First published 2016
Maria Konnikova investigates the psychology behind history's greatest con artists and their victims. The journalist and psychologist examines figures like Bernie Madoff, Jim Bakker, and Lance Armstrong to understand how these master manipulators operate. She explores both massive Ponzi schemes and everyday frauds to reveal the common patterns that make cons successful. Konnikova draws on scientific research and psychological insights to explain why people fall for deception repeatedly. The book analyzes the relationship between con artists and their targets, showing how skilled manipulators exploit trust and reshape our perception of reality. Readers gain insight into the mechanics of persuasion and the vulnerabilities that make anyone susceptible to fraud.
Genres: psychology, non-fiction, 21st-century, academic
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: unreliable-narrator
352 pages · Hardcover · Viking