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How can I raise $5000 in a hurry? How do you sleep at night? Is it better to give than to receive? What's the secret of inner peace? In this new volume, influential art collector Charles Saatchi provides the answers to these, and over 100 more, fresh questions. Although Saatchi famously refuses to be interviewed, this new book reveals his brutally frank responses to a battery of questions put to him by leading journalists and critics as well as members of the public. Following on from his bestselling book My Name is Charles Saatchi and I am an Artoholic, Charles Saatchi answers your questions about art, advertising, money, religion, drugs, politics, music and dreams.
- GenresArtNonfiction
174 pages, Paperback
First published March 31, 2010
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71 people want to read
About the author
Charles Saatchi
15 books30 followersCharles Saatchi (/ˈsɑːtʃiː/; born 9 June 1943) is an Iraqi-British-Jewish businessman and the co-founder with his brother Maurice of the advertising agency Saatchi & Saatchi. The brothers led that business – the world's largest advertising agency in the 1980s – until they were forced out in 1995. In the same year, the Saatchi brothers formed a new agency called M&C Saatchi. Charles is also known as an art collector and the owner of the Saatchi Gallery, and in particular for his sponsorship of the Young British Artists (YBAs), including Damien Hirst and Tracey Emin.(wikipedia)
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
July 8, 2010
One of those non-books about an non-subject matter. One star usually means i hated it, and two stars mean I hate it but it got me thinking about stuff.
"?" by Charles Saatchi is book length (but could be read in one sitting) Q&A on various subject matters - but mostly there is an overall contempt for Rich Artists, and basically advertising wizz Saatchi can make or break an artist's career. Which I think is an overstatement. Or at the very least that's the drift from the questions. Saatchi seems to be pretty much a straight forward type of guy, although I don't see why "green" (he doesn't like this movement that much) issues upset him so much. And there is no sense of passion in why he collects and likes art. My gut feeling is that he loves art. It rocks his world. But reading this book all I get is surface stuff.
So I imagine people who buy this book (good impulse buy design) they want to know about the "art world." And the "art world" is not that interesting compared to the aesthetics of the artist or what the work is or how it communicates to the viewer. That's interesting. But how rich an artist is or does he deserve the attention - all of that is really a matter of taste, which comes and goes.
So in the nutshell, like "the film business" with regards how much money the work made - is a false issus in my world. A book about Saatchi talking about individual artists and what it means to him would be way more interesting. And maybe he discussed that in his first book. Nevertheless "?" is pointless, but interesting in what it doesn't talk about.
"?" by Charles Saatchi is book length (but could be read in one sitting) Q&A on various subject matters - but mostly there is an overall contempt for Rich Artists, and basically advertising wizz Saatchi can make or break an artist's career. Which I think is an overstatement. Or at the very least that's the drift from the questions. Saatchi seems to be pretty much a straight forward type of guy, although I don't see why "green" (he doesn't like this movement that much) issues upset him so much. And there is no sense of passion in why he collects and likes art. My gut feeling is that he loves art. It rocks his world. But reading this book all I get is surface stuff.
So I imagine people who buy this book (good impulse buy design) they want to know about the "art world." And the "art world" is not that interesting compared to the aesthetics of the artist or what the work is or how it communicates to the viewer. That's interesting. But how rich an artist is or does he deserve the attention - all of that is really a matter of taste, which comes and goes.
So in the nutshell, like "the film business" with regards how much money the work made - is a false issus in my world. A book about Saatchi talking about individual artists and what it means to him would be way more interesting. And maybe he discussed that in his first book. Nevertheless "?" is pointless, but interesting in what it doesn't talk about.
October 1, 2010
it is good to see how charles saatchi thinks about some stuff. it got me thinking about art and business but it didn't change my life or anything like that. but it is cool.
August 31, 2015
My here in Art world :)))))
برنس البرنايس
برنس البرنايس
June 12, 2019
Many useful and funny recommendations from this cool guy
One of the best clever-sounding one-liner from Charles, that could be used for any artworks : „“Very interesting use of perspective „
It applies to anything, believe me. : )“
One of the best clever-sounding one-liner from Charles, that could be used for any artworks : „“Very interesting use of perspective „
It applies to anything, believe me. : )“
September 26, 2018
I am the opposite of what you could call an admirer of Saatchi, however he is an interesting man and his wit makes this book an entertaining read.
December 16, 2018
An art collector’s answers to trivial and less trivial questions. Fun read with some nice lines. “I have spent too long being able to manipulate the answers I want from market research, to rely upon its findings any more than I do weather forecasts.”
July 28, 2024
It was entertaining, but less entertaining than reality tv and more self-assured and self-obsessed than the rhobh would ever be.
September 19, 2012
It is as cynical and vulgar as it is witty and enjoyable.
Packed with hilarious and yet sharp observations of life that only a self-aware man of experience can dish out.
The only trouble is that all the answers are not very memorable. They sort of strike you as genius at first but when you look back, on a second read Saatchi thoughts fall down on a scale of delight to 'slightly amusing' category.
"Q to Saatchi: How do you sleep a night?
A by Saatchi: I sleep the untroubled sleep of the innocent. This involves a variety of medications ranging from Tamezepan, Mogadon, Zimovane or Stilnoct, which I mix around so my poor brain doesn't develop immunity to anyone of those delightful capsule coshes.
People tell me they have depressing after-effects, leaving you groggy and grumpy the next day, but obviously I wouldn't notice."
Packed with hilarious and yet sharp observations of life that only a self-aware man of experience can dish out.
The only trouble is that all the answers are not very memorable. They sort of strike you as genius at first but when you look back, on a second read Saatchi thoughts fall down on a scale of delight to 'slightly amusing' category.
"Q to Saatchi: How do you sleep a night?
A by Saatchi: I sleep the untroubled sleep of the innocent. This involves a variety of medications ranging from Tamezepan, Mogadon, Zimovane or Stilnoct, which I mix around so my poor brain doesn't develop immunity to anyone of those delightful capsule coshes.
People tell me they have depressing after-effects, leaving you groggy and grumpy the next day, but obviously I wouldn't notice."
August 20, 2012
Question is a sequel to I am Charles Saatchi and I am an Artoholic. In this second volume, the brash and arrogant Saatchi answers questions from readers about everything under the sun: art, advertising, religion, relationships, politics, television, cars, parties, music, and more. The answers are mostly jokey retorts to bad questions, but occasionally Saatchi's answers are quite insightful — the best ones are a mixture of both.
This book would fall flat if it wasn't written by one of the world's most interesting people affecting global culture, but thankfully it was. Worth a quick read if you're interested in art and culture, but entirely skippable.
This book would fall flat if it wasn't written by one of the world's most interesting people affecting global culture, but thankfully it was. Worth a quick read if you're interested in art and culture, but entirely skippable.
April 25, 2012
I picked this up at a museum bookstore and was halfway through before being guilted into purchasing it. saatchi's answers were reliably witty and I was entertained by the responses where he was straining to be irreverently indifferent to his detractors. he is clearly besotted with his wife without being overly effusive about it, which is a relief if you feel tepid about Nigella as I do. a fast and fun read, overall.
January 6, 2011
I never thought that if art dealer, advertiser, husband, and father in one body could be this literally funny. His answers was unpredictable. We can see almost everything in different way using his perspective. Light, funny, and impressive. Enjoy it with orange juice!
June 6, 2011
Read this tonight over a cup of tea. I would love to meet him — he is awesome.
July 21, 2012
kalau kau bisa memilih, mau hidup di era seni manakah? era YBA Young British Artist saatchi menjawab !! ya iya lah bray do i yang punya hajat
April 4, 2013
Interesting read.
August 4, 2014
youre answer is smart and hilarious, mr. saatchi !
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews