James Patterson’s productive writing factory
I reflected the other day on whether the job of the golf caddie could be split into two separate tasks. In the same vein, I was intrigued to read this morning about how James Patterson, the best-selling author, has a factory of writers who pump out fiction under his name.
This seems similar to Damien Hirst, the British artist who copied Andy Warhol’s notion of the art factory and employs a team of assistants to manufacture works of art under his name. Read more
Why Berkshire Hathaway is a tax arbitrage
Warren Buffett provided a notably honest explanation this weekend for why Berkshire Hathaway remains a conglomerate, which is an unpopular form of corporate structure.
On paper, Berkshire makes virtually no sense as an operating entity – it combines everything from insurance and reinsurance to steak houses and confectionery manufacture. Probably a better way to regard it is as an insurance company that invests its cash in portfolio companies as well as securities. Read more
| About this blog | Blog guide |
John Gapper is an associate editor and the chief business commentator of the FT.
He has worked for the FT since 1987, covering labour relations, banking and the media. He is co-author, with Nicholas Denton, of 'All That Glitters', an account of the collapse of Barings in 1995.
Andrew Hill is an associate editor and the management editor of the FT. He is a former City editor, financial editor, comment and analysis editor, New York bureau chief, foreign news editor and correspondent in Brussels and Milan.
Latest columns by John and Andrew