Killer Stuff and Tons of Money: Seeking History and Hidden Gems in Flea-Market America

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Killer Stuff and Tons of Money: Seeking History and Hidden Gems in Flea-Market America

by Maureen Stanton (Goodreads Author)

3.87 of 5 stars 3.87 · rating details · 268 ratings · 80 reviews

One dealer's journey from the populist mayhem of flea markets to the rarefied realm of auctions reveals the rich, often outrageous subculture of antiques and collectibles.

Millions of Americans are drawn to antiques and flea-market culture, whether as participants or as viewers of the perennially popular Antiques Roadshow or the recent hit American Pickers. This world has...more One dealer's journey from the populist mayhem of flea markets to the rarefied realm of auctions reveals the rich, often outrageous subculture of antiques and collectibles.

Millions of Americans are drawn to antiques and flea-market culture, whether as participants or as viewers of the perennially popular Antiques Roadshow or the recent hit American Pickers. This world has the air of a lottery: a $20 purchase might net you four, five, or six figures. Master dealer Curt Avery, the unlikely star of Killer Stuff and Tons of Money, plays that lottery every day, and he wins it more than most. Occasionally he gets lucky, but more often, he draws on a deep knowledge of America's past and the odd, fascinating, and beautiful objects that have survived it.

Week in, week out, Avery trawls the flea and antiques circuit-buying, selling, and advising other dealers in his many areas of expertise, from furniture to glass to stoneware, and more. On the surface, he's an improbable candidate for an antiques dealer. He wrestled in high school and still retains the pugilistic build; he is gruff, funny, and profane; he favors shorts and sneakers, even in November; and he is remarkably generous toward both competitors and customers who want a break.

But as he struggles for a spot in a high-end Boston show, he must step up his game and, perhaps more challenging, fit in with a white-shoe crowd. Through his ascent, we see the flea-osphere for what it truly is-less a lottery than a contact sport with few rules and many pitfalls. This rich and sometimes hilarious subculture rewards peculiar interests and outright obsessions-one dealer specializes in shrunken heads; another wants all the postal memorabilia he can get. So Avery must be a guerrilla historian and use his hard-earned knowledge of America's past to live by and off his wits. Only the smartest survive in one of America's most ruthless meritocracies.

Killer Stuff and Tons of Money is many things: an insider's look at a subculture replete with arcane traditions and high drama, an inspiring account of a self-made man making his way in a cutthroat field, a treasure trove of tips for those who seek out old things themselves, and a thoroughly fresh, vibrant view of history as blood sport.

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Hardcover, 326 pages

Published June 9th 2011 by Penguin Press HC, The (first published 2011)

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Oct 11, 2011 Rob Atkinson rated it 5 of 5 stars

As a fledgling antiques dealer myself, I found this a fascinating, informative, and inspirational read. 'Killer Stuff and Tons of Money" is a first-hand look behind the scenes of the antiques trade, framed around the story of "Curt Avery" (a real dealer protected by a pseudonym), a good friend of the author's. His story is typical of many dealers; beginning small with the antique bottles he digs up and collects, he becomes thoroughly knowledgeable in that niche and starts to trade in them, makin...more As a fledgling antiques dealer myself, I found this a fascinating, informative, and inspirational read. 'Killer Stuff and Tons of Money" is a first-hand look behind the scenes of the antiques trade, framed around the story of "Curt Avery" (a real dealer protected by a pseudonym), a good friend of the author's. His story is typical of many dealers; beginning small with the antique bottles he digs up and collects, he becomes thoroughly knowledgeable in that niche and starts to trade in them, making a significant profit. Soon his interactions with other dealers, collectors, and auction houses provides a broader education and appreciation for old objects, and his trade widens to include antique furniture, pottery, glassware, treen -- always trading up to buy better objects with his earnings, and in the process moving from tables at flea markets to good mid-level antiques shows. His knowledge broadens and deepens through reading and hands-on experience, and occasionally, painful lessons learned from expensive mistakes made purchasing reproductions and forgeries. Now that he's a successful and respected antiques dealer, he has to watch out for 'shadows' at auction noting which pieces he's marked to bid on, while also contending with professional jealousy and competition for the best objects -- and sometimes, the snobbery endemic at the highest end of the antiques trade. It's not an easy life, but it's an interesting way to make a living, sometimes very lucrative, and also one that should excite some envy in anyone who's caught the 'antiques bug'. What really drives this trade (or should -- sadly, there are exceptions) is a passion for the objects and their history, which Avery clearly has in spades.

Stanton got the this insider's view -- and the idea for this book, evidently her first -- after years of tagging along with her friend Curt, helping to set up shows and just listening to him and his colleagues talk. It's a fascinating world, with much wheeling and dealing, big profits realized sometimes in a matter of minutes, and occasionally some serious chicanery. It's also populated by many eccentrics who make for a colorful cast of characters -- and more familiar figures, like the Keno brothers of Antiques Roadshow fame. Best of all, lots of 'shop talk' is reported, exposing both unscrupulous practices to look out for, and many specific tips any serious collector will benefit from -- what kind of 'sleeper' objects to look for, some pitfalls to avoid, and how to tell if a given piece is 'right', has been 'improved' or is an outright fake. Highly recommended to any antiques enthusiast, and a must-read for anyone in (or who aspires to be in) the trade.(less)

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Apr 12, 2013 Kathleen rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book. I had no idea when I picked it up that is was going to be 80% biography and 20% about the antiques business. I thought it was going to be a cultural historical analysis of the American flea market. That said, my favorite genre is biography/memoir, so I enjoyed this so much more! The main person she follows for years is perfect because he covers the low, middle and high ends of the antique business. I really felt like I got to see the "behind-the-scenes". This book re-...more

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Oct 10, 2011 Ann rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book is a Great Adventure! And it’s a great read!

Escorted into the mysterious behind-the-scenes world of antiquing by two very entertaining, engaging and trustworthy guides, you will never look at your own possessions, or your parents’ possessions or your grandparents’ possessions, the same ever again. Author Maureen Stanton invites her readers on her journey with antique dealer Curt Avery. We find ourselves camping in the rural hills of New England, waking up with the sunrise in order to s...more This book is a Great Adventure! And it’s a great read!

Escorted into the mysterious behind-the-scenes world of antiquing by two very entertaining, engaging and trustworthy guides, you will never look at your own possessions, or your parents’ possessions or your grandparents’ possessions, the same ever again. Author Maureen Stanton invites her readers on her journey with antique dealer Curt Avery. We find ourselves camping in the rural hills of New England, waking up with the sunrise in order to set up the booth at Brimflield, behind the scenes during a filming of the Antiques Roadshow in Philadelphia, and braving sleet and commuter traffic in Boston with our destination being the Hubley auction house. We immediately become engrossed in not only the tales of what is collected, but also the how and the why of collecting. The story includes a colorful cast of both objects and characters, and their stories.

The book opens with Curt’s idea for a reality show featuring antique dealers. He sums up the plotline saying, with a thousand bucks in pocket, “You take a piece of shit and you turn it into a Chippendale Chair.” In Killer Stuff and Tons of Money we see this story line play out in its myriad variations over and over and over again. Each time features unexpected twists, surprises, disappointments, risks and rewards.

Curt Avery, a self-made man—a dealer—in the world of antique auctions and shows gives us the play by play as author Maureen Stanton illuminates each story line with exhaustive research on not only the history of the coveted objects, but intriguingly, our particular relationships through time with them. It’s like strolling the grounds of the Brimfield Flea Market with your older brother’s best friend who started out making money by selling bubble gum in the boys’ bathroom and has worked his way up to playing with the big boys, the big ticket items, the big risks, along with your favorite history teacher—the one who always told you the untold story of history, the juicy side of history.

Avery and Stanton each maintain their own particular stance as outsiders in this world where people scramble to become insiders. This makes for particularly entertaining and accessible reading. Maureen Stanton is an obvious outsider in that she frankly knows nothing about antiques save what she (and the reader) learns from Curt and from her exhaustive research prompted by Curt’s adventures. Curt’s outsider status stems from the items he chooses to deal in and his own personal code of ethics he stridently adheres to in a world where the notion of ethics can be quite fluid.

One particular example of this outsider status at work involves the duo doing research on a six-board blanket chest—the sort brought to New England by the earliest immigrants—that Avery bought under serendipitous circumstances. Curt Avery sets out to contact the Boston Museum of Fine Arts to see if he can uncover the true story (and thus the true value) of this purchase. Encountering difficulties even making phone contact with a human, Curt Avery called the museum’s “emergency number.” Through her wry lens, Maureen Stanton ponders the very existence of an emergency number for a museum. “The fact that the Museum of Fine Arts has an emergency number fills my mind with absurdities for which one might need this number. ‘Help…dying. Must see art.’” (p. 214) Later, after Curt Avery determines that his chest is, as he assessed, the sixth of only five previously “known” Tilden pieces, originating from Charles Tilden, as we learn from Stanton, who arrived in Massachusetts in 1634. Even as the proud (even smitten) owner of a very valuable antique, Curt Avery cannot shed his no-nonsense approach to the world in which this purchase took him. Commenting on his experience of the MFA and their nonchalant attitude toward an object of such historical import, Maureen recalls the story he told her about his eventual encounter with the MFA.

“’It may not be a huge money thing, but it will have historical value…The Museum of Fine Arts won’t buy it, though. They’ll buy some pigeon shit on tinfoil,’ he says, referring to an exhibit of contemporary art, ‘ten huge photos of people being shit on by birds.’
‘They had a huge room at the front dedicated to that, while the Pilgrim artifacts are stuffed into the basement at the end of this bleak, dimly lit hall.’ As Avery left the American collection one day, he passed a woman lecturing about bird photos. ‘She was explaining that this was art,’ he says. ‘I was appalled. As I walked out of the room, I muttered, ‘This stuff sucks.” It was my little rebel stand.’” (p. 215)

Curt Avery has a very deep reverence for the objects and the history that this world of antique wheelers and dealers revolve around, and some of the people. Not all of the people. But definitely some of the people. It’s a tough way to make a living and a tough way to make a life. Along with Curt Avery and Maureen Stanton, we awaken to countless sunrises in order to unpack countless boxes to prepare for the day which will end in packing up countless boxes, loading up the truck, only to do it all again the next day. However, the stress and strain are punctuated by beers shared around the campfire at the end of the day while telling tales with other dealers who really have become family after so many years. By the end of the book I was cheering Curt Avery on, begging him not to let cynicism, nor the physical toll of the work, nor the precarious state of the economy stop him from continuing his work, his passion, his calling to not just deal in but to, well really, caretake our shared heritage through this world of objects.
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Mar 30, 2013 Emily Skinner rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book is the perfect companion for antiquing road trips. I didn't want it to end. I enjoyed every detail of Stanton's mystery antique dealer/expert who chooses not to reveal his identity. This book takes you on a real journey of pain, heartbreak and joy as the dealer works ridiculously hard to find, sell and store treasures. He scores big at times and mostly hoards his wares for regional shows.
Now the heartbreak I refer to has more to do with the sacrifices and lack of "family time" as a res...more

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Aug 25, 2011 Mary Robinson rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: non-fiction

A look at the fascinating world of antique dealers through the eyes of a lower-level dealer who is rough-edged but endearing in his passion for antiques and the history they represent. The author followed this self-taught expert over the course of many years and it is interesting to see how the dealer grows and changes as he struggles to survive in this tough world. Also was interested in seeing how our new generations attitudes toward antiques (they’re more interested in a nice reproduction fro...more

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Jan 20, 2013 Tcpils rated it 4 of 5 stars

Stanton provides us with a first hand look at the ins and outs of the antique business by acting as the assistant to a professional dealer for several years. The book was educational and entertaining yet there was an underlying sadness that I couldn't quite put my finger on till I had a "Freudian" moment. It was right there in the title: the word "stuff". Yeah, that's what it's all about: Stuff! Buying, selling, trading, collecting, and accumulating stuff. It's not about money. It's not about gl...more

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Feb 23, 2013 Lucia rated it 3 of 5 stars

Killer Stuff and Tons of Money is a fantastic, educational read. The book provides a first hand look into the world of antiques: auctions, flea markets, and antiques stores through the eyes of the author through her collaboration an antiques dealer.

I think that the book provides plenty of useful information. However, at times, the author inserts information that digresses from the storyline of working with the antiques dealer. I found the information not particularly necessary. I think she had e...more

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Jun 19, 2011 Caitlin rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011

I'm very fond of shows like Antiques Roadshow or the British game show that gives contestants money, sends them off into a flea market to spend their money, and then whoever gets the most for the item at an auction wins. I like antique stores and junk stores and yard sales and flea markets. I love to look at the stuff and to learn about its history. What I don't want to do is collect it. I have a huge aversion to accumulating stuff just to accumulate it. I do have lots of books, but I could walk...more I'm very fond of shows like Antiques Roadshow or the British game show that gives contestants money, sends them off into a flea market to spend their money, and then whoever gets the most for the item at an auction wins. I like antique stores and junk stores and yard sales and flea markets. I love to look at the stuff and to learn about its history. What I don't want to do is collect it. I have a huge aversion to accumulating stuff just to accumulate it. I do have lots of books, but I could walk away from all of them. If I suddenly became a billionaire I'd collect art and first editions and maybe that's my real problem - my tastes are too expensive for my means.

Killer Stuff and Tons of Money provides entertaining insight into the lives of antique dealers as they move from show to show, collecting items for themselves and for others, and always in search of the Holy Grail of the one good thing. It's a field that has an extremely high barrier to entry, requiring encyclopedic knowledge of material objects, their makers, their historical context, and their shifting worth. Ms. Stanton's book gives those of us who can't hurdle that barrier insight to what it's like in the world of collectors.

There's an interesting conversation to be had about whether the assigned worth of an object makes it worth having or whether it's worth having just because it appeals to you. I don't typically buy objects as an investment, but intellectually I can understand why people do so. This book definitely stimulated my thinking about what people buy, how they value it, and why.

Ms. Stanton's book provides history and examination of all kinds of information related to stuff, including some tips and tricks of the trade (although I wonder how many people could really utilize these). Curt Avery, the star of the show, is engaging and interesting and full of history. The read is consistently enjoyable and the experience is much like reading a thriller as you get sucked into that search for the illusive one good thing.(less)

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Jun 10, 2012 Less_cunning rated it 5 of 5 stars

Great insightful & penetrating account of the antique business. Illuminating & well-annotated. Very resourceful. A great read for those (becoming) interested in antiques I think: You have to knowledgeable & you have to do your homework--

This book covers not only antiques but (some) collectibles & memorabilia. There is a whole chapter on Comic Books. But it focuses on antiques. A large section focuses on Brimfield MA Antique show & the geographic scope centers mostly on New En...more

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Jun 27, 2012 Sadie rated it 5 of 5 stars

What a real gem this book is. I don't usually go for non-fiction, but I found this book fascinating and beautifully written. I think many people would love to see history this way--through the artifacts--what remains to be found in the antiques/flea market culture. I learned so much. Not only did it shine a light on history that isn't written in the history books--how people lived their day to day lives, but it re-awakened my desire to go to flea markets again and stop at every yard sale. I love...more

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May 31, 2012 Deborah rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: vintiques

I loved this book, a terrific slice-of-life look behind the scenes in the antique business from the point of view of a dealer. It's a difficult life, where a dealer's depth of knowledge and quality of inventory determine their reputation, but not always their paycheck. We get to follow 'Curt Avery's learning curve and glean tips along the way. I'd definitely recommend this to anyone who is a collector - the view from the other side of the booth is fascinating.

Many other reviewers have rated this...more

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Nov 15, 2011 jeff rated it 4 of 5 stars

The journey and experiance it takes to understand the market of collectables and antiques is a long one. It takes a large investment of time, time that cannot be learned from a book, but mostly life experiances. You win some and you loose some... and sometimes you win big.

The author invests severalyears of her life. She becomes knowledgable herself, due to the nature of the journey. She establishes the lifelong journey and connections of the Flea-Market vendor. She even shows us how they develo...more

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Jul 07, 2011 Jo Anne rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

I won this book and I couldn't be more pleased. I am a weekend antique hunter. Luckily I don't need to make a living at it, but it was pretty exciting once, buying a vase for 99c and finding out it was worth $35.
Author Maureen Stanton shadows antiques dealer "Curt Avery" (made up name) while he goes on the hunt for money making deals. He's funny and generous with his time and expertise to Stanton and of course the reader. My only negative comment is--Avery has a foul mouth and I felt it unnecess...more

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Oct 21, 2011 Laurie rated it 4 of 5 stars

A most interesting story, the author spends time with dealer, Curt Avery. Over the course of a number of years, she attends shows from Brimfield to Philadelphia and from the high end auctions to the little locals. I've learned that it would be nearly impossible to know if something is fake or has been tampered with, without the personal recommendation of one of the Keno Brothers. The back stories of Antiques Roadshow,which has been called "soft-core porn for antique fetishists"; how the impact o...more

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Sep 08, 2011 Debbie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: economics

Interesting book (with some fascinating examples, such as $1 bottles turning a 1000% profit)which clarifies just how much work goes into finding treasures at flea markets, estate sales, and auctions. Certainly, someone could happen upon a gem, but such finds are much rarer than the dealers who absolutely know their specialties and can spot antiques from reproductions with keen eyes. I don't think I will, when the time comes, have an estate sale for my mother's belongings - from reading this book...more

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Oct 31, 2012 Scottsdale Public Library added it

Shelves: adult, nonfiction

The author chronicles the mayhem and madness that is the life of a traveling antiques dealer. It starts in the too-early morning hours, unpacking and setting out antique treasures. Later, it is furtive hunts among other dealers’ wares for undiscovered or misidentified items before the gates open. Finally, settle into the long days of observing treasure hunters and obsessed Bakelite buyers. All this and the dealers' hope that at the end of the day it was all worth it. You can tell I enjoyed this...more

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Mar 10, 2013 Tracy Pierce rated it 4 of 5 stars

If you spend a lot of time at flea markets and antique malls this book might interest you. Maureen followed an expert on antiques and how to make money buying and reselling. You also learn a lot about
the people who are hooked and those who go to auctions. It's a hobby for me but a life style for many. Every object has a use and a history. It may not mean a lot to you but it did to the previous owner. A lot of people are experts in certain areas like china or tools. Before you head out to a swap...more

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Sep 20, 2011 Weezie rated it 2 of 5 stars

When I got the book, I thought it would be interesting to read about the flea market/antique buying & selling world. I would really have liked to read the entire book, but the bad language got in the way. I finally had to give up reading. There are only so many times you can skip over the f word without feeling dirty. I don't see why it was necessary to include the word so many times even if this is the way 'Avery' talks. If this is the way he talks, I sure wouldn't want to have a conversati...more

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Jan 12, 2012 Ryan G rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: no-longer-own

Before this book, I never realized that flea marketing had it's very own subculture. I guess that should have been obvious, since everyone seems to have their own subculture, but it's not one I've ever thought of before. It's an oversite that I'm glad to have fixed. Maureen Stanton takes us into the lives of Curt Avery and his circle of friends and competitors. Before this book, I never realized that you could make a living off of buying and selling antiques, well outside of a store that is. It...more

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Oct 17, 2011 Heidi rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: junking, non-fiction

I'm a small-time reseller of vintage goods so I thought this might be an interesting read. It was okay. The dealer "Curt Avery" that the author profiles deals mainly in what he calls "Pilgrim-century" goods and primitives--true antiques because they're more than 100 years old. He is contemptuous of people who buy and sell the 'vintage' goods that I'm a fan of--items from the 30s to the present. He bemoans the fact that nobody wants expensive OLD antiques anymore, especially when the economy is s...more

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May 16, 2012 Christine rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads, non-fiction, 2012

I am really fascinated with antiques and history which is why I enjoyed this book. It covers a wide range of subjects in a collector's world such as eBay, hoarding, auctions and traveling to antique shows. Through the duration of the book, it's easy to see why the business of auctions and antiques is so hard to get into due to the intense knowledge one must obtain about various objects. My mom and I love browsing historic houses and window shopping at antique stores, but I never realized there w...more

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Aug 31, 2011 Angel rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: fans of shows like American Pickers, Auction Kings, and Antiques Roadshow.

Recommended to Angel by: I won from a Good Reads giveaway

Shelves: history, pop-culture, trivia-and-miscellaneous

I finally finished the book. I finished it about a week ago, but it took me a while to find the time to write the review. And I am glad I finally got to it because this is a book worth sharing with others.

Stanton spends time with and "shadows" Curt Avery (a pseudonym), a mid-range antiques dealer (you learn from reading this book that there is a hierarchy when it comes to antiques and those who deal in them). Curt may well be one of the few remaining passionate, knowledgeable, and honest dealer...more I finally finished the book. I finished it about a week ago, but it took me a while to find the time to write the review. And I am glad I finally got to it because this is a book worth sharing with others.

Stanton spends time with and "shadows" Curt Avery (a pseudonym), a mid-range antiques dealer (you learn from reading this book that there is a hierarchy when it comes to antiques and those who deal in them). Curt may well be one of the few remaining passionate, knowledgeable, and honest dealers in a business that seems to be declining and under siege by fakes, reproductions, and less than scrupulous folks. Why does he continue? Some of it may be just habit, but a lot of it is that the man has found his passion in life. Stanton does an excellent job in presenting a portrait of Avery as wll as giving us an excellent look at the world of antiques trading.

Much of the book concentrates on following Avery from one antiques show to the next. This is often a cutthroat business where mistakes (buying something you thought was real but turns ou to be a fake, for instance) can be costly, and in rare times you just might find that one items out of nowhere that makes you a fortune. Between those two extremes, you have the middle of the road trading. In this middle path, you buy something, hope to resell it for a modest profit, then repeat the process again. This is a cycle that requires knowledge (often hard won knowledge), patience, a very good eye, and sometimes luck.

Traveling with Avery already makes for a pretty good book. Stanton gives us more. In between visits with Avery, the author has written good informative chapters on the trade and the history of collecting and antiques. For example, there is a chapter on the human habit of collecting things. Think about that for a moment. Odds are good you have a small collection of something in your home now. Whether it's comic books, pens, match books, stamps, or any other object, many people collect something. Most people collect things just for the fun of it with no intention to sell or make money.

Stanton does visit a comic book convention and takes a look at the comic book trade, by the way. Additionally, her chapter on the show Antiques Roadshow (AR from here on) gives an excellent discussion and a good look behind the scenes of the show. Stanton points out how AR, along with shows it has spawned, has created false expectations in viewers from thinking anything old is valuable (it is not) to just a matter of finding something in the attic. The reality is very different than what we see on television. The books goes a long way to dispel myths about antiques and collectibles and about those who trade and collect them. This is definitely a strength in the book.

Stanton covers a lot of ground, but she provides an accessible book that is a pleasure to read. There were a couple of passages, mostly in Chapter 8--the chapter on thieves and fakers--that were a little too technical and dry, but do not let that deter you. This is a book to read at a leisurely pace with your favorite relaxing beverage. You will be entertained, and you will learn a lot as well.

(In keeping disclosure rules, to keep the FCC happy, I am revealing I received this book from the publisher as part of a GoodReads giveaway). (less)

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Aug 11, 2011 Pam Fullem rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

Just finished "Killer Stuff...". It was an fascinating look into the world of antiques and collecting. I loved how this world can teach you so much about history, and have a better appreciation of craftsmanship. This book is kind of fictionalized non-fiction. By that I mean that the author has changed the names of many characters etc. in the book to protect their identity. This is a world in which you have to be very knowledgeable to not get "taken" in purchases. There are many reproductions, re...more Just finished "Killer Stuff...". It was an fascinating look into the world of antiques and collecting. I loved how this world can teach you so much about history, and have a better appreciation of craftsmanship. This book is kind of fictionalized non-fiction. By that I mean that the author has changed the names of many characters etc. in the book to protect their identity. This is a world in which you have to be very knowledgeable to not get "taken" in purchases. There are many reproductions, repairs, or otherwise altered pieces, that some try to sell as the real deal. I enjoyed learning more about the life of an antiques dealer. The community in which I live has an antique show/flea market every August, so now I have a much better understanding of the whole subculture and what life is like on the road. Throughout the book the author shadows "Curt Avery", helping him set up at the various shows, follow along as he hunts for more treasures, and helps pack up again. It also tells us how he got started collecting and selling antiques. It was facinating to me how often these dealers shop from each other. Mr. Avery has a deep love of history, which comes through in his choosing to do this for a living. Much experience and research has too be done to do this job well. This book also comments on the effect of the poor economy, and how it has affected values and what kind of items sell. I will be a much more appreciative shopper when it comes to antiques. The only thing that did not grab or hold my attention too well was the chapter on comic book and toy collecting. I understand including it to be thorough, but personally it was not an area of interest to me. Since it was not an area Mr. Avery was involved in, it also seemed to be a bit of a detour to the story. I would recommend this book to those who love history, love antiques, and those for whom the television show "American Pickers" has become a must see. This book has definitely opened my eyes to the world of antiques. It is not a boring world at all, but these pieces are slices of our history. I received this as a "First Reads" book giveaway.(less)

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Sep 24, 2011 Dolly rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: fans of non-fiction

Shelves: first-reads, 2011, france-french, nonfiction, new-england, egyptian, english, china-chinese, money, native-american, other-usa, religion-philosophy, south-central-america, russia, the-netherlands

I won this book on Goodreads giveaways and was particularly interested in the fact that it focuses a lot on New England antiques shows, like the one at Brimfield, Massachusetts. My grandparents lived just down the road from the Brimfield flea market and although I probably only visited the event once when I was a child, I've passed by the location many, many times and know it well.

This book is a fascinating account of the lure of buying, collecting and selling various items (primarily early Ame...more

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Apr 15, 2012 Amanda rated it 4 of 5 stars

Sometimes the details made my eyes glaze over a bit, but I learned so much and the book was fascinating. Definitely wants to make me keep looking for and collecting antiques. I'll never get to the level of Avery and the author, but it's still an extremely enjoyable hobby. And not only did the book cover the business of antiquing, but also explored the psychology of why we collect. There was even a chapter devoted to the Antiques Roadshow phenomenon. All in all, it was a fabulous book.

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Jul 17, 2011 Anthony rated it 5 of 5 stars

Like Avery, the antiques dealer that this book follows, I'm sell at flea markets, although my area is electronics, not antiques. But it's interesting to see how many similarities there are - the dealers who are there as much to buy as to sell, the haggling customers, the experiences at auctions - bidders who don't know what they are bidding on, who look at other buyers' to figure out what to bid on, buying lots of stuff to get one item, and trying to figure out where to put it and what to take t...more

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Oct 27, 2011 Angela rated it 4 of 5 stars

My initial thought: I have no idea WHY I like this book. While I can appreciate why so many people collect antiques, I myself am uneducated about them and unable to afford them. After some contemplation, I decided that the book is as much (if not more) about the CULTURE of antiques than the antiques themselves. Seeing as how I love "slice of life" books, this well-written one filled with interesting people was right up my alley.

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Aug 08, 2012 Pam rated it 4 of 5 stars

Written well with lots of great tricks of the trade information I don't believe the foul language was needed to get Avery's personality across to the reader. I intend to reread and highlight the important parts. We have been to Brimfield and York shows so their was familiarity. Of course the subject matter being antiques was fantastic. If you collect anything from Americana to comic books I recommend reading this book

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Oct 06, 2012 James Cowan rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book follows the author’s friendship with an antique dealer. She joins him on buying and selling excursions as he mentors her in the antiques business.

The book does contain some "salty" language. It gave me a sense of who the character is and if it would have been omitted it would have been a different read as the character in question has the knowledge of a college professor yet works as hard as any blue collar employee.

The many attributes to being successful in this line of work are revea...more

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Aug 03, 2011 David rated it 4 of 5 stars

A terrific book! Stanton goes behind the scenes of the antiques world, covering the whole spectrum from lowly yard sales to high-end auctions in New York and Boston. It's brisk, informative and funny as she learns some of the tricks of the trade and rubs shoulders with some of the biggest "names" in that esoteric commerce.

Lesson learned? You'd better do your homework before buying antiques.

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About Maureen Stanton

Maureen Stanton is an award-winning writer of creative nonfiction, and author of "Killer Stuff and Tons of Money," a work of literary "immersion" journalism that explores the subculture of flea markets, antiques, and collecting. She has received a National Endowment for the Arts Literature Fellowship, a Pushcart Prize, a Maine Arts Commission Individual Artist Fellowship, and her work has been lis...more

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Killer Stuff and Tons of Money: An Insider's Look at the World of Flea Markets, Antiques, and Collecting

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“In 1784, the new prime minister, William Pitt the Younger, reduced the tea tax from 119 percent to 12.5 percent. Cheap tea was then available to the masses, though elitists decried tea's ill effects on "persons of an inferior rank." Women neglected "the affairs of their families" for afternoon tea sipping.” — 0 people liked it

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