Boggs: A Comedy of Values

A terrific book that reveals the true nature of money--belief that it is a store of value and a convenient method of exchange. this is done masterfully by Ren Weschler (a former New Yorker columnist and the author of half a dozen fascinating books). The narrative is told by examining the work of accused forger and noted artist JSM Boggs.

I met Boggs years ago at a Coin Show. I saw his wonderful art but I never knew the terrific story behind it. This volume explains the complex story behind the very interesting Mister J.S.G. Boggs. I wish I would have purchased one of his pieces back then as they're way more expensive now, especially since he has recently passed away. For me this book was a delight from start to finish, with much more historical money facts than I expected. It's really a great read.

A fun, easy read, and it really should make you think about our relationship with money. If you were to accept a Boggs bill in payment, it's not because he says it has value... it's because you *agree* it has value. And since modern money is no longer backed by silver and/or gold, what makes a Boggs any different from a "real" bill?Boggs himself is a fascinating character; Wechsler's prose wanders, but always manages to come back to the point he was trying to make, and the meandering is interesting too. Recommended.And if you get the opportunity to see any of Boggs' work, go see it.

The story told in this book is fasccinating -- of a man whose art directly addresses the questions: what is money? what does money mean to us? how does money work? Boggs is an artist who creates beuatiful work, and does it in a way that it also drives to the heart of the American monetary system. The transactional part of his art is fascinating, and is told in an engaging amnner in this book.The book suffers from being an enlargement of a fascinating article on the same subject. The borders between the original material and that added to make it a book-length piece are sometimes glaring. The book would have been more successful if the text were limited to the original article, and the collection of images were expanded.

As far as I know, the Boggs story is true. I grew up with Steve, an extremely good, bright, and talented man. RIP.

This book did more to make me think about the meaning of money and the value of art than anything I've ever read. What Boggs did was fine art and performance art, comedy and commentary, sublime and subversive. If you've ever wondered why we endow little pieces of paper with such extraordinary value then you should take a the short romp through the magical world of JSG Boggs.

Great story told by a fine writer. Fascinating read, that has a lot to say about the art business.

A funny, easy read that’s bound to make you laugh and question everything you’ve ever thought about art, money, and value systems as a whole.

How to really get up the noses of government and national institutions, and at the same time point up the commercialism of art in the best and most direct manner.I was looking for this book for years after reading an article in a newspaper.Thoroughly recommended.