Average Rating: 
Rating:  - More thrilling than the Movie!
Catch Me If You Can is Frank Abagnale's account of his life as a con man. If you've seen the movie, you only know half of the things Frank did. His book is thrilling, incredible, and true.At the age of 16, Frank ran away from home; his parents were separating and he just took off for New York City. In the 60s, air travel was rare and glamorous; airline pilots and stewardesses were considered by many to lead exciting and jet-setting lives. Frank, armed with supreme confidence, charm, and intelligence, successfully posed as an airline pilot, attorney (he even passed the bar!), a physician, and a college professor, while living the good life with millions of dollars he got from passing bad checks in over 20 countries; and all of this before he was twenty-one years of age. Frank's wild exploits are told in a humerous, quick-paced style that is very readable. The joy he found in living the high life and romancing countless ladies around the world is matched by the the utter despair he faced in a brutal French prison where he was entombed in solitary confinement, in total darkness, unclothed, for months. It's clear that Frank knew he was doing wrong, but was so addicted to the high he got from conning that he couldn't (and didn't want to) stop. The fantastic things that are shown in the film are only a few of his capers. That he is now a respected authority on counterfeiting and, in fact, teaches at the FBI Academy is evidence that Frank can do anything he wants to. This is a very exciting and enjoyable book!
Rating: - My new record for fastest read....
One day... and I am a slow reader with three small children and a demanding job. This was one of the most fun books I've read in years. No, it is not "high-brow" reading by any means. It is a fun fast-paced "ride". I would not have believed this story (with its twists and turns) had it not been true. If this was a work of fiction, I would have shot many holes in the "plot". But indeed it is all true and life is more interesting than fiction and by mere intelligence, naiveté, skill and - yes - extreme luck, Abagnale escaped the FBI - sometimes by minutes. He is a crook but you root for him. In an earlier review, a four-star review, the reviewer deducted a star because of the in the book the authur incessantly brags on his Don Juan-esque escapades. Well, I too was a bit bored with his bragging but only when I realized that "women" (he never used drugs, tobacco or alchohol - even though he was a late teenager posing as a late 20's - early 30's - pilot; teacher; doctor; Asisstant to DA) was his weakness. He was James Bond without the government assignments and the shaken (but not stirred) martini's. His addiction was women and thus he needed money for that addiction. I do believe, in fact, he relates his love for women to a Heroin junkie's need for Heroin. Anyhow, you root for this guy because he never cons individuals, never uses violence but in the end admits he was stupid and did not think of consequences. He did hurt people in other ways. This is my first review so sorry for the rambling. This is the one book that you look for that grabs your attention. I read 4, or so, books at a time and the reason why is to stumble on a book such as this. Enjoy
Rating: - Amusing quick read...
Catch Me If You Can is supposedly a true story about a very talented teenage con-man who posed as an airline pilot, doctor, lawyer, and college professor, and passed millions of dollars in bad checks before his capture by the French police. Regardless of the highly questionable morality of the protagonist, there is no denying that Frank W. Abagnale's escapades are quite amusing and at times downright hilarious. The book is an ideal quick read, and will even teach you some interesting stuff about paperhanging along the way [but it's too late to try to imitate Frank, as he is now in charge of catching aspiring con men]. However, the story has its flaws and is indeed one of the rare cases when the film surpasses the original book. Incidentially, the film, also titled Catch Me If You Can, was directed by Spielberg, starred Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks, and was very entertaining - highly recommended. But anyway, back to the book. The most irritating thing about it is that even though Abagnale was clearly a very intelligent guy, as he was able to pass the bar exam [on his third try] with only 2 weeks of preparation, he clearly lacks talent as a novelist. His prose is often embarassingly childish, and he revels in lame jokes and terrible, overextended metaphors and similies. Additionally, the tone of the book often becomes quite smug and boastful, especially regarding his abilities to charm women, which is particularly annoying. Naturally, some of the blame has to rest with the co-author as well. Nevertheless, from someone as allegedly intelligent as Frank, it is reasonable to expect better. Overall, however, this book is still a fun ride, and is perfect for a long trip [airplane flight, perhaps?] or other dull situation. As for the story itself, it is quiet unbelievable [and given the author's background, it is easy to doubt its veracity]...but seems to be factual. Enjoy the book - shortcomings aside, it is entertaining and will have you cheering for Frank to get away with his audacious schemes.
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