Category Archives: con man
The Expats
I haven’t read any “spy fiction” in quite some time, but I stumbled across of review of Chris Pavone’s “The Expats” which made it sound like an interesting read. The story takes a while to unfold — a former CIA … Continue reading
The Wolf of Wall Street
I figured that I would see Martin Scorsese’s “The Wolf of Wall Street” at some point, and I like to read the book before I see the movie. So I took Jordan Belfort’s 2007 “memoir” out of the library. A … Continue reading
Posted in book, con man, non-fiction, review
Comments Off on The Wolf of Wall Street
The Mark Inside
The Mark Inside (2012) tells the fascinating story of a swindled Texas rancher who refused to rest until he got his revenge against each member of the team that took him for $45,000. But what I fond most interesting was … Continue reading
Posted in book, con man, non-fiction, review
Comments Off on The Mark Inside
Moneymakers
Ben Tarnoff’s Moneymakers (2012) tells the stories of three counterfeiters who plied their trade during different periods of American history – the Colonial era, early America and during the Civil War. While their stories are interesting, I thought he did … Continue reading
Posted in book, con man, public policy, review
Comments Off on Moneymakers
Drake’s Fortune
In Drake’s Fortune (2002), Richard Raynor tells the story of what may be the greatest long con in history. Depression-era con man Oscar Hartzell convinced thousands of Midwesterners that he was the executor of 16th century English explorer Francis Drake’s … Continue reading
Fakers
In Fakers: Hoaxers, Con Artists, Counterfeiters and Other Great Pretenders (2008), Paul Maliszewski draws on his own experiences as a frustrated newspaper reporter who wrote fictitious letters to the editor and other submissions as a lens for viewing other liars, … Continue reading
Posted in book, con man, non-fiction, review
Comments Off on Fakers
The Man in the Rockefeller Suit
Vanity Fair writer Mark Seal tells the absolutely awesome story of Christian K. Gerhartsreiter, a 17-year old German immigrant who transformed himself into “Clark Rockefeller.” I first read about it here, when he went on trial. Read book reviews in … Continue reading
Posted in book, con man, non-fiction, review
Comments Off on The Man in the Rockefeller Suit