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sophiaellieb's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
I read this after watching 'The Tinder Swindler' and listening to the 'Sweet Bobby' podcast as I wanted to learn more about how and why con-people have such success, and that I did! However, while there were some really insightful parts to the book, specifically the chapters 'The Put Up' and 'The Play', I agree with other reviewers that it need not have been so long. It kind of lost its way towards the end and the structure went a bit awry. I appreciated the clear writing style, though, as I can't imagine it was the easiest task knowing when to best draw on certain examples.
I read this after watching 'The Tinder Swindler' and listening to the 'Sweet Bobby' podcast as I wanted to learn more about how and why con-people have such success, and that I did! However, while there were some really insightful parts to the book, specifically the chapters 'The Put Up' and 'The Play', I agree with other reviewers that it need not have been so long. It kind of lost its way towards the end and the structure went a bit awry. I appreciated the clear writing style, though, as I can't imagine it was the easiest task knowing when to best draw on certain examples.
jaclynday's review against another edition
3.0
There is a lot of nonfiction in this vein that could ultimately be a longform article or blog post and still convey key points. Identifying common threads among con artists and the scams they run is an encouraging topic. 352 pages of it? Too long. This topic calls for a brisk, tight edit. To make matters worse, it read like someone composing Wikipedia summaries instead of writing from inherent knowledge of the topic.
eayelizabeth's review against another edition
3.0
(3.5) An interesting dive into the psychology of how con artists set us up and why we fall for their cons.
cah242's review
4.0
Very interesting stories about confidence scams. I agree with some other reviewers that the number of obviously apocryphal stories, as well as the fact that general conclusions are drawn from really specific stories, is problematic. And overall I think the book could have been shorter, or better organized, or both. But overall it was interesting and entertaining, and it made me think critically about my own susceptibilities.
ramonnogueras's review against another edition
5.0
Una obra absolutamente estupenda que mezcla a la perfección historias de estafadores y de la estafa, con los principios psicológicos subyacentes, y un estilo de narración absolutamente magistral. Me ha encantado.
El libro se estructura en torno a los pasos que da una estafa, de modo que los efectos psicológicos implicados quedan más claramente resaltados, y ejemplificados. De este modo es fácil seguir el desarrollo de una estafa que, como toda forma de persuasión, se ayuda de un principio base: que creemos lo que queremos creer, y el estafador no hace sino explotarlo.
Ha sido una gran idea incluirlo como bibliografía en el libro que estoy escribiendo. No puedo recomendarlo más.
El libro se estructura en torno a los pasos que da una estafa, de modo que los efectos psicológicos implicados quedan más claramente resaltados, y ejemplificados. De este modo es fácil seguir el desarrollo de una estafa que, como toda forma de persuasión, se ayuda de un principio base: que creemos lo que queremos creer, y el estafador no hace sino explotarlo.
Ha sido una gran idea incluirlo como bibliografía en el libro que estoy escribiendo. No puedo recomendarlo más.
lpfnuer's review against another edition
3.0
Really interesting perspectives with lots of anecdotes to support the psychology behind cons.
ebransford's review against another edition
4.0
In the vein of Malcolm gladwell or Hidden Brain. Science lite with a psychology bent. Easy to digest and interesting but could’ve been a long form magazine article rather than a book. I’ve really been into docs about cons (dropout, tinder swindler, inventing Anna, dirty john) so it was a little enlightening and interesting to read a psych based perspective on it.
the_oakland_readers's review against another edition
2.0
There's not much here besides a smattering of stories about famous con men; the books saving grace for about 150/352 pages.