{"product_id":"the-big-con-nate-hendley-9781610695855","title":"The Big Con: Great Hoaxes, Frauds, Grifts, and Swindles in American History","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThis book examines a broad range of infamous scams, cons, swindles, and hoaxes throughout American history--and considers why human gullibility continues in an age of easy access to information.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eCovering American cons and hoaxes past and present, including the Great Moon Hoax of 1835, the controversy over \"subliminal messaging\" (do bands, filmmakers, and advertisers really put secret messages in their works?), the panic about \"satanic\" daycare operators in the 1980s, and recent Internet scams, this book provides a fascinating, fact-based look at infamous frauds across the centuries. Offering an engaging mix of history, sociology, and psychology, author Nate Hendley gives readers an appreciation of how prominent scams, cons, \"confidence men,\" and hoaxes have impacted American society, past and present. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eEach entry details the scheme or hoax and the pertinent con artist\/schemer involved, examining the sociological, cultural, political, and\/or economic effect of the scams. Each topic is accompanied by a short bibliography of further reading selections. As the old saying goes, \"There is a sucker born every minute\"--and there has always been a keen-eyed swindler to take advantage of the situation. \u003ci\u003eThe Big Con: Great Hoaxes, Frauds, Grifts, and Swindles in American History\u003c\/i\u003e explores this sordid underbelly of American civilization and invites readers to revel in the felonious experience.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Nate Hendley\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 1610695852\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781610695855\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e ABC-CLIO\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 09\/06\/2016\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 400\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 2.30lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 10.10h x 7.10w x 1.20d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eReview Citation(s): \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eChoice\u003c\/i\u003e 03\/01\/2017\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eLibrary Journal\u003c\/i\u003e 09\/15\/2017","brand":"Nate Hendley","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":43938772156671,"sku":"9781610695855","price":108.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/products\/img_cb1f2c4c-6c79-4d4a-b463-92ff0fc4f427.jpg?v=1681437631","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/the-big-con-nate-hendley-9781610695855","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}