Book Review: The Big Con: Great Hoaxes, Frauds, Grifts, and Swindles in American History

Abstract

All cons require two participants: someone who lies and someone who believes. From the vantage point of someone not currently in the middle of being swindled, one can feel superior to the chumps who fall for obvious cons. But the human capacity to believe and trust is vast, and let’s face it: we all have fallen for something, whether it’s the belief in a miracle cream or much worse—like losing your savings in a Ponzi scheme.