She arms her readers with a vocabulary and working outline of what happens when we are the unconscious targets of a swindler. This book is a follow up to her first work, a book about how to think like sherlock holmes and will very much appeal to malco...  Read More

Maria konnikova, phd is a psychologist and gifted writer. She has written a book on con artists and their tactics. The book is written in a straightforward and accessible style.

We all have a need to be liked and trust is a part of the bonding process. Grifter sets the stage for a theatrical performance by choosing the most vulnerable situation to hit a mark.

I was conned. The author gives either no, or very minimal, citations to the research she described. The stories of the actual con artists are interesting but her analyses are so simplistic and repetitive.

I seriously doubt the vips who wrote those glowing blurbs actually read this book. It's such an interesting topic but the writing style makes it a bore.

I agree with other commentators that said that 303 page opus could be expressed in a 20 page or less op ed piece. The writing is all over the place.