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A NOBLE MADNESS

THE DARK SIDE OF COLLECTING FROM ANTIQUITY TO NOW

Publisher Penguin Random House | Author James Delbourgo | Reviewed by Nancy Wigston

Why do we collect?  Shopping has long ranked high among humankind’s favorite activities. For many affluent travelers, collecting carpets in Turkey, art in Paris or Puerto Vallarta and gems in Thailand can often evolve into a decades-long passion. We like to think that our own collections reflect our best, most tasteful selves, so we buy what speaks to us (excluding ivory or other  endangered items), treading in the path of what Rutgers University History Professor James Delbourgo identifies as the romantic tradition. Our collections ideally reflect our own good taste, our personalities.  Read More