Beyond the Halls
An Insider’s Guide to Loving Museums
“You might be surprised to know that museums are a constant part of your everyday life.”
Mackenzie Finklea seeks to change the way people interact with museums by providing a fresh and insightful perspective on the current state of the industry in addition to a series of thought provoking activities. Museums are a major part of American and global culture and will continue to be.
“Museums are, and should strive to be, for everyone. Why would this book be any different?”
What’s missing out there in the world is a book about museums for people not in the industry— until now. Beyond the Halls is a book with a little bit of something in it for everyone. From the museum lover to the museum hater, this book is sure to fascinate people of all ages and backgrounds on any page you might open it.
“In a world progressively becoming more digital, it's important to remember where we've been as we continue moving forward."
This book is about museums. Beyond the Halls dives into the past, present, and future of museums through an interactive, guidebook format where you can find insights tailored to your unique personality and background. There is a stigma in the world that museums are boring, dusty, and stagnant, and I am looking to change the way people think about and experience museums.
Praise for “Beyond the Halls”
Shana Abraham, author of Rise
“Finklea takes on the challenge of making even the most ardent museum-haters fall in love with these institutions. She lays out the past, present, and future of the museum industry and offers advice on the best ways to experience them. Her accessible writing style makes it easy for anyone to fall in love with museums.”
Ann Weisgarber, author of the Promise
“Mackenzie Finklea’s Beyond the Halls makes me want to drop everything and rush to my nearest museum. Her enthusiastic voice sweeps away the image of boring displays of relics and replaces it with examples of an exciting and lively museum scene. With a light touch, Finklea skillfully weaves in the history of museums, and her personal experiences provide enticing glimpses at the people who work behind the halls. This book is for everyone; you don’t have to be a museum aficionado to enjoy Beyond the Halls.”
Grace Ehlers, author of Party Pooper
“Mackenzie Finklea's book, Beyond the Halls is a powerful guide in understanding museums. Finklea teaches you what exactly museums are, the history behind them, how to enjoy them, what role they will play in the future, and more. This book will leave you looking for the closest museum nearby to explore and appreciate.”
Ron Cohen, author of Working with Robots
“Think that museums are boring? This book will convince you otherwise. Beyond the Halls is a comprehensive book that explores the history of museums, the present challenges, and future possibilities. Mackenzie provides some practical and useful insights that will change the way you think about and experience museums. This is your essential guide for your next visit to the museum.”
Judge, 9th Annual Writer’s Digest Self-Published E-Book Awards
“The book opens with fascinating questions surrounding why and how museums are of interest, and author wows us with the fact that only 2% of museum revenue is from ticket sales. Clearly, more visits to museums are needed, and author establishes this book's purpose. As we are told that 'every piece in a museum has a story,' we're even more drawn in, and the author's stellar pace and structure take it from here. We are hooked in and receptive to all the author offers.”