Fantastic Reading

"Scoundrels and Scalawags" is a collection of articles about crooks and hoaxes throughout history. Most of the accounts are from events in the 20th century, with a few from earlier times. The articles range from just a few pages to perhaps 15 pages.

It includes the story of Charles Ponzi who gave us the Ponzi Scheme and whose plan generated tens of millions of dollars within months, but fell apart just as quickly. Then there is the story of the Soviet Union's swindling of the Spanish government during their Civil War, leading to the end of anti-fascist activity. There is also the story of John Brinkley, a lifelong swindler who printed medical diplomas as a youngster, injected colored water into men to increase their vigor, and eventually set up a radio station in Mexico, claiming his airwaves could cure Americans if they just sent him their money.

Each article provides emotion, whether it is the comedy of gullibility or the tragedy created by hoaxes. Well-written and enjoyable, the articles are all a breeze. They are not condensed, but simply collected from a variety of newspapers, magazines, and journals. It's just fantastic reading. ( )