cover image Why Don’t You Want My Stuff?

Why Don’t You Want My Stuff?

Josh Levine. BookBaby, $16.99 trade paper (132p) ISBN 978-1-5439-2199-1

Levine, owner and founder of J. Levine Auction & Appraisal in Scottsdale, Ariz., shares two decades worth of wisdom regarding antiques and collectibles in this breezy and informative guidebook. While reality shows like Antiques Roadshow extoll the virtues and sometimes extraordinary value of decades-old furniture and ephemera, Levine shares a harsh reality: in many cases, nobody wants it. The current “buying generations,” with differing interests and lifestyles, along with shifting tastes, has resulted in once-pricey items like china and toy trains dropping dramatically in value. Levine has yet to meet a Gen Xer who collects Hummel figurines—most don’t even know what they are, he writes—but vintage watches and pens are hot right now, as are Star Wars toys and Chinese antiques. Levine argues that the key to succeeding as a collector is patience, an eye for quality, the ability to recognize the cyclical nature of collectibles, and knowing when to sell before the market cools. Levine’s insights into antiques economics along with his terrific needle-in-a-haystack anecdotes about discovering treasure among clutter will inspire readers to not only dig through their attic, but maybe visit some estate and tag sales. [em](BookLife) [/em]