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1016 ratings, 3.80 average rating, 183 reviews
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published
October 31st 2002
(first published 2005)
by Random House Inc.
binding
Paperback
isbn
076791435X
(isbn13: 9780767914352)
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 1269)
"What I learned from this book," Goodreads asks? That "con man" really does mean "confidence man": the more you act like you deserve something, the more likely you are to get it.
A precocious child who devised clever modes of personal gain, Frank A. grew into an even smarter man. He faked college degrees, professional affiliations, career histories - pretty much everything, including his name. Without any relevant schooling, throughout his life he "was"...more
A precocious child who devised clever modes of personal gain, Frank A. grew into an even smarter man. He faked college degrees, professional affiliations, career histories - pretty much everything, including his name. Without any relevant schooling, throughout his life he "was"...more
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Read in May, 2008
This is honestly the best book I have read in a long time. It's one of the few that I couldn't put down and had to know what was going to happen next. I know I had already seen the movie, but the book was better. I was disappointed to find out that the movie was actually a watered-down version of the story, and that the events were shuffled around and sometimes completely made up to go along with the flow of the movie. The actual story is much harsher and emotional, and there is really no ca...more
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Read in March, 2008
I found this book exhausting to read. It is unbelievable the schemes this kid pulled off and it just seemed like it was a never-ending quest! Oh to have that kind of energy and aplomb! The movie doesn't even come close to what Frank has done in his 4-year career as a con artist, however, I do like the movie better, because, in my opinion, it has a better ending. You get closure. The book ends too abruptly for my taste.
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so much fun! I loved the movie and this was so much more.
I remember when he scammed people by writing his bank number on the deposit slips in the bank lobby - everyone who thought they were depositing to their own account found that their cash had be routed to his account.
I remember when he scammed people by writing his bank number on the deposit slips in the bank lobby - everyone who thought they were depositing to their own account found that their cash had be routed to his account.
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Read in April, 2008
I really liked the movie, and wanted to hear the story from Frank Abignale's point of view. This was a great book, and even though some parts were rather unbelievable, it was very engaging, and hard to put down!
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At the age of sixteen Abagnale managed to forge a pilot's license and "deadhead" his way around the country bouncing checks. He also passes himself off as an pediatrician, a college professor, and an assistant district attorney. The last is probably his most impressive exploit, as he passes the bar exam (on his third try) with only two years of high school.
After years of exploiting the gullibility of bank tellers and airline clerks, Abagnale is finally captured in France, where he s...more
After years of exploiting the gullibility of bank tellers and airline clerks, Abagnale is finally captured in France, where he s...more
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Read in January, 2006
Book Spoilers below:
This is actually one of my favorites books ever that has been made into a movie, and i think the reason is because i like them both (which is rare for books made into movies). however, the premise of this book is quite different than the movie because it is literally impossible to make frank abignale's life into a 2-hour movie. The key points are the same but the details are changed slightly. for example, after he was finally captured, he spent about 9 years in prison, s...more
This is actually one of my favorites books ever that has been made into a movie, and i think the reason is because i like them both (which is rare for books made into movies). however, the premise of this book is quite different than the movie because it is literally impossible to make frank abignale's life into a 2-hour movie. The key points are the same but the details are changed slightly. for example, after he was finally captured, he spent about 9 years in prison, s...more
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Read in May, 2008
Engaging, engrossing, and informative not only on the details of his crimes, but the inherent observations they yield on institutions (as general systems, and particular places); on fraudulent crime (not an easier or more rewarding path however it's perceived), and the factors that are most in play in peoples' judgment of character.
Though I will now proceed to talk less about the book itself as the funny experience I had rewatching the movie. I first saw the movie years ago and was very impr...more
Though I will now proceed to talk less about the book itself as the funny experience I had rewatching the movie. I first saw the movie years ago and was very impr...more
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Read in April, 2008
recommended to Chris by:
no onerecommends it for: people who like to read
This book is about a con man. He runs away from home at age sixteen, and has trouble making money living on his own. He lives on his check book, of which has no money in the account. He bounces many checks before he decides to take to a life of crime. In this life he impersonates many professions some of which include a lawyer, an airline pilot, and a doctor. He does all of this, and is a high school drop-out. He learns to make fake checks and learns the process in which they are cashed. By his...more
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Read in April, 2008
recommended to Mark by:
Mrs. Tricerecommends it for: Everyone
This book was exhilaratingly tenacious! It was a joy to read and the movie was a joy to watch. I could not put it down, and found myself not reading it for a grade, but instead for fun. It is a story of the life of Frank Abagnale Jr. He was a con man, well a con child. Before age 18 he had stolen over 1.2 million dollars in fraudulent checks. He had also become an airline pilot for Pan Am Airways, a Doctor, a lawyer, and a collage professor. His first con was on his own father, because of his l...more
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Read in February, 2003
Downloaded from Audible.com
Narrator: Barrett Whitener
Publisher: Blackstone Audiobooks, 2002
Length: 8 hours and 36 min.
Publisher's Summary
Frank W. Abagnale, alias Frank Williams, Robert Conrad, Frank Adams, and Robert Monjo, was one of the most daring conmen, forgers, imposters, and escape artists in history. In his brief but notorious criminal career, Abagnale donned a pilot's uniform and copiloted a Pan Am jet, masqueraded as the supervising resident of a hospital, practiced law without ...more
Narrator: Barrett Whitener
Publisher: Blackstone Audiobooks, 2002
Length: 8 hours and 36 min.
Publisher's Summary
Frank W. Abagnale, alias Frank Williams, Robert Conrad, Frank Adams, and Robert Monjo, was one of the most daring conmen, forgers, imposters, and escape artists in history. In his brief but notorious criminal career, Abagnale donned a pilot's uniform and copiloted a Pan Am jet, masqueraded as the supervising resident of a hospital, practiced law without ...more
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Read in August, 2008
I loved this book. Frank Abagnale is a captivating storyteller. Though easy reads and anecdotal autobiographies have bothered me before, this book worked because it's not an Average Joe telling his life's story; Catch Me If You Can is a glimpse into the mind of a genius, one whose arrogance and vulnerability make him endearing rather than obnoxious. He makes you cheer for him, as he's cheating the system but never individuals, breaking laws but never coming across as a "bad guy."
I ...more
I ...more
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At the tender age of 16, Frank W. Abagnale left his father's home in Queens to begin a life as a con man. In the span of five short years, he successfully posed as an airline co-pilot, pediatrician, lawyer, and sociology professor all in an attempt to cover up his fraudulent check cashing scam that he perpetrated in over a dozen different countries (that he mentions and many more he probably doesn't) and nearly all 50 U.S. States. Remember that these are the true memoirs of Abagnale, even if the...more
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Read in October, 2007
recommends it for:
anyone that needs something to read on vacation or at the airport
In a word, fascinating. If you haven't seen the movie, go ahead as it will give you some mental imagery in terms of the setting, but the movie was slightly inaccurate-the adventures of this fella are mind-boggling. Descriptive and slangy language peppers this very entertaining read, which gives it an intelligent, yet relatable appeal. Plot? Crafty, observant, intelligent, mischevious, horny teenager as "The Pretender" on the prowl hopping from country to country masquerading as various...more
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Read in April, 2008
Seen the movie, now read the book! And yes, the movie is completely different from the book by liberally editing out the fact that Abagnale's mother did not remarry for 20 years after the divorce and the fact he had siblings. Eh! Anycase, the movie is a completely enjoyable yarn with two good actors and this book will bowl you over with the easygoing charm of a confidence man. Abagnale is completely unabashed by his past and it is his forthcoming admittance of his deeds that can't help but make ...more
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Read in July, 2008
i enjoyed this because i like me a good autobiography about a person with a crazy story. i liked the movie, and i picked this up from the library for a lil light holiday reading over my last teacher-break.
it was good, enjoyable, easy.
i must say, to anybody else who has read this - Didn't Frank Abagnale seem like he was thesaurus-happy?? jesus. he kepy putting out really obscure "big words" just to use "big words". As an English teacher, i felt like i was reading a report...more
it was good, enjoyable, easy.
i must say, to anybody else who has read this - Didn't Frank Abagnale seem like he was thesaurus-happy?? jesus. he kepy putting out really obscure "big words" just to use "big words". As an English teacher, i felt like i was reading a report...more
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Read in April, 2008
I had seen the movie a long time ago and really enjoyed it. We've had this book for years, too, but I just had never gotten around to reading it. I'm sorry I didn't!
The movie had to divert a bit from what was written, as most movies must. The ease in which Mr. Abagnale was able to pull all this off is just astonishing. In some ways, it's hard to imagine that this could ever happen, but you must read it with attention to the years it took place - before you had such things as Homeland Secur...more
The movie had to divert a bit from what was written, as most movies must. The ease in which Mr. Abagnale was able to pull all this off is just astonishing. In some ways, it's hard to imagine that this could ever happen, but you must read it with attention to the years it took place - before you had such things as Homeland Secur...more
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Read in May, 2007
First off, wow, the sexism. Women are referred to as cattle, foxes, bees, peaches, and a host of other animals and objects throughout. I managed to keep going, even though at times it was a close thing. The tone of the book came across as contrived and cliche on occasion, as the narrative voice tried too hard to sound like a stereotypically tough, womanizing criminal was talking. I read this book because I like the movie, and it was interesting to see how the screenplay differed from th...more
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Read in August, 2008
recommends it for:
anyone looking for a quick read
The story of a charming and fascinating young man told in the voice of the smarmy old guy he became. The writing is actually pretty bad but the story moves along quickly and the book is short enough to be worth the effort. The language and feel of the book is very fifties and fun but fun is mitigated by the fact that our hero hurt hundreds if not thousands of people but somehow insists he never harmed an individual. I guess all those people were fine with being reprimanded, fired, demoted, los...more
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A fun, easy read that was much better than the movie (although the movie was pretty good, and DiCrappio was tolerable). The most entertaining part of the book that was left out of the movie? Abagnale faked out BYU administration, professors, and students, and taught a summer course in sociology. He thought the girls were pretty hot! I want to say this is a commentary on something - gullibility of BYU? Silliness of sociology in general? The gullibility of people who major in sociology (I have off...more
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