History S Greatest Deceptions

With no little skill and imaginative flair, History's Greatest Deceptions chronicles the 50 most remarkable tales of fraud and forgery.

We may say that honesty is the best policy, but history—to say nothing of business, politics, and the media—suggests 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 Hitler’s 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” Gigante’s thirty-year crazy act. A Treasury of Deception is a zestful, gossipy exposé—and celebration—of 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

We may say that honesty is the best policy, but history—to say nothing of business, politics, and the media—suggests 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 Hitler’s 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” Gigante’s thirty-year crazy act. A Treasury of Deception is a zestful, gossipy exposé—and celebration—of 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

The world is a façade where almost everything you think you know is a lie. We are in a fallen state, exiled from ourselves, lost in a maze of manipulation. To escape the maze, we must find the essential truths of our human condition. Underneath the neurosis and conditioning, our true self sees through the traps, deceptions, and manipulations. Global catastrophe heralds the birth of every new age as old systems tighten their sphere of control. Fraudulent religions, science, governments, education, media, military, economy, and medical fields are controlling the world. We are caught in a web of delusion on a worldwide scale. Science is not exploring the spiritual side of the universe, and religions have deceived us. Many highly advanced technologies are interfering with our spiritual growth. Some have the capability of destroying life on earth. The world must awaken or humanity will not survive. The Greatest Deception will set your heart on fire with the Eternal Flame of Truth. Follow it with passion and courage, and be free.

Throughout history, there have always been fraudsters and tricksters ready and willing to part people and their money with smooth talking and tall tales, but the first formally recorded “confidence trick” was uniquely American in its origins and set the bar for both simplicity and sheer guts, both hallmarks of the most successful frauds ever perpetrated. From the ancient Egyptians to the modern era, join the authors as they take you on a romp throughout 4000 years of human history to reveal the tricks and schemes that were perfected by colorful characters throughout the ages. Using humor, and wit, the authors paint a tapestry of deception and subterfuge perpetrated by the brilliant minds of each era.

In the tradition of bestselling books like The Devil in the White City and The Man in the Rockefeller Suit, Empire of Deception combines investigative journalism and captivating storytelling to examine one of the greatest con men of the twentieth century It was a time of unregulated madness. And nowhere was it more mad than in Chicago at the dawn of the Roaring Twenties. Speakeasies thrived, gang war shootings announced Al Capone's rise to underworld domination, Chicago's corrupt political leaders fraternized with gangsters and the frenzy of stock market gambling was rampant. Enter a slick, smooth-talking, charismatic lawyer named Leo Koretz, who enticed hundreds of people to invest as much as $30 million—upwards of $400 million today—in phantom timberland and non-existent oil wells in Panama. When Leo's scheme finally collapsed in 1923, he vanished, and the Chicago state's attorney, a man whose lust for power equalled Leo's own lust for money, began an international manhunt that lasted almost a year. When finally apprehended, Leo was living a life of luxury in Nova Scotia under the assumed identity of a book dealer and literary critic. His mysterious death in a Chicago prison topped anything in his almost-too-bizarre-to-believe life. Empire of Deception is not only an incredibly rich and detailed account of a man and an era; it is a fascinating look at the methods of swindlers throughout history. Leo Koretz was the Bernie Madoff of his day, and Dean Jobb shows us that the dream of easy wealth is a timeless commodity.

Presents a comprehensive collection of true stories involving some of the world's most famous forgeries, scams, and fakes including the alleged "Hitler diaries," art forgeries, and much more.