Preview
  • The Art of the Con

  • The Most Notorious Fakes, Frauds, and Forgeries in the Art World
  • By: Anthony M. Amore
  • Narrated by: Michael Johnson
  • Length: 8 hrs and 6 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (91 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The Art of the Con

By: Anthony M. Amore
Narrated by: Michael Johnson
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $15.56

Buy for $15.56

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

Art scams are today so numerous that the specter of a lawsuit arising from a mistaken attribution has scared a number of experts away from the business of authentication and forgery, and with good reason. Art scams are increasingly convincing and involve incredible sums of money. The cons perpetrated by unscrupulous art dealers and their accomplices are proportionately elaborate.

Anthony M. Amore's The Art of the Con tells the stories of some of history's most notorious yet untold cons. They involve stolen art hidden for decades; elaborate ruses that involve the Nazis and allegedly plundered art; the theft of a conceptual prototype from a well-known artist by his assistant to be used later to create copies; the use of online and television auction sites to scam buyers out of millions; and other confidence scams incredible not only for their boldness but more so because they actually worked. Using interviews and newly released court documents, The Art of the Con will also take the listener into the investigations that led to the capture of the con men, who oftentimes return back to the world of crime. For some, it's an irresistible urge because their innocent dupes all share something in common: They want to believe.

©2015 Anthony M. Amore (P)2017 Novel Audio Inc.
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Critic reviews

“An engrossing read about brazen, artful scams.” (Kirkus Reviews)

“Amore is privy to more information on the subject of forgeries than the average art collector or dealer, and he shares a number of those stories in this engrossing account...a bracing and highly informative assessment of a very real problem, sure to resonate with art fans and curators alike.” (Publishers Weekly)

“A riveting, fast-moving account of shameless fraudsters who wreak havoc on the art world. A must read!” (Brian T. Kelly, former assistant US attorney)

What listeners say about The Art of the Con

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    47
  • 4 Stars
    32
  • 3 Stars
    10
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    1
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    45
  • 4 Stars
    17
  • 3 Stars
    5
  • 2 Stars
    5
  • 1 Stars
    1
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    42
  • 4 Stars
    26
  • 3 Stars
    4
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    1

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Delightful!

The thorough research is astounding. The pace kept me eagerly listening. Art and crime - what fun!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Pronunciation

The author has a good speaking presentation but he cannot pronounce many foreign language words incorrectly. It is very irritating. Margaret N

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Very interesting story but narrator mispronounces

This was a very interesting book, but the narrator mispronounces a lot of words that are important to the story. I found his mispronunciation of the term pro-ven-once particularly irritating. He also mispronounces Maya Angelo’s last name. It’s pronounced An-ja-low. It is important to pronounce words correctly if you are going to be a narrator.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Con men and women

Good narration. The con people get off with wrist slaps! Ugh please, lock them up!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great Book, excellent information

Absolutely great to hear but agree that narrator should know correct pronounciation of foreign words or names.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Catalogue of Art Frauds

Interesting such as it is. Not very compelling. A little more depth of analysis would have been appreciated

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Poor Narration, but An Interesting Listen

Despite the narration, which is marred by poor pronunciation of artists and methods, I enjoyed the book and was very surprised at the easy sentences these cons received after they did huge damage to people and to art. I’m amazed at the talent that people waste.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

fascinating insight

Stories about forgers intrigue me. Each chapter reviews particular "scam". Author explains intricate details on how "con" works, background on con artist & dupes with final result. Good read for anyone. Good example of how corrupt systems get, excess greed turning people into sociopaths. Good look into why all of us capable of being duped. Lot of psychology behind the stories.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Monotone performance

Factually interesting but the narration left something to be desired. It was very monotone and drone like.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Transparency about the art world

I'm a professional art appraiser and I listen to this over and over. Now I'm going to order the book. Love it. Every art lover must read this.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful