history of fossils and human understanding of dinosaurs throughout the ages. There is a large section dedicated to Mongolian politics and history which I didn't enjoy as much but still found interesting. The bulk of the story is about the Prokopi family.

glitterkitty459 Love the pic!! 😁 5y
JennyM Awesome pic 5y
DivineDiana Nice collection! 🦕🦖💙 5y
See All 6 Comments
Chelsea.Poole @glitterkitty459 @JennyM @DivineDiana thanks all! They are from my sons' collection. 😊🦕🦖 5y
minkyb Great photo! My son in law (who is 30) has all those dinosaurs too! He just completed a short film using them. Not kidding. 5y
124 likes6 stack adds6 comments
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Chelsea.Poole
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I am getting in too deep by starting too many books at once! My #Libby account has me in overdrive listening to arrived #audiobook holds. This one makes book 5 that I'm #currentlyreading 😳 I'm so interested in dinosaurs these days since my sons have discovered them. And I'm super intrigued by this one already @ 10% in. 🦕 🦖

readinginthedark It's funny how dinosaurs grab your attention when your kids are interested in them! I'm like this, too! 5y
90 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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CorinnaBechko
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New week, new book! With assistance from Cooper Cat. #paleontology #dinosaur #catsoflitsy

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Lea
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Pickpick

This was really interesting. Part true crime, part history of Mongolia and its dinosaurs (and the “trade”). It covers a lot of topics so it felt less like a story and more like natural history with a side of true crime. Still really interesting because I love these topics. #readwomen #audiobook #LitsyWalkers
#readharderchallenge - nonviolent true crime

Kaye 🌟 5y
23 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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Cedricsmom
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Pickpick

I‘m loving this book so much that I had to get the hardback to go along with the audio! Don‘t you love it when that happens? Man, I‘m a nut for dinosaur 🦕 🦕🦕 tales and natural history ❤️ Bur where are the illustrations? No photos, no drawings, no illustrations?! Who let that happen?

10 likes1 stack add
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writerlibrarian
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A #freezeframe of epic proportion. These two big beasts died fighting each other and were sealed together to be discovered millenniums later. #winterwonderland
https://www.law.com/2018/11/07/nothing-like-a-fight-over-dinosaur-bones-to-put-t...
I got this as a ARC from Netgalley back in September. I'm reading it in between books.
@TrishB @Cinfhen

TrishB 😮 wow awesome pic 👍🏻 5y
Cinfhen That‘s COOL 🙌🏻💚 5y
40 likes2 comments
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Kelly
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Finished two big, lengthy books today which means it's new book time. Starting here!

23 likes1 stack add
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CoffeeK8
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Today‘s #audiowalk was more of an #audioyardcleanup but the leaves were lovely on the snow.

Oryx Nice pic 5y
Cathythoughts Beautiful 👍🏻❤️ 5y
RaimeyGallant So lovely. 5y
66 likes1 stack add4 comments
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CoffeeK8
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Today‘s #audiowalk I love the crisp fall weather so much!

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Lauren.Archer
Bailedbailed

This was one that was recommended from Book Riot‘s TBR service. This was a book I would not have picked for myself and unfortunately this was a huge miss for me. I got through 100 pages, but I don‘t care anything about Dinosaurs or fossils, so this could not keep my attention at all.

CouronneDhiver Oh no! That‘s a shame. Did you like your other recommendations? 5y
51 likes1 comment
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Lauren.Archer
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This is one of the books chosen for me from Book Riot‘s TBR. So far they are 50/50 on the books they chose. Guess this will be the tiebreaker.

Kristy_K I have this ARC but haven‘t read it yet. Hopefully it‘s good! 5y
85 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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BestOfFates
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Pickpick

I had less empathy for the dinosaur hunter at the center of this true story than the author but the informative dips into Mongolian politics, the history of fossils, and all the people interwoven into this international tale made the book well worth it.

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Expandingbookshelf
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Pickpick

I really liked this book. Yes, there was a tendency to meander or shoot off into tangents (it‘s like Williams wanted EVERY piece of her research to make it into the final copy) but I learned a lot. It‘s a book that tackles a lot of Big Ideas but never tries to force a conclusion upon the reader. “The Dinosaur Artist” leaves you with a lot to think about and I sincerely recommend it. 📖🦖☕️

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LibrarianRyan
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I also have the bag that goes with this book and it was my fav from #BEA2018. This is a cool about about the competitiveness of finding dinosaurs. And the cover artist was genius. #👩🏼‍🔬

@Jess7
#readingresolutions

79 likes3 stack adds
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Garyrej
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Pickpick

It's non fiction time! Great read!

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Smrloomis
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Hmm, this looks very interesting! 🤔

TheBookStacker I just saw this at B&N the other day and added it to my list. Kinda made me think of the feather thief. 6y
Smrloomis @TheBookStacker have you read the feather thief? I haven‘t but that also looks good! 6y
TheBookStacker I have I loved it! Such a weird and interesting book! 6y
Smrloomis @TheBookStacker ok then I have to read it! 😄 6y
TheBookStacker I just ordered the dinosaur thief yesterday! 6y
60 likes3 stack adds5 comments
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Matilda
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😂🦖

46 likes2 stack adds