Rating: 
Summary: Perfect for teens
Review: "Urban Legends" by Richard Roeper is a light read perfect for a teen audience. This book touches on most of the common urban legends, the welcome to the world of AIDS urban legend, whether Tupac is really dead, Tommy Hilfiger on Oprah and other urban legends that have been rehashed over time. The book dispells what is truth and what is fiction. Overall though this book doesn't really tell readers what can't be found on the Internet or in other books. It's an entertaining book.
Rating:
Summary: Too many entertainment-world rumors
Review: "Urban Legends" is entertaining but ultimately tedious, with far too much focus on celebrity gossip and rumors. For example, three pages are devoted to the fascinating question of who the "You" is in Alanis Morissette's "You Oughta Know." The author offers his own speculation, and we are treated to ruminations by fans and Internet posters, but we are left in the dark as to why this merits a place in a book on urban legends. Maybe there are urban legends that explain why popular musicians like Phil Collins and the members of Pink Floyd are regarded as geniuses in the journalistic world, on the Internet, and wherever else high school lives forever. Two and a half stars for an excellent selection of Internet, campus, and computer-tech legends, not to mention a badly-needed expose of the deathless "Bozo No-No" legend. (I was told this had happened on local television in Toledo, Ohio. Not.) Minus the same amount for the remaining fluff.
Rating:
Summary: Good collection, but most stories recycled
Review: Being a fan of urban legends, I picked this one up immediately. Although a good collection of stories, I found that many of the legends presented were found in the much-suggested series of books by folklorist Jan Brunvand. If you like UL's, definately pick them up.This book did introduce some modern legends that were welcomed, such as the Richard Gere gerbil story (always wanted to hear more about that one) and the good ole Wizard of Oz legends. Overall, not a bad book. Pick this one up if you can't find "Vanishing Hitchhiker" or "Curses! Broiled Again"
Rating:
Summary: Interesting, but needs more depth
Review: I love Richard Roeper's columns, and his commentary on the local Fox channel, but this book left me with an empty feeling. While interesting, I would have liked to have more of the cultural and social background to the urban myths, how they got started, and why they continue to go around. This book doesn't stand up to the more complete research and background in things like The Straight Dope columns and books.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent Book!
Review: I really enjoyed this book. It was very entertaining and informative. I didn't know a lot about the subject matter, and it was amazing how many of the ULs I'd heard growing up and didn't know if they were true or not. Good reference if you want to give proof to some of those die-hard UL believers (like my hubby who still "insists" that he saw the ghost of a little girl in Three Men and a Baby!) I definatly recomment this book!
Rating: 
Summary: Finally the truth is revealed!
Review: If you have ever questioned the truth of any story that begins with "A friend of a friend told me...." then this is the book for you. What sets this book apart from other collections of urban legends, is Roeper's investigations of the facts behind the stories. Every legend in the book has been carefully researched and although it comes as no surprise that most of these rumors have no basis in fact, it is neat to see how urban legands can become public relations nightmares! This is a great way to pass the time while you are waiting for a check from Bill Gates after you have tested his e-mail tracking program.
Rating:
Summary: History Is Myth....Or....?
Review: In this book there are many of those Urban Legends that we've heard of that have been circulating since we can remember. And, there are also many tales that we haven't heard of. Today we get most of these myths via email, but before email came to be, I remember hearing...."this happened....I heard that....so-and-so said....did you know that....?" And beyond the humor, are the effects these tall-tales can have on the people and places they're about. Many of these "alleged" rumors were followed up in the form of questions from journalists during media interviews. Often, the media will investigate a rumor (urban myth) to see if there is any merit to it. Once debunked as false however, the rumor lives on in peoples' minds. HIV positive Hyperdermic needles left in the coin returns of pay phones. Those unfortunate people who went out on the town to wake up in hotel bathtub filled with ice, and a note left to call the Doctor because their Kidney had been removed. And what's to that gerbil rumor involving a celebrity we all know? Well, that's false too. That particular myth has been tagged on other celebrities going back to the 70s. Who started these tales? When? How did they get spread?
In addition to listing and describing these interesting myths, Roeper notes of the origins, means and methods of their growth, and the current believability status of many of them. Good coffee table book. It'll occupy some of the folks you'll bring over.
Rating:
Summary: History Is Myth....Or....?
Review: In this book there are many of those Urban Legends that we've heard of that have been circulating since we can remember. And, there are also many tales that we haven't heard of. Today we get most of these myths via email, but before email came to be, I remember hearing...."this happened....I heard that....so-and-so said....did you know that....?" And beyond the humor, are the effects these tall-tales can have on the people and places they're about. Many of these "alleged" rumors were followed up in the form of questions from journalists during media interviews. Often, the media will investigate a rumor (urban myth) to see if there is any merit to it. Once debunked as false however, the rumor lives on in peoples' minds. HIV positive Hyperdermic needles left in the coin returns of pay phones. Those unfortunate people who went out on the town to wake up in hotel bathtub filled with ice, and a note left to call the Doctor because their Kidney had been removed. And what's to that gerbil rumor involving a celebrity we all know? Well, that's false too. That particular myth has been tagged on other celebrities going back to the 70s. Who started these tales? When? How did they get spread?
In addition to listing and describing these interesting myths, Roeper notes of the origins, means and methods of their growth, and the current believability status of many of them. Good coffee table book. It'll occupy some of the folks you'll bring over.
Rating:
Summary: pretty good
Review: overall i like jan harold burnvard ul boks are better but richard roper comes off pretty well. he tends to focus more on famous people legendrs than the classic. however urabn legend experts or novices can both enjoy this book.
Rating:
Summary: Great fun and an enlightening expose of a host of hoaxes.
Review: Rich Roeper has done a thoroughly entertaining and very meticulous job of dispelling some of the great urban legends of our time. From the Craig Shergold business-card hoaxes to the rumors of thousands available from Disney and Bill Gates via the internet, to some of our favorite and most-hallowed backstreet Hollywood stories, Roeper takes 'em on and takes 'em down. In addition, Roeper's singularly amusing and inclusive writing style makes his deconstructions of these myths just plain fun to read. Terrific bedside reading and delightful from start to finish.
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