SKU: 59312116313

The Dinosaur Artist: Obsession, Science, and the Global Quest for Fossils

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The Dinosaur Artist: Obsession, Science, and the Global Quest for FossilsIn 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 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

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 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 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.

Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Hachette Books
Published: 09/10/2019
ISBN: 9780316382519
Pages: 432
Weight: 0.80lbs
Size: 8.10h x 5.40w x 1.30d
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SKU: 59312116313

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I have it under the closed cell foam. It’s great. Just as great as Killmat and all the other butyl rubber products. Let me ask you to do something: look at the people who rated it 1 and 2 stars. No reviews. No pictures. Why? They don’t want to see the most budget friendly product getting sold. That’s some weak business. Rest assured you’ll be happy with this. Why did I buy both types? Butyl rubber helps the car not be a tin can. It keeps the outside road vibrations out. Closed cell phone keeps your music in. They work best together., Kumbaya, we have unity! We can get along, even in this age in time. The closed cell foam is cheap. You’ll get it to replace the nasty cloth under your carpet. Do the knock test. It won’t help. You need this too. And truth be told, I prefer that it has no name on it. I’m not paying money so you can brand yourself on my car. Ps: these products go on and don’t come off. Don’t mess up. It’s the same for the competitors and the closed cell foam. One shot. Do it right the first time. I’m writing this review after I used up my first box and am getting more. Happy returning customer.
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