Mike Finkel: Art Heists, Identity Theft & Journalism, Inside the Mind of a NYT Best-Selling Author

Ted Hesser Podcast

Mike Finkel is one of the most successful contemporary authors in the non-fiction genre. He has written three books, all of them New York Times Best Sellers, with two being sold as movie rights to big Hollywood studios and one made into a major motion picture by Brad Pitt's Production company.Mike is a raconteur who has worked for the world's top journalistic outlets. Mike was fired from the New York Times Magazine for creating a composite character of child cocoa plantation workers in West Africa. That event, and subsequent social opprobrium, almost ended his career. But Mike's persistence led him through a dark time and into a new life trajectory as a highly successful author. His latest book, The Art Thief, is the story of Stephan Brietweiser, who stole up to $2 bn, with a capital B, of art throughout Europe in the early 2000s. Like all his true crime subjects, Mike befriended Stephan and wrote the definitive work on the greatest art thief ever to have lived. His stories span the globe, with fascinating insights into human nature and the creative act balancing act of the non-fiction Novel. 🔥 HIGHLIGHTS 🔥: 📜 Mustang Memories: Relive Mike & Ted's captivating expedition in Mustang, Nepal. 💥 Adventures at the Edge: Whether it's confronting a tank in Afghanistan or threading the thin lines of conflict zones, Mike knows danger firsthand. 📓 Craft of Narratives: Dive into Mike's approach to storytelling for the crests of journalism. 😲 NYT & New Beginnings: The whirlwind journey from Mike's NYT exit to the allure of true crime. 📚 Tales That Push Boundaries 📚: