Rating: 
Summary: Not Surprising Now a Movie
Review: I read this book before I heard a movie was coming out. I am not surprised Hollywood embraced it - I am surprised it took so long (he author is no slouch at self-promotion). The book read like a bad movie in the sense that I had to constantly remind myself that it was non-fiction. The story is captivating. A nervy, overly mature teen fakes his way into Pan Am cockpits to get free rides and fake paychecks. He scams everyone from a French printer, to judges to patients and other doctors in a hospital. His exploits were amazing and humorous - hubris such as his has to be humorous.The story line (I'm not sure an autobiography can have such a thing, but this one seems to) is terrifically entertaining. The only thing that holds it back from a five star rating is the writing was merely adequate. I don't know how the movie will be, but I definitely enjoyed the book. Read it to be amazed.
Rating:
Summary: cons make pretty good authors sometimes
Review: A decent read but not long enough or detailed enough. it would have been nice to have had a pic of the guy during the period just so the reader could envision him and seek out the flaws. Frank is personable because he takes bold actions in performing his scams, where the rest of us think about them but don't carry them out.
I am always in awe of con men because they pickup on things readily visible but not so apparent to the average frank. They take these very simple observations and build up some ingenious plan that works for them (for a while anyway), in order to get money, trips around the world, and lots of chicks without a clue. Just about anyone associated with a con man in action ends up looking in the mirror and discovering just how stupid and gullible they are/were. Once someone gravitates to the monetary flash of the con man, they are pretty much lost and have no one really to blame, but them their self.
And, I have known a few cons and they are really likeable people usually (just keep the money out of sight, and key information hidden away). Most would make above par salesmen; after all, that what a con is: a presentation and a sale. Of course, to get the most out of this book, follow up with The Art of the Steal, just to glimpse simple things we all overlook; all of except cons named Frank.
Rating: 
Summary: Hits close to home!
Review: This incredible story is fast paced, well written, and exciting. Despite the fact that this person's activities were totally illegal, he still managed to make the reader feel captivated by him.
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting, but pointless
Review: Despite the great begining, Frank W. Abagnale & Stan Redding's 'Catch Me If You Can' becomes a big 'what so?' after a few chapters. While they are telling how Frank became the most wanted con is funny and interesting to learn how fragile the system is. But when they tell over and over again the same thing-- how he forged checks and pretended to be a Pan Am pilot-- the books becomes boring. In the middle of my reading I got me thinking 'Why am I reading this?'. I mean it is not even entertaining me. But I went on until the last pages thinking that anything really big would happen. But it didn't. The book left me with the feeling that someone up there loves Frank W. Abagnale more than other mortals, because this guy is so lucky that it is almost impossible to believe. I think the movie may be better, once it gets a 'story' from the book, and not only chronicle Frank's adventures.
Rating: 
Summary: Movie was MUCH better!
Review: I loved the movie, it inspired me to stop at the bookstore on the way home and buy the book. However, it read like a penthouse forum letter! (Not that I have much experience reading those...but, anyway!) It should have been called "Catch an STD from me! I got a lot of sex from foxes", he used the word foxes a lot in the book while refering to women. It just felt like he was a very insecure person, he needed to reiterate time and again how tall he was, how handsome he was, and how much he scored. But, he was a criminal, and most criminals are insecure. The movie I give 5 stars, it is very different from the book. I read the book in a day, so, it did hold my, if only to see if his writing could possibly get worse.
Rating:
Summary: Good film, Great book
Review: How did a teenager steal over 2.5 million dollars without getting caught? The answer is in the entertaining, imformative, and at times hilarious book from the master con-artist Frank Abagnale Jr. I reccomend Abagnale's book for anyone who likes a good true story and has a few hours to spare for some great reading.
The movie is worth viewing too. But, as the author reveals in an interview at the end of the book, the film is not completely accurate and is "Hollywoodized" in certain scenes. Abagnale, according to himself, actually conned more people, banks, airlines, and ladies than the film portrays. At the completion of this book I felt not only better prepared to become a con-artist myself, but to also aid in their capture as well.
Rating:
Summary: Engaging
Review: A charming, likeable con man you root for? Frank Abagnale IS that guy. Amazing to believe he got away with what he did (airline pilot, doctor, lawyer etc.) at a time in life when most kids are still trying to figure out what to major in. Even more amazing is how he turned everything around as an adult. Fast, enjoyable read.
If you like this kind of likeable, conniving character, you may also like "No One's Even Bleeding" & "Delano".
Rating:
Summary: More thrilling than the Movie!
Review: Catch Me If You Can is Frank Abagnale's account of his life as a con man. If you've seen the movie, you only know half of the things Frank did. His book is thrilling, incredible, and true. At the age of 16, Frank ran away from home; his parents were separating and he just took off for New York City. In the 60s, air travel was rare and glamorous; airline pilots and stewardesses were considered by many to lead exciting and jet-setting lives. Frank, armed with supreme confidence, charm, and intelligence, successfully posed as an airline pilot, attorney (he even passed the bar!), a physician, and a college professor, while living the good life with millions of dollars he got from passing bad checks in over 20 countries; and all of this before he was twenty-one years of age. Frank's wild exploits are told in a humerous, quick-paced style that is very readable. The joy he found in living the high life and romancing countless ladies around the world is matched by the the utter despair he faced in a brutal French prison where he was entombed in solitary confinement, in total darkness, unclothed, for months. It's clear that Frank knew he was doing wrong, but was so addicted to the high he got from conning that he couldn't (and didn't want to) stop. The fantastic things that are shown in the film are only a few of his capers. That he is now a respected authority on counterfeiting and, in fact, teaches at the FBI Academy is evidence that Frank can do anything he wants to. This is a very exciting and enjoyable book!
Rating:
Summary: What a read but some questions
Review: So many people already expressed their praises of the book, and there is no need to repeat them. I have some questions after reading this book. 1. In the subsequent several decades as a family man living on this side of the law, how did he control the urge to impost and con? Did he get lengthy psychiatric counselling or is his wife a counseller? Though he was very lovable for a limited time, he still exhibited many characteristics of a borderline personality traits making it difficult for him to function in a 'stay put' life style. How did he overcome his shortcomings? 2. Would he ever write a sequel to tell us how he settled down, what he thinks of women after he married his wife, what prices he still pays and how he treated his personality problems? It may not be a fast read and a Hollywood type book, nonetheless intriguing. 3. Would love to read a book written by Mr. O'Reiley about the chase of Frank from FBI point of view.
Rating:
Summary: LIKED THE BOOK- NOT THE AUTHOR
Review: This was a hard review to write. I like the book. It had me hooked. And if you see the movie, the book is a must-read. It fills in a lot of spaces. But...
I hate the author. This guy gives new meaning to the word pompous. He's a scam artist and he's pulling a con job on the reader. He's trying to make us like him. He almost succeeded with me. But hey, hold on, wait a minute- this spoiled kid scammed his own father. He scammed ordinary citizens with one of his bank robbing schemes- not the big businesses or banks- but ordinary people. I don't like this pompous jerk one bit. I wish I could give this book a one star rating- but I can't. It's a fascinating story and the author is a fascinating guy. He's also evil. This guy tells a story- glamourizes it- gloats a lot- then throws in the obligiatory "but I was wrong"- but not often enough and a little too late. Recent interviews show us that the author now runs a successful business teaching businesses how to avoid falling prey to the type of cons he used to perpetuate. He mentions how he regrets the past. That is after he once again tells about it. Yeah, right, Frank. You regret it when it costs you a client. Then you regret it. Not before. Not after. He tells of the one girl he had to tell the truth to. She fell in love with one of his persona's and he couldn't perpetuate the con. So he told her. And she "betrayed" him by turning him in. Hey Frank, you stupid moron- you betrayed her!!! He goes on to lament that now he can't trust anyone. Hey imbecile, you got it backwards, no one can trust you!! Remember? Idiot! Frank is a jerk. An arrogant, selfish, spoiled jerk. He wants our respect.
I won't give it to him. But I will heartily reccomend this book. It is a good read. It also, upon careful examination, id testimony to the fact that Frank is the most supremely arrogant individual you are ever likely to meet. In print. On film. In person. Anywhere.
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