A Treasury of Deception: Liars, Misleaders, Hoodwinkers, and the Extraordinary True Stories of History's Greatest Hoaxes, Fakes and Frauds | 
 enlarge | Author: Michael Farquhar
Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics)
Category: Book
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Avg. Customer Rating:  9 reviews
Sales Rank: 11331
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 320
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.5
Dimensions (in): 7.9 x 5.2 x 0.8
ISBN: 0143035444
Dewey Decimal Number: 001.95
EAN: 9780143035442
ASIN: 0143035444
Publication Date: May 31, 2005
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
We may say that honesty is the best policy, but historyto say nothing of business, politics, and the mediasuggests otherwise. In this infinitely citable book, the author of two bestselling treasuries of scandal recounts some of the greatest deceptions of all time. With what forged document did the Vatican lay claim to much of Europe? Who wrote Hitlers diaries? Why do millions still believe the vague doggerel that Nostradamus passed off as prophecy? Organizing his material by theme (con artists, the press, military trickery, scientific fraud, imposters, great escapes, and more), Michael Farquhar takes in everything from the hoodwinking of Hitler to Vincent the Chin Gigantes thirty-year crazy act. A Treasury of Deception is a zestful, gossipy exposeand celebrationof mendacity. A Treasury of Deception also includes:
Ten tricksters from scripture
Ten great liars in literature
Ten egregious examples of modern American doublespeak
Ten classic deceptions from Greek mythology
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| Customer Reviews: Read 4 more reviews...
Absorbing June 5, 2008
What I liked most about the book was the author's no nonsense style. The problem with many history books is the historian often takes a long winded way to explain facts. Michael gets straight to the point and only narrates details that are neccessary . Each story is only a few minutes long, so if you did not like one, there is another one to look forward to.
Deception Throughout History January 16, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
In seventy chapters organized into ten parts (themes), plus four appendices, the author does an absolutely superb job of illustrating how deception of various sorts has played (and surely continues to play) such a prominent role in human history. As is standard in this author's books, the writing style is clear, friendly, quite engaging, extremely witty and lots of fun to read. In short, the book is almost impossible to put down. This excellent book can be enjoyed by everyone, especially history buffs. Anyone who finds history a rather boring subject but is fortunate enough to read this book (or any of this author's other "Treasury" series books) is in for a rare treat and the bonus realization that reading history can be great fun.
Great Book about Frauds April 19, 2007
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
This is a very interesting book about different frauds from around the world. Some examples from the book:
1.Nostradamus' predictions
2.Piltdown man
3.various Nazi lies and hoaxes
4.Clifford Irving's whopper of a lie when he said that he was writing a biography about Howard Hughes
5.A lady in the 1600's giving birth to rabbits
6.Various royal hoaxes dealing with pretenders to thrones
7.Boys with plenty of school spirit who got the Lincoln Museum to look purple
8.plenty other stories to keep you amused for hours.
"...he who seeks to deceive will always find someone who will allow himself to be deceived." ..Machiavelli January 16, 2007
4 out of 7 found this review helpful
Everything in this book is a pack of lies;and every story is true.What a collection of history's Lies,Misleaders,Hoodwinkers,Hoaxes,Fakes,Frauds,Scandals,Misbehaviors,Trickery,Imposters,Chincanery,Falsehoods,Ruses,Monkey Business,Practical Jokes,Deception,Duplicity,Con Men,and all of those things that have been done to snag the gullible down through the ages.It started with an apple in the Garden of Eden, and in one form or another, has continued ever since. There has never been any part of society that has been able to keep itself immune from these deceitful practitioners of this low level art.
Farquhar has given us the essence of 74 amazing instances of deceptions that have taken in people in unbelievable ways.
He has included 4 Appendices ;
I: Ten Tricksters from Scripture.
II: Ten great Liars in Literature.
III: Ten Classic Deceptions from Greek Mythology.
IV: Ten Egregious Examples of Modern Doublespeak.
Should you be so inclined to delve further into these precious dasterdly acts,he gives an extensive Bibliography which will give much more information for your reading pleasure or if so inclined,help you become an expert in this fine art.
It seems that when one sets out to deceive,it is easier to pull it off with many, rather than a few, people.While some of the great deceptions in history seemed to be a major success to the perpetrator,one should remember the words of Walter Scott;
"Oh, what a tangled web we weave,when first we practice to deceive."
While history is filled with deceptions;it is also filled with warnings about deceiving;
"Believe no tales from an enemy's tongue."
"Trust is the mother of deceit."
"He that once deceives,is ever suspected"
"To deceive a deceiver is no deceit."
"To deceive oneself is very easy."
"Deceive me once,shame on you. Deceive me twice,shame on me."
A wonderful collection of deceptions;and don't be surprised that after reading this book;that you will never again take anything for granted or at face value.
Fun with skepticism February 3, 2006
10 out of 14 found this review helpful
The very first chapter, on the prophecies of Nostradamus, is worth the price of the book. Farquhar points out that Nostradamus built his prophetic reputation by making vague pronouncements so filled with symbolism that they could be interpreted to predict nearly anything. If more people read Farquhar, there'd be a lot fewer people wasting their time with other prophetic works that use the same approach, such as the book of Isaiah and the Revelation of St. John. This is something of a personal issue for me. My own father, an intelligent and talented man who could have done a lot of good in the world, spent years obsessing uselessly over these prophecies.
The rest of the book has plenty more great stories. Admittedly, Farquhar doesn't go into great detail with any of them, but so what? You can always go elsewhere to dig deeper if something interests you.
A few words to the wise. Farquhar makes skepticism fun, but don't forget that skepticism can go too far. Piltdown Man was a fraud, but the theory of evolution is not.
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