This book is a response to those who consider contemporary art either snobbish nonsense or outright deception. What is the meaning of Malevich's 'Black Square'? What did Andy Warhol mean when he depicted countless cans of tomato soup? And what does a urinal have to do with it? In his gripping and sometimes shocking account of the century-and-a-half of contemporary art, Will Gompertz doesn't set out to evaluate any particular work. He gives readers a 'crash course' in cultural codes and hints that will allow them to navigate the contemporary artistic landscape independently and discern between a 'dud' and a masterpiece.