"Tomkins approaches art writing as a raconteur rather than a formalist: artists’ lives, Tomkins says, are 'integral to what they make' . . . Tomkins is a creature of our anything-goes cultural era. Though not a strictly nonjudgmental postmodern­ist, Tomkins is cheerfully ecumenical, defying both the squabbling sectarians of the art world and critics who believe art is becoming increasingly frivolous. These 10 profiles, which originally appeared from 1999 to 2008, helped ratify the contemporary canon in all its eclecticism, from the market-savvy provocations of Damien Hirst to the austere if gigantic minimalism of Richard Serra to the enigmatic theatricality of Cindy Sherman . . . [Tomkins'] consummate mastery of the magazine profile form and enthusiasm for his subjects are winning."—Mick Sussman, The New York Times Book Review

"[Dutton’s] discussion of the arts and of our responses to them is uniformly insightful and penetrating . . . he touches on all the major issues of aesthetics in this fairly short book and invariably illuminates them . . . Dutton’s eloquent account sheds light on the role art plays in our lives, whatever its ultimate origins"—Anthony Gottlieb, The New York Times Book Review

"A major work of scholarship that is also a major work of art."—Sacvan Bercovitch, Harvard University

"The volume compiles writings not previously available in English alongside fresh translations of his better-known works. This is all very nice, but if you're like me, the first thing you want to know when perusing any Marinetti edition is, 'Is the essay about sculpted meat included?' Happily it is."—Philadelphia Weekly

"Provides the best overview of political and other aspects of the art world that I have ever come across . . . It is a bible that every artist should have."—Shannon Wilkinson, president, Cultural Communications, New York