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Jason Lefkowitz

As always, if you have any interest whatsoever in old-timey con games, I will recommend that you drop whatever less important thing you happen to be doing at the moment and go find a copy of David Maurer's classic 1940 book "The Big Con."

goodreads.com/book/show/403452

16 March at 17:44 | Open on vmst.io
5 comments
Rob Christopher

@jalefkowit I've read it twice! Great stuff.

16 March at 17:46 | Open on mstdn.social
Jason Lefkowitz

If nothing else, "The Big Con" will introduce you to a surprisingly long list of Kids.

jasonlefkowitz.net/2015/02/kid

16 March at 17:47 | Open on vmst.io
scmbradley

@jalefkowit and also, if you haven't seen it, watch The Sting.

16 March at 17:48 | Open on mathstodon.xyz
Jason Lefkowitz

@Scmbradley A movie so heavily inspired by Maurer's book that he sued them over it 😆

(Still a great movie though, I second the recommendation)

Academic David Maurer sued for plagiarism, claiming the screenplay was based too heavily on his 1940 book The Big Con, about real-life tricksters Fred and Charley Gondorff. Universal settled out of court for $600,000, irking Ward, who resented the presumption of guilt implied by an out-of-court settlement done for business expediency.
16 March at 17:50 | Open on vmst.io
scmbradley

@jalefkowit I did not know that, but for a movie about sneaky theft, it is at least on brand.

16 March at 17:52 | Open on mathstodon.xyz
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