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Title: Catch Me If You Can: The True Story of a Real Fake by Stan Redding, Frank W. Abagnale ISBN: 0767905385 Publisher: Broadway Books Pub. Date: 01 August, 2000 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.23
Rating: 5
Summary: The rest of the story...
Comment: This book covers many things that the movie left out. For example, you learn why if you are going to commit crimes around the world, you might not want to commit any in France. (Their prison system is ROUGH.)
Perhaps if Mr. Abagnale hadn't compulsively committed crimes even when he had plenty of money, he wouldn't have nearly died in a French jail.
There is also a great interview at the end of the book where Mr. Abagnale discusses how to fight the war on terrorism among other things.
Rating: 5
Summary: Catch this book if you can
Comment: Frank W. Abagnale was an audacious New York teenager, who netted several million dollars and prison terms in several countries, from his unbelievable fraudulent lifestyle in the 1960's. Abagnale impersonated a lawyer, doctor, pilot, and a college professor, while traveling the world writing bad checks. This book was first published in the 1980's after Johnny Carson told Frank that he should write a book. The story became a movie last year and the book has been re-released.
I recommend this book highly. True it is a bit dated and not particularly well written, but the stories will mesmerize you. I read it almost without stopping. There is a lot more and less to this story than the movie shows. The time in the French prison under inhumane conditions is a riveting read which never made it to the movie. After being captured in France, Abagnale was imprisoned in Perpignan for six months, without the benefit of a bed, clothing, or a toilet. Upon his release, he was extradited to Sweden, found guilty there and spent another six months in prison, albeit more like a country club. Then a Swedish judge finds a loophole in the law to allow Abagnale to return to face charges in the US, rather than spending the next 20 years in a succession of European courts and prisons. Criminals should learn to hideout in countries where they have committed no crimes, especially ones without extradition treaties with the US.
The movie also took a lot of liberty with other events, mostly to build up the Tom Hanks character, but none of that really mattered. The real issue with the movie (and to a lesser extent, the book) was that it does not bring out Abagnale's motivation. Abagnale claims that he was suffering from raging hormones and pursued his travels and theft to meet exotic women. This is clearly one reason, but it is also clear that he enjoys the risk and the danger. At times, some of the risk-taking seems crazy, like attending a party in the same neighborhood of a previous victime and impersonating an FBI agent to take possession of a bad check. One almost thinks he wanted to get caught.
Abagnale spends just the right amount of ink on his exploits. One doesnot need to know every nuance of banking in the 1960's, but the explanation of the unique "routing number" scam he developed is interesting.
Rating: 5
Summary: Fascinating story of the biggest fake in America
Comment: Had I not seen the movie of the same name, I would have never heard of this gem of a "true crime" story. Although I cannot condone the actions of the author, his story of impersonating an airline pilot, a doctor, a lawyer, and a university professor are nevertheless highly amusing and entertaining.
You've got to give Frank Abagnale a great deal of credit for the amount of intelligence he displayed in his efforts to live a life of luxury, while at the same time being able to play it cool in roles that any other 16 or 17 year old would be completely unable to play because of his or her lack of maturity.
The movie only gives a very brief overview of many of Mr. Abagnale's exploits - the book goes into far greater detail and is by far one of the most entertaining books that I have read this year. If you enjoyed the film, you'll want to read the book as well. Happy Reading!
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Title: The Art of the Steal: How to Protect Yourself and Your Business from Fraud, America's #1 Crime by Frank W. Abagnale ISBN: 0767906845 Publisher: Broadway Books Pub. Date: 12 November, 2002 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
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Title: Confessions of a Dangerous Mind: An Unauthorized Autobiography by Chuck Barris ISBN: 0786888083 Publisher: Miramax Pub. Date: November, 2002 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
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Title: The King of Torts by John Grisham ISBN: 0385508042 Publisher: Doubleday Pub. Date: 04 February, 2003 List Price(USD): $27.95 |
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Title: Seabiscuit: An American Legend by Laura Hillenbrand ISBN: 0449005615 Publisher: Ballantine Books Pub. Date: March, 2002 List Price(USD): $15.95 |
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Title: Bringing Down the House : The Inside Story of Six MIT Students Who Took Vegas for Millions by Ben Mezrich ISBN: 0743225708 Publisher: Free Press Pub. Date: 18 September, 2002 List Price(USD): $24.00 |
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