Frank W. AbagnaleRecensioni

Supposedly, a true story. I just didn’t buy it.

So readable -- I couldn't put it down. I saw the film a long time ago and didn't remember most of the cons. I love processy crime books.½

Like many people I was drawn to this book after hearing about Frank Abagnale’s story for years and having seen the movie of the same name. About halfway through listening to the book, I began to be suspicious of Abagnale’s story, so I researched the man and his supposed career impersonating everything from a teacher to a surgeon to an airline pilot. Sure enough, the more I found on the real Frank Abagnale, the more obvious it was that not only had he lied to all of the people who supposedly bought his stories as all of these professionals, but he also lied to readers of this book and to Steven Spielberg who was naive enough to make the story into a movie. You see, virtually all of this was made up by Abagnale. And if you do decide to read the story knowing this, you’ll have the same reaction I did: there is no way this guy did this stuff. So, if you happen to see this book at the library sitting on the biography/memoir shelf, tactfully grab it, take it to the circulation desk and suggest to them that they reshelve it in the fiction section. Because that’s what it is, a novel. Not a memoir.

It was definitely really good but the embellishment to the story of the movie was better I thought

I breezed through this one! It is such an entertaining autobiography.

Frank W. Abagnale began his career of cheque forgery as a teenager, and the following five years were a whirlwind of fraud, forgeries, and cons, money and women, and spur-of-the-moment (fake) career changes.

I watched the movie of the same title years ago, and I just had to watch it again as soon as I finished reading this, but I think the book is far more interesting. It contains a lot more details about a lot more cons than the movie can include. It also gives more information about his experience in prison after he was caught, and his path to his more legitimate career giving lectures on how to catch criminals like him.

This book is Frank W. Abagnale’s ghost-written memoir of his fraudulent activities from age 16 to 21 in the 1960s, primarily impersonating a pilot and cashing bad checks. It provides insights into how a con artist thinks. I have my reservations about believing the entire narrative without skepticism, as some of these episodes sound like “tall tales.” He offers no proof and there are no footnotes.

For me, this book is just ok. I would have enjoyed it more if it had not included so many demeaning references to women – it got tiresome. I am glad he turned his life around. I am also glad society has changed since the 1960s.

Besides the interesting life that Frank has lived he is much more interesting as a story teller, you feel like one of your palls tells you a great story while the both of you laugh about it.

Written in the first person, this astonishing true crime story tells of how teenaged Frank Abagnale successfully impersonated an airline pilot, a doctor, a lawyer and a college professor - all to back-stop his "career" as a bad check writer.

Frank traveled the world and accrued hundreds of thousands of dollars all before his 20th birthday.

Perpetually pursued by the FBI and other international law enforcement, Frank had many close calls and was eventually caught a few times. Often to be followed by some dramatic escapes.

The postscript tells the story of what Frank is doing now, and his non-criminal life is just as audacious and imaginative.

Made into a movie by Stephen Speilberg, with Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks.

Before I start taking apart this book for this review, I do want share that in recent years there has been some speculation on the validity of this memoir. In fact, there are sources that state the whole affair never happened. I stand somewhere in the middle – I think it is human nature to either undermine or overestimate our importance and contributions depending on our personality make-up as an individual. Every word in Abagnale‘s book screams of self-importance, and it would not surprise me in the least if much of Catch Me if You Can has been dramatized. I proceed with this review as though the book itself is simply that, a book. I’m not here to provide commentary on the validity of Abagnale‘s story.

I first came across Catch Me if You Can through the DiCaprio/Hanks film. I remember it coming out when I was younger, and I was absolutely captivated by both the stellar actors and the con man’s story. The book has been on my TBR for over a decade. I expected the same high-stakes drama but charmingly deluded personality the film offered. A lot of the events in the book do match what made it to film, and I will write a whole review comparing the two at some point. What makes the biggest difference, and what ruined the book for me, was Abagnale‘s voice.

Abagnale‘s writing style is strong, and the book flows. That’s not the problem. Rather, I spent most of Catch Me If You Can cringing at the terminology and presumptions the author made. It took nearly 100 pages before a female-identifying person was described by some other noun than that of an animal. Birds, chicks, foxes – you name it, he used it. Language is important, and from this choice, it’s evident how little respect Abagnale has for women. Maybe it’s different with his wife, but as a reader with only this book for context, it felt gross. This behavior characterizes Abagnale both as a writer and a character. The language the first pages alone tells me the author is pretentious and sexist. That tone continued for the rest of the book.

In fact, sexism is rampant in this book. It’s clear Abagnale only views women as sexual objects. He constantly uses them as pawns. Professional woman are the main non-monetary victims of his crimes He perpetually uses them for his own pleasure, targets them as easy to manipulate, and illustrates most of them as unintelligent and naïve. More than once, he blames women his mistakes and trouble. Early in the book, he claims women (excuse me – “birds”) were the reason he got into crime in the first place.

So that’s the flaw in the content. As far as technical writing, the first half of Catch Me if You Can is too slow. It is wrapped up in setting Abagnale‘s childhood and his foray into flight. The second half of the book deals with all of the rest of his other cons as well as his international trip and finally his arrests. The balance is way off, and the pacing is messy.

If the early pacing and Abagnale’s voice don’t push you away, the underlying story is interesting. This book is a genre classic if you are fascinated by white collar crime or the art of the con. You have to be really patient for the ramblings of a self-important, older cis white man to enjoy this book. It’s incredibly, stereotypically the type of book you would expect from that caricature, and it’s something between offensive and exhausting when it isn’t being entertaining. And often even when it is.

I picked this book up mainly because I had enjoyed the movie. However, the book has so much more to this story and the wild adventures Frank lived through have so much to say about how a con man can get away with the things he does as much as it does about the trusting nature of most folks.
It's a fascinating and very engaging tale!

An unexpectedly fast read. And educational too.

For instance, getting in prison should be avoided, especially in France, Italy or Spain. It might be okay in Sweden. Kidding, of course. Going to jail is pretty lame.

And there are 12 Federal Reserve Districts in US. And the meaning behind numbers.

And that the main weapon of any con man is his confidence. The second one being research and observation.

And education isn't everything.
I mean, he was a high school dropout, without university degrees. That's inspiring in its own way. The guy's got brains, I tell you!

But yes, it's harsh in its own way, which does not really influence the overall impression. I'm glad I finally read it.

Ironically I read, and finished, this book on a plane. I liked this book a lot and would have garnished a 4.5 star if good reads offered one.

Frank comes across as engaging and honest (guess that's why he's a con man) in telling his story. It was difficult for me to read the book without picturing Leonardo DiCaprio playing the role in the movie.

The book comes across more cerebral and got into much more the detail of how he did his cons.

Narrated by Jason Culp. I'm not finished listening but I already started putting some of the author's highly practical ideas into action. This is essential reading for learning how to protect one's identity and assets and avoid the terrible mess of getting scammed. I may buy a copy to have on hand for reference. Culp reads with compelling authority and urgency as this topic demands.

This book was fine. I think I would have liked it better if I hadn't already seen the movie but my graphic design teacher loves the movie so I've seen it twice in class. There were some fun stories in this book that aren't in the movie and a lot of the order of things is changed but it's essentially the same story. I wish there was a bit less about all the women he slept with. Sometimes it fed into the plot but really it just got repetitive and annoying to read. Without giving away any spoilers this also ended in a sort of weird place. Interesting read but unfortunately I already knew a lot of it.

Meh... I couldn't take it quite seriously without photographs.

Plus he was kind of a jerk.

Scary! We all hear of scams, and of identity theft, and assume it only happens to the other guy. But this book points out how easy it is to become a victim, and how some reasonable steps can protect you. It's worth the read - certainly better to be safe than sorry. Couple this with "The China Fantasy", by James Mann, which describes how many counterfeit items there are on the market, and it'll really get your attention. Caveat Emptor!

The conman, the grifter, flimflam man, con artist or just straight up hustler all have a special place in my heart. I am talking about the guys and gals on the road. Not the 419ers or the tech support types, the actual honest to god con artist.

I have always had an interest in con artist and short cons. Being involved in sleight of hand magic it goes with the territory but Frank Abagnale is a magician of the highest level.

Living a rock star lifestyle during the 60s by basically handing over bad cheques. It's a story of a man who wasn't made to be an average Joe and wanted to see the world but didn't have a penny to his name.

So he made money out of nothing. Frank is one of the most sympathetic criminals one could meet in literature. It may seem far fetched and over blown but Frank teaches us that if you have enough confidence and add a little grey matter then the world is your oyster.

Loved the story, can't wait to see the movie!!

Loved the story, can't wait to see the movie!!

Fascinating if one-sided view of a bright young man who stepped into a life of crime. I would be interested in reading/hearing O'Brien's view of the events portrayed by Abagnale in this book. After all, there are (at least) two sides to every story. There doesn't seem to be any such material available. Oh well, it was an entertaining read. Time to give the movie a re-watch.½

Amateur doctor,
and professional horndog,
full time con artist.

Well that was very entertaining! I�Ûªm not sure I believe half of it, but if even half is true it‰Ûªs still quite a tale. It was fun to go along for the ride, however exaggerated.

If you‰Ûªre not familiar with the story, in the 1960s Frank Abignale Jr went on a crime spree of amazing creativity and daring. He posed as an airline pilot, a doctor, a lawyer, and a college professor; all the while passing fraudulent checks and racking up a small fortune. Even more amazing, he pulled all this off while he was still a teenager.

The "real" Frank Abagnale as portrayed in this book was quite arrogant and a bit unlikeable. The book has a photo of him as an older man and he reminds me a bit of Henry Winkler, which is funny because young Frank has a Fonzie-like affect on women: he snaps his finger and they come running. But overall this was a quick and enjoyable read. I can‰Ûªt wait to rewatch the movie now.

The story of the master impersonator and forget that was the basis for the movie starring Leo DiCaprio. Abagnale writes like he’s channeling Mickey Spillane, but he still spins an entertaining tale. And unlike in the movie, he doesn’t sound very remorseful about his youths escapades has

Follow the adventures of Frank Abagnale Jr. as he assumes the roles of pilot, doctor, and lawyer, all before the age of 21. As a master of disguise and a brilliant forger, Abagnale charmed his way through a much more innocent time in American history, the 1960s. It was a time of trust, when people generally respected authority, bank security was lax, and people were more gullible.

Throughout his career as a con artist, the FBI was following his trail. There were many close calls; yet, Abagnale was always a step or two ahead of the law. Abagnale was both cunning and very lucky. Nevertheless, all good things must come to an end. It was only a matter of time before the FBI caught up, and Abagnale's inevitable downfall was as spectacular as his life on the run. Follow the author from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows as he gets caught in his own web of lies.

The Bottom Line: This entertaining, quick read is filled with lots of twists and turns. Abagnale's story will keep you on the edge of your seat as he cons just about everyone he meets. A life of crime just came naturally to the author, and yet there is a redemptive quality to his tale. Highly recommended for anyone interested in true crime, con artists, law enforcement, adventure, and ethical dilemmas.

For the complete review including Book Club Notes, please visit the Mini Book Bytes Book Review Blog.½

This book was inundated with similes, almost to the point that it detracted from the story. "I was as smooth as a fox" "those banks were ripe for the picking, and I was the over-eager gardener" etc. Overall though, the story was great and the cons that Frank was able to pull off were mind-boggling. Although the writing wasn't anything to write home about, the story kept me coming back for more. I don't recommend listening in audiobook (or at least the one I listened to) because it didn't include the epilogue that explained how he finally got caught--major cliffhanger!! I had to borrow the book from the library to finish the story. Recommended!