Customer Reviews

A Treasury of Deception: Liars, Misleaders, Hoodwinkers, and the Extraordinary True Stories of History's Greatest Hoaxes, Fakes and Frauds

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Michael Farquhar has created another bathroom book for the history-loving set. This one, Treasury of Deception, is just what it's title implies and is broken down into categories and ranges from prison escapes to scientific frauds, from practical jokes to deadly hoaxes, such as the blood libel. It is a truly odd mixed bag and should be read over a long period in many small bites, although that may prove harder to do than anticipated and one may find oneself gobbling the whole thing down at once. The book is light at the right moments and more serious when required and, amazingly enough, never veers into the truly silly, which is a blessing.

I read Michael Farquhar's two other books, "A Treasury of Royal Scandals" and "A Treasury of Great American Scandals" and I loved them both. His latest book is even better than the first two. It presents many facets of deception through history in a most entertaining way. Each chapter is a different story of lies and trickery, all separated into ten thematic parts. My favorite was the hoodwinking of Hitler. Just brillant! I highly recommend this book to anyone with even the slightest interest in history or the human capacity to deceive.

I just finished reading this book and I would have given it five stars had I not read his stories about royal scandals first. It was much more shocking than this one, although this book is worth a read. I only wish it had contained more stories, and a little more of the wit Farquhar exhibited in his other writings.

I never thought I liked history (except historical romance), until I started reading Michael Farquhar. He truly makes history fun, not the dry boring stuff we had to do in school. And since I learn something when I read his books, it's just an added bonus. I too read his first two books, and I think this one is my favorite--I love hearing how historical figures tricked and hookwinked each other over time.

What I liked most about the book was the author's no nonsense style. The problem with many history books is the historian often takes a long winded way to explain facts. Michael gets straight to the point and only narrates details that are neccessary . Each story is only a few minutes long, so if you did not like one, there is another one to look forward to.

In seventy chapters organized into ten parts (themes), plus four appendices, the author does an absolutely superb job of illustrating how deception of various sorts has played (and surely continues to play) such a prominent role in human history. As is standard in this author's books, the writing style is clear, friendly, quite engaging, extremely witty and lots of fun to read. In short, the book is almost impossible to put down. This excellent book can be enjoyed by everyone, especially history buffs. Anyone who finds history a rather boring subject but is fortunate enough to read this book (or any of this author's other "Treasury" series books) is in for a rare treat and the bonus realization that reading history can be great fun.

This is a very interesting book about different frauds from around the world. Some examples from the book:

1.Nostradamus' predictions
2.Piltdown man
3.various Nazi lies and hoaxes
4.Clifford Irving's whopper of a lie when he said that he was writing a biography about Howard Hughes
5.A lady in the 1600's giving birth to rabbits
6.Various royal hoaxes dealing with pretenders to thrones
7.Boys with plenty of school spirit who got the Lincoln Museum to look purple
8.plenty other stories to keep you amused for hours.

The very first chapter, on the prophecies of Nostradamus, is worth the price of the book. Farquhar points out that Nostradamus built his prophetic reputation by making vague pronouncements so filled with symbolism that they could be interpreted to predict nearly anything. If more people read Farquhar, there'd be a lot fewer people wasting their time with other prophetic works that use the same approach, such as the book of Isaiah and the Revelation of St. John. This is something of a personal issue for me. My own father, an intelligent and talented man who could have done a lot of good in the world, spent years obsessing uselessly over these prophecies.

The rest of the book has plenty more great stories. Admittedly, Farquhar doesn't go into great detail with any of them, but so what? You can always go elsewhere to dig deeper if something interests you.

A few words to the wise. Farquhar makes skepticism fun, but don't forget that skepticism can go too far. Piltdown Man was a fraud, but the theory of evolution is not.

I have been madly recommending these books to all of my Historically inclined buddies, and some of my not-so-Historically inclined buddies, too!

Having roared my way through his other books, Michael Farquhar takes the cake with A Treasury of Deception. With his typical irreverent and comedic style (this man should create a stand-up act), Farquhar lampoons the likes of P.T. Barnum, Nostradamus and even Hitler. Big name cameos aside, this historian digs through the headlines of times long past to tell us stories of unbelievable cons and the crooks who perpetrated them - and whether the names are familiar or not, I've found myself in tears laughing.

I've read some rather scathing opinions of Mr. Farquhar's work; everything from calling him rude and callous to hollering at his "shoddy research". I'm no historian, but even if Mr. Farquhar's work was completely contrived, I would read and enjoy his book because I'M NOT READING IT FOR A HISTORY LESSON. If I get one along the way, great. If I'm worried about veracity, I can do my own research. But I'm reading this book for a laugh, and that's exactly what I'm getting.

Great book - you're really missing out if you skip this one.

Everything in this book is a pack of lies;and every story is true.What a collection of history's Lies,Misleaders,Hoodwinkers,Hoaxes,Fakes,Frauds,Scandals,Misbehaviors,Trickery,Imposters,Chincanery,Falsehoods,Ruses,Monkey Business,Practical Jokes,Deception,Duplicity,Con Men,and all of those things that have been done to snag the gullible down through the ages.It started with an apple in the Garden of Eden, and in one form or another, has continued ever since. There has never been any part of society that has been able to keep itself immune from these deceitful practitioners of this low level art.
Farquhar has given us the essence of 74 amazing instances of deceptions that have taken in people in unbelievable ways.

He has included 4 Appendices ;

I: Ten Tricksters from Scripture.

II: Ten great Liars in Literature.

III: Ten Classic Deceptions from Greek Mythology.

IV: Ten Egregious Examples of Modern Doublespeak.

Should you be so inclined to delve further into these precious dasterdly acts,he gives an extensive Bibliography which will give much more information for your reading pleasure or if so inclined,help you become an expert in this fine art.
It seems that when one sets out to deceive,it is easier to pull it off with many, rather than a few, people.While some of the great deceptions in history seemed to be a major success to the perpetrator,one should remember the words of Walter Scott;

"Oh, what a tangled web we weave,when first we practice to deceive."

While history is filled with deceptions;it is also filled with warnings about deceiving;

"Believe no tales from an enemy's tongue."

"Trust is the mother of deceit."

"He that once deceives,is ever suspected"

"To deceive a deceiver is no deceit."

"To deceive oneself is very easy."

"Deceive me once,shame on you. Deceive me twice,shame on me."

A wonderful collection of deceptions;and don't be surprised that after reading this book;that you will never again take anything for granted or at face value.