Rating: 
Summary: a heart-racer!
Review: One of the most intriguing moments of this autobiography comes in the first few pages of the book. When asked why he used his dad's Mobil card in order to steal money, he responds, "It's the girls, dad. They do funny things to me. I can't explain it." The first chapter prepares the reader for the rest of the book by giving the implication that Abagnale's crimes were committed because of his out-of-control obsession with women. And not only that, but he committed crimes only because he wanted to see how much he could get away with.This is a tale of America's "youngest and most daring con man in the history of fun and profit," a man who got away with absolutely everything before he was finally caught. The reader is brought into Abagnale's childhood and how he grew up, and follows his life in the years after he ran away from home and began his life as a criminal. The way Abagnale wrote the events as they happened is witty, charming, and has you rooting for the bad guy! The 293 pages go quick as you jump from airplane cockpits, to classrooms, to courtrooms, to hospitals, and back to the beginning again. Your head spins as you read on and find out just what he gets away with, right until the very last page.
Rating:
Summary: Unabashed. Brazen. Ballsy.
Review: This book was like a wild ride. Frank Abagnale leaves home as a teenager and embarks on the life of a con-man, but he does it with such style and finesse it's hard to believe this is a factual account of events. He impersonates a co-pilot, a lawyer, a doctor and a college professor amongst other things just to enhance his check scams. And even though he is a felon, you just can't help rooting for him. The action in this book moves very fast, so it is a light and entertaining read.
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.
Rating: 
Summary: The Pretender Meets Milken!
Review: What a terrifically humourous book about real crime. Now, that in itself is an unusual statement. This is not crime as in, well, In Cold Blood. It's more like The Pretender from T.V. meets junk bond scammer Michael Milken. Twenty years ago author and central chameleon character, Frank Abagnale, was not only a criminal but a New York Times bestselling author. Along with an upcoming movie, this true life adventure story is being re-released. This daring con man divulges everything from forgery of over $2.5 mil in checks, to being a pseudo-pilot for Pan Am, a sociology college professor, supervising doctor, everything but an Indian Chief--maybe that too if monies were involved. For five years his ego lead him around the world as Frank Abagnale aka Robert Conrad, Frank Adams and Robert Monjo. Maybe even more. Playing up life as if he owned the secrets of the Universe. You just have to admire a guy like that. Rather the way you pull for the fictional characters, Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid. Only Frank lives-to now help the Government prevent the type of fraud and debunking our modern day bandit loved to pull off. This is just a great rollicking read & I await the movie with much anticipation. other reading suggestion: "The Millionaire-Story of John Law" by Gleeson Thanks for your interest & comment votes--CDS
Rating:
Summary: OH..MY..GOD! + read the anecdote
Review: You've seen the movie? Now then, read the book and discover the real thing was far more exciting! Like many I envy this man for his cleverness. The book is an easy read for non-english readers.
Anecdote: I'm from Belgium. The funny things is I've read this book during a 3 week trip to the US. Half way I noticed he had stayed in the exact same motel where I had been a week before I actually read that part.
Anyway, you HAVE to read this to understand what a great conman he was.
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