Books like Catch me if you can by Frank W. Abagnale

The Crucible is a play by Arthur Miller that dramatizes the Salem witch trials of 1692-1693, reflecting on McCarthyism and American history through allegory.

Maya Angelou's autobiography, 'I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings', tells the story of her life and the challenges she faced growing up in Arkansas, including racism, abuse, and the loss of her father. The book is a powerful and moving portrayal of the African American experience during the 1930s and 1940s.

Ishmael Beah’s memoir chronicles his harrowing journey from a nine‑year‑old rebel fighter in Sierra Leone’s civil war to a survivor rehabilitated by UNICEF and later a storyteller traveling the United States.

Richard Wright’s autobiographical memoir chronicles his growth from childhood to adulthood while confronting the harsh realities of segregation in the Jim Crow South.

Kevin Mitnick, once the world’s most notorious hacker, shares insider insights on social engineering and how human weaknesses can undermine even the strongest technical defenses.

A biography of Oleg Gordievsky, the Soviet double‑agent who, while working undercover in the KGB, supplied MI6 with critical intelligence that accelerated the collapse of the Cold War.

A candid memoir of Lori Gottlieb’s teenage battle with anorexia nervosa, revisiting her 1970s diary to reveal the loneliness, family dynamics, and societal pressures that drove her dieting obsession.

A true story of MIT students who built a famed Las Vegas gambling syndicate, turning academic theory into lucrative card‑sharpening exploits.

A moving non‑fiction account of Richard B. Pelzer’s abusive childhood, detailing his family’s hidden violence and his eventual liberation.

Maya Angelou's heart journey into the heart of New York City, Harlem, and Martin Luther King's movement, filled with unforgettable vignettes and poignant moments of her tumultuous life and relationships.

The autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr. presents King's own words—letters, diaries, recordings—edited by Dr. Clayborne Carson, offering a vivid portrait of the civil‑rights leader and the era he shaped.

Maria Konnikova dissects the mind of con artists, uncovering motives, tactics, and the patterns that keep them successful—and how these tactics exploit human psychology.

Maria Konnikova swaps academic insights for high‑stakes Texas Hold‑Em, learning how to separate control from chance under the guidance of Poker Hall of Fame legend Erik Seidel.

A fool and his money are soon parted, so the saying goes. And if the job is done right, the fool doesn't even realize it's happened until the wily con artist has moved on to the next victim or the next town. In this entertaining and eye-opening book, dennis m. Marlock, a retired cop and chairman of the board for the international law enforcement organization professionals against confidence crime, takes the reader into the mind and greedy heart of the con man. You'll learn the mechanics behind famous swindles such as the pigeon drop, the jamaican switch, bank-examiner schemes, three-card monte and even fortune-telling. You'll find out why a good scam artist rarely gets caught and, if he does, how he gets away with the lightest punishment or no punishment at all. If you've ever read a news story about a sucker getting taken and wondered how he could have fallen for that, you need to read this book before an honest-faced stranger offers you a deal too good to pass up.

Through ten nonfiction case studies, this book traces the fascinating psychology behind some of history’s most notorious impostors and fraudsters, from 19th‑century deceptions to modern-day cons.

The world--famous former con artist and bestselling author of Catch Me if You Can now reveals the mind--boggling tricks of the scam trade--with advice that has made him one of America's most sought--after fraud--prevention experts."I had as much knowledge as any man alive concerning the mechanics of forgery, check swindling, counterfeiting, and other similar crimes. Ever since I'd been released from prison, I'd often felt that if I directed this knowledge into the right channels, I could help people a great deal. Every time I went to the store and wrote a check, I would see two or three mistakes made on the part of the clerk or cashier, mistakes that a flimflam artist would take advantage of. . . . In a certain sense, I'm still a con artist. I'm just putting down a positive con these days, as opposed to the negative con I used in the past. I've merely redirected the talents I've always possessed. I've applied the same relentless attention to working on stopping fraud that I once applied to perpetuating fraud."In Catch Me if You Can, Frank W. Abagnale recounted his youthful career as a master imposter and forger. In The Art of the Steal, Abagnale tells the remarkable story of how he parlayed his knowledge of cons and scams into a successful career as a consultant on preventing financial foul play--while showing you how to identify and outsmart perpetrators of fraud.Technology may have made it easier to track down criminals, but cyberspace has spawned a skyrocketing number of ways to commit crime--much of it untraceable. Businesses are estimated to lose an unprecedented $400 billion a year from fraud of one sort or another. If we were able to do away with fraud for just two years, we'd erase the national debt and pay Social Security for the next one hundred years. However, Abagnale has discovered that punishment for committing fraud, much less recovery of stolen funds, seldom happens: Once you're a victim, you won't get your money back. Prevention is the best form of protection. Drawn from his twenty-five years of experience as an ingenious con artist (whose check scams alone mounted to more than $2 million in stolen funds), Abagnale's The Art of the Steal provides eye-opening stories of true scams, with tips on how they can be prevented. Abagnale takes you deep inside the world and mind of the con artist, showing you just how he pulled off his scams and what you can do to avoid becoming the next victim. You'll hear the stories of notorious swindles, like the mustard squirter trick and the "rock in the box" ploy, and meet the criminals like the famous Vickers Gang who perpetrated them. You'll find out why crooks wash checks and iron credit cards and why a thief brings glue with him to the ATM. And finally, you'll learn how to recognize a bogus check or a counterfeit bill, and why you shouldn't write your grocery list on a deposit slip.A revealing look inside the predatory criminal mind from a former master of the con, The Art of the Steal is the ultimate defense against even the craftiest crook.From the Hardcover edition.

June Jordan’s memoir traces a gifted African‑American girl’s childhood in Harlem and Brooklyn, exploring how her immigrant parents’ sacrifices and her own artistic drive shaped her identity as a poet and social activist.

A Teenager's Journey chronicles Richard B. Pelzer’s struggle with childhood abuse, substance use, and suicide as he seeks independence and healing in adolescence, ultimately finding hope through a supportive surrogate family.

A memoir recounting Luis J. Rodriguez's experiences as a member of a street gang in Los Angeles.

A heartfelt young‑adult narrative that follows a Cherokee boy’s growth, weaving family ties, cultural tradition, and personal discovery against a historical backdrop of North American Indians.

Chris Crutcher, author of young adult novels, shares his experiences growing up in Cascade, Idaho.

Frank Abagnale’s insider guide reveals how identity thieves operate and gives readers practical steps—such as monitoring credit, protecting personal data, and restricting online access—to defend against the pervasive threat of identity theft.