The Confidence Game

Why We Fall for It...Every Time

By: Maria Konnikova

Narrated by: Maria Konnikova

Length: 12 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

Think you can’t get conned? Think again. The New York Times best-selling author of Mastermind: How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes explains how to spot the con before they spot you.

A compelling investigation into the minds, motives, and methods of con artists - and the people who fall for their cons over and over again.

While cheats and swindlers may be a dime a dozen, true conmen - the Bernie Madoffs, the Jim Bakkers, the Lance Armstrongs - are elegant, outsized personalities, artists of persuasion, and exploiters of trust. How do they do it? Why are they successful? And what keeps us falling for it, over and over again? These are the questions that journalist and psychologist Maria Konnikova tackles in her mesmerizing new book.

From multimillion-dollar Ponzi schemes to small-time frauds, Konnikova pulls together a selection of fascinating stories to demonstrate what all cons share in common, drawing on scientific, dramatic, and psychological perspectives. Insightful and gripping, the audiobook brings listeners into the world of the con, examining the relationship between artist and victim. The Confidence Game asks not only why we believe con artists, but also examines the very act of believing and how our sense of truth can be manipulated by those around us.

©2016 Maria Konnikova (P)2016 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"It’s a startling and disconcerting read that should make you think twice every time a friend of a friend offers you the opportunity of a lifetime.” (Erik Larson, number one New York Times best-selling author of Dead Wake and best-selling author of Devil in the White City)

“With meticulous research and a facility for storytelling, Konnikova makes this intriguing topic absolutely riveting.” (Kirkus, starred review)

"Told with vigor and enthusiasm, this study of the psychology of the con artist is riveting and cleverly told.” (Publishers Weekly, starred review)

The Confidence Game = major disappointment

I'm so happy Audible offers a "great listen every time guarantee" and that I can get my book credit refunded for The Confidence Game.  What a disappointment!  I was expecting something  useful and an at least some original ideas.  Instead I got a rehash of Cialdini's work, and a bunch of vignettes about people falling for cons.  They weren't at all helpful because she picked the most extreme examples that had no relevance to me (eg that idiot Professor that got fired from CH for drug smuggling for his internet 'girlfriend', people getting sucked into cults, and desperate people getting tricked by fortune tellers into giving them either the equity in their homes or their life savings).  It was a book that seemed to enjoy pointing out the obvious.  I'm surprised I kept going with it as long as I did (probably almost 3/4) because I kept expecting her to actually get to something useful.  Sadly that never happened.  This book is similar to about 15 dozen others that say roughly the same thing - and they do a better job with less crazy examples.  Not worth money or time.

Thorough Book, Author Shouldn't Have Narrated

As much as this was a seriously interesting book, they should have hired a narrator.

Terrible narration

all the listeners who are not new to Audible know what a difference a good narration makes. The author of this book decided to read the book herself the narration is horrible. I barely got through about 30 minutes of not being able to focus on the story and decided to return it.

For those of you who decide to power through the narration, good luck!

Decent story - HORRIBLE performance

How could the performance have been better?

The reader sounds like they have a head cold and have been chugging Nyquil all day. Slurring words and hanging Sssssses on everything. HORRIBLE.

I enjoyed the narration.

I'm writing this because I noticed there were a lot of reviewers complaining about narration. The book was read by the author which I enjoy because she read it the way she wrote it. I would say her voice is a bit seductive and her tone is a bit conspiratorial, which matches the book quite well. That may turn out to be an issue for you so just give the sample a listen and see if it will work for you.

Audio - yuk

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

I could not even get through this because the audio reading was THAT bad. From what I have read prior to my purchase it seemed like such a wonderful read. I'll never know. . .

Would you ever listen to anything by Maria Konnikova again?

never

Would you be willing to try another one of Maria Konnikova’s performances?

no

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Um, can I have my money back, please?

Any additional comments?

Buy on paperback

Why do authors think they can narrate?

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I can't even get through the first chapter of this book. The narration is awful. the ONLY author who can narrate is David McCullough. Ms Konnikova is no David McCullough.

Would you recommend The Confidence Game to your friends? Why or why not?

No. Leave the narration to professionals.

What didn’t you like about Maria Konnikova’s performance?

Thin, breathless (and not in a good way). You think about how awful the narration is rather than the story.

Do you think The Confidence Game needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

NO.

Good narrative

Great narrative and explanation without having the degrade either the concept, science or the narrative.
None other than Maria kannikova could have read it as beautiful and impressive.

Great book.

How Fun!!!

Many of the stories were new to me.

Maria reads her words well.

Love the Confidence Game!!!

Armor for your natural instinct!

Maria Konnikova lays out the tools you need to go against your natural proclivity to believe that a deal will make you rich. The con uses human nature against the mark, if you can recognize it you won't be a victim!