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A review by mexscrabbler
The Confidence Game: Why We Fall for It . . . Every Time by Maria Konnikova
3.0
A long and sometimes overly detailed analysis of the art of "the Con", and more importantly, why human beings are "hard-wired" to fall for them.
Unfortunately, as human beings are intrinsically susceptible to cons due to our very nature. We like to hear stories, and we tend to believe them, particularly those that are told in a compelling way. It is in our nature to want to believe that things will improve, that eventually things will "balance out".
The book is full of examples of cons and of psychological studies that confirm our susceptibility. The book introduces the key steps in a con, including the Grifter, the Mark, the Put-up, the Play, the Rope, the Tale, the Convincer, the Breakdown, the Send and Touch, and - finally - the Blow Off and the Fix.
The book was highly educational but I found it to be tedious - too many examples were provided and the points could have been made more succinctly.
I was left feeling at risk of succumbing to a con in the near future...
Unfortunately, as human beings are intrinsically susceptible to cons due to our very nature. We like to hear stories, and we tend to believe them, particularly those that are told in a compelling way. It is in our nature to want to believe that things will improve, that eventually things will "balance out".
The book is full of examples of cons and of psychological studies that confirm our susceptibility. The book introduces the key steps in a con, including the Grifter, the Mark, the Put-up, the Play, the Rope, the Tale, the Convincer, the Breakdown, the Send and Touch, and - finally - the Blow Off and the Fix.
The book was highly educational but I found it to be tedious - too many examples were provided and the points could have been made more succinctly.
I was left feeling at risk of succumbing to a con in the near future...