The Runner: A True Account of the Amazing Lies and Fantastical Adventures of the Ivy League Impos...
A classic american story of a homeless drifter who tries to start a new life by applying to Princeton University, based on the acclaimed "New Yorke...
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reviews
Aug 09, 2011
I borrowed this thinking that it would be a "Catch me if you Can" type story and it was to some extent, although I think the subject of this was far less clever. Basically, the only thing James Hogue did was bs his way into Princeton at the age of 32. The author is fascinated with people who invent their own story as they go along. Hogue, until he went to prison, made up stories about himself and then stole personal items from the people he made friends with.
For most of the book I More...
For most of the book I More...
Feb 28, 2010
Robert
rated it: 
This book tells of the exploits of James Hogue, a master of deceit. His speciality was masquerading as another person while attending different schools, most notably Princeton University. The author's set-up in telling these stories about Hogue is different and confusing and he has this irritating habit of injecting himself into the story and pontificating on various subjects. I nearly stopped reading the book. For me, the story really takes off in the last 90 pages, the amazing story of Hogu
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Oct 07, 2008
Lawrence
rated it: 
I really liked Samuels' Harper's piece from backstage at the Superbowl, so went for this one. Very different. The Harper's piece was all over the place--he spent half the article hanging out with Stevie Wonder, and had some sharp cultural commentary stuck into some pretty wacky observations.
The Runner is more a straight-up tale--an impostor/con man named James Hogue fakes his way into Princeton--and I wondered if he'd just tell it straight. Not really; be bounces around the chronolo More...
The Runner is more a straight-up tale--an impostor/con man named James Hogue fakes his way into Princeton--and I wondered if he'd just tell it straight. Not really; be bounces around the chronolo More...
May 28, 2008
Mike
rated it:
I'm not entirely sure why, but I'm a little obsessed with James Hogue's Gatsby-esque tale of self-(re)creation and identity. He is a genuine "con-man" in archetypal American form.
He's a (Melvillianesque) confidence-man who is also a CONvicted felon. As author David Samuels describes Hogue in this volume (which is essentially an expanded version of an article that Samuels had previously published in The New Yorker magazine): "Hogue was a convicted fabulist who attempted More...
He's a (Melvillianesque) confidence-man who is also a CONvicted felon. As author David Samuels describes Hogue in this volume (which is essentially an expanded version of an article that Samuels had previously published in The New Yorker magazine): "Hogue was a convicted fabulist who attempted More...
May 24, 2008
Jillian
rated it: 
I read this despite the lukewarm reviews it received, because I would read pretty much anything about James Hogue, and Samuels' original New Yorker piece about Hogue was compelling. (Even more gripping, however, was Jesse Moss' film "Con Man" - highly recommended.) But here, Samuels basically delivers a longer, more rambling, more self-involved, sloppily crafted article - not a book about Hogue. The interviews are oddly documented, and since Hogue's stint at Princeton is the most compe
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Aug 13, 2008
Kyla
rated it:
(This is really a 3.5 review, oh woe, why are there no half stars?) Like an extended Vanity Fair piece or New York Times Magazine, I confess, I sometimes wondered if the subject merited being fleshed out so. But then the author turns on you mid-way and finally lets you know - this books isn't about the con-man, we don't really care about him - it's about class and America and meritocracy and higher education and how the Great American past-time of reinvention has disappeared completely, never to
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Apr 16, 2009
Diana
rated it:
This book was pretty good. I did feel like the author jumped into the story at a weird time and worked his way back around. I would have enjoyed this crazy guy's life story a little more if the pieces weren't as much in a jumble
Jul 20, 2009
Smith
rated it:
Feels overwritten at the beginning but settles into a nice flowing narrative.
Jul 21, 2008
Erin
rated it:
This is an interesting look at a brilliant con-artist by a journalist who writes for the New Yorker, Harper's, etc. He give some great insight into how Americans lie to ourselves as part of out national self-image. Pretty original account. If interested check out this interview with the author, its pretty great http://coolehmag.com/frontEnd/feature.ph...
Sep 06, 2011
Esther
rated it:
A haunting tale of psychological manipulation and an exploration into what exactly would compel an individual to take such extreme measures to reinvent oneself. I assumed the book would be more of a thrilling story however, Samuels spends a lot of time on the previously mentioned exploring. Overall, it was definitely interesting but in no way was it mind blowing.
Aug 27, 2008
Rachel
rated it:
I tried, but gave up after the first fifty pages. The narrative is so incoherent and the metaphors so mixed that I couldn't keep a grip on the life story of the protag-- well, antagonist, I guess. Samuels writes for some high-quality magazines -- I'm disappointed that this wasn't better.
Oct 11, 2009
AJ
rated it:
This book was mildly interesting, and not well written. If you're interested in James Hogue, just read his Wiki page, and skip this book.
Aug 30, 2008
James
rated it:
Started out promising, but didn't ultimately come together cohesively for my liking.
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