Research Catalog

The big con : great hoaxes, frauds, grifts, and swindles in American history

Title: The big con : great hoaxes, frauds, grifts, and swindles in American history / Nate Hendley.
Author: Hendley, Nate
Publication: Santa Barbara, California : ABC-CLIO, an imprint of ABC-CLIO, 2016.

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Item details
Status	Format	Access	Call Number	Item Location
Request for On-site Use Request Scan Available - Can be used on site. Please visit New York Public Library - Schwarzman Building to submit a request in person.	Text	Use in library	JFF 16-1673	Schwarzman Building - Main Reading Room 315

Description

xvii, 380 pages; 27 cm

Summary

" This book examines a broad range of infamous scams, cons, swindles, and hoaxes throughout American history--and considers why human gullibility continues in an age of easy access to information. Explores figures such as "Yellow Kid" Weil, Charles Ponzi, Orson Welles, and Frank Abagnale, among others Provides insight into human nature--gullibility being one aspect of it--throughout the ages, addresses the power of rumor and legend, and identifies the social conditions that have allowed some scams and hoaxes to flourish Presents information that can serve academic research projects as well as fascinate and entertain general readers Features the original stories behind the Hollywood movies The Sting, Catch Me If You Can, Argo, and American Hustle"--
"This title depicts confidence games and the history and laws surrounding them"--

Subject

Bibliography (note)

Call Number

JFF 16-1673

ISBN

LCCN

2016007741

OCLC

945585965

Author

Hendley, Nate, author.

Title

The big con : great hoaxes, frauds, grifts, and swindles in American history / Nate Hendley.

Publisher

Santa Barbara, California : ABC-CLIO, an imprint of ABC-CLIO, 2016.

Type of Content

text

Type of Medium

unmediated

Type of Carrier

volume

Bibliography

Includes bibliographical references (pages 351-369) and index.

Research Call Number

JFF 16-1673