Maria Konnikova was born in Moscow and grew up in the United States. Her first book, Mastermind, was a New York Times bestseller. She is a contributing writer for The New Yorker, where she writes a regular column with a focus on psychology and culture, and her writing has appeared in The Atlantic, The New York Times, Scientific American MIND and The Smithsonian, among numerous other publications.
A fascinating look at the psychology behind every hustle
* * Economist * *
The story of the con artist may be unmatched for combining human
interest with insight into human nature, and star psychology writer
Maria Konnikova explains their wiles to us with her characteristic
clarity, flair and depth
*STEVEN PINKER*
Remarkable . . . The Confidence Game will widen your eyes and
sharpen your mind
*DANIEL H. PINK*
In a world of pseudoscience, Maria Konnikova's calm rationality is
comforting and smart
*JON RONSON*
As an invaluable resource for understanding the conditions that
create the scammer, the mechanics of the scam and the inherent
vulnerability of the mark, The Confidence Game should be required
reading . . . Given the current state of democracies around the
globe, it should also be a prerequisite for voting
* * Times Literary Supplement * *
If you liked Malcolm Gladwell's Blink, you'll love this lucid and
revelatory look into our oh-so-susceptible selves
* * author of The Devil in the White City * *
Fascinating stories of some fantastically elaborate cons
* * Spectator * *
One of the best science writers of our time
* * Forbes * *
There's a lot to be learned about human nature from the con's
enduring success. And Konnikova is an insightful analyst of the
dark art of the scam. Konnikova has learned at least one thing
from the con artists she studied: Always leave your marks wanting
more
* * New York Times * *
Maria Konnikova breaks down the psychology of schemes, scams,
tricks and frauds across the centuries in The Confidence Game an
unnerving manual for conning and getting conned . . . fortunately,
the cons are usually entertaining and the studies revealing
* * Washington Post * *
A gripping examination of exactly why so many of us are such
suckers for schemes that shut down our saner instincts
* * Vice * *
Konnikova covers wide-ranging studies in social psychology and
illustrates them with colorful stories about real-life con men and
women in action
* * New York Magazine * *
A thrilling psychological detective story investigating how con
artists prey on our propensity for believing what we wish were true
and how this illuminates the inner workings of trust and deception
in our everyday lives . . . a tapestry of riveting real-life con
artist profiles interwoven with decades of psychology experiments.
What makes the book especially pleasurable is that Konnikova's
intellectual rigor comes with a side of warm wit . . . thoroughly
fascinating
* * Brainpickings * *
An engaging read: between studies and statistics, Konnikova threads
her examination with rich narratives of historical swindles
* * Los Angeles Review of Books * *
A compelling, engrossing account of the world of the con. I stayed
up far too late reading it. Beautifully written, and filled with
stories and thought-provoking psychological research, The
Confidence Game will teach you how confidence artists operate - and
how to outwit them
* * author of The Power of Habit * *
An enthralling read about why we're all vulnerable to deception, by
one of the truly gifted social science writers of our time. This
book shook my confidence in my ability to detect fraud - and then
showed me how to improve my skills
* * author of Give and Take and Originals * *
What magic takes place when a smooth talking stranger convinces you
to part with everything you have? Maria Konnikova is a superb
storyteller and her tales of conmen and their victims will blow
your mind. The Confidence Game is a masterful exploration of human
psychology - Konnikova uses the art of the con to explore some
striking claims about kindness and cruelty, memory and reputation,
the power of stories, and the very nature of the self. This is a
brilliant and often unsettling book, and it leaves me with mixed
feelings - I'd like everyone to read it, but at the same time, it
scares me to think of it falling into the wrong hands
* * author of Just Babies * *
Gripping . . . Konnikova has a gift for bringing out the drama,
poignancy and (if you're not the victim) the humor in the elaborate
deceptions she describes
* * Jacksonville.com * *
Exceptional . . . a brisk, engaging overview of the ways these
skilled tricksters masterfully manipulate us to their own ends
* * Boston Globe * *
Fantastical . . . a quick and enjoyable read about con-artistry
* * Spiked * *
Irresistably fascinating
* * Sunday Herald * *
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