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Summary and Reviews of Catch Me If You Can by Frank Abagnale

Catch Me If You Can by Frank W. Abagnale

Catch Me If You Can

by Frank W. Abagnale
  • Critics' Consensus (5):
  • Readers' Rating (4):
  • Paperback:
  • Aug 2000, 304 pages
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About This Book

Book Summary

The uproarious, bestselling true story of the world's most sought-after con man - an irresistible tale of deceit.

Frank W. Abagnale, alias Frank Williams, Robert Conrad, Frank Adams, and Robert Monjo, was one of the most daring con men, forgers, imposters, and escape artists in history.  In his brief but notorious criminal career, Abagnale donned a pilot's uniform and copiloted a Pan Am jet, masqueraded as the supervising resident of a hospital, practiced law without a license, passed himself off as a college sociology professor, and cashed over $2.5 million in forged checks, all before he was twenty-one. Known by the police of twenty-six foreign countries and all fifty states as "The Skywayman," Abagnale lived a sumptuous life on the lam--until the law caught up with him.  Now recognized as the nation's leading authority on financial foul play, Abagnale is a charming rogue whose hilarious, stranger-than-fiction international escapades, and ingenious escapes-including one from an airplane--make Catch Me If You Can an irresistible tale of deceit.

The uproarious, bestselling true story of the world's most sought-after con man.

"I stole every nickel and blew it on fine threads, luxurious lodgings, fantastic foxes, and other sensual goodies.  I partied in every capital in Europe and basked on all the world's most famous beaches."

Chapter 1
THE FLEDGLING

A MAN'S ALTER EGO is nothing more than his favorite image of himself. The mirror in my room in the Windsor Hotel in Paris reflected my favorite image of me--a darkly handsome young airline pilot, smooth-skinned, bull-shouldered and immaculately groomed. Modesty is not one of my virtues. At the time, virtue was not one of my virtues.

Satisfied with my appearance, I picked up my bag, left the room and two minutes later was standing in front of the cashier's cage.

"Good morning, Captain," said the cashier in warm tones. The markings on my uniform identified me as a first officer, a co-pilot, but the French are like that. They tend to overestimate everything save their women, wine and art.

I signed the hotel bill she slid across the counter, started to turn away, then wheeled back, taking a payroll check from the inside pocket of my jacket. "Oh, can you cash this for me? Your Paris night life nearly wiped me out and it'll be ...

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Reviews

Media Reviews

Houston Chronicle
Irresistable!...touches that current of larceny that lies within all of us.

Charlottesville Progress
Whatever the reader may think of his crimes, the reader will wind up chortling with and cheering along the criminal.

Entertainment Weekly - Chris Nashawaty
Oddly enough, despite all of Abagnale's high-wire feats, the most thrilling accomplishment of Catch Me if You Can isn't the ease with which Abagnale peddled his snake oil or the millions he spent living the fat life...No, the book's ultimate rush is how complicit Abagnale makes you in his sin. You're rooting for a man who would no sooner look at you than see your face as a giant lollipop with the word sucker printed on it. And why not? After all, these days, a criminal this good is hard to find.

West Coast Review of Books
A book that captivates from first page to last.

Kirkus Reviews
Zingingly told... richly detailed and winning as the devil.

Reader Reviews

colombiano

this book is awsome
this book is one of the best books that i have ever read, ity has action, mystery, adventure and it has one character that makes use of very different personalities, this book is very good, and i recommend that if ur looking for a good book you ...   Read More
Lynn

I loved this book!
Scott Dozier

Great book that you will enjoy. Has its own little twist to it also
Morgan

This book is amazing. Frank is so interesting and it was amazing to hear the inside story. The book is far better than the movie.

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Read-Alikes

Read-Alikes Full readalike results are for members only

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