Fraud: An American History from Barnum to Madoff
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | 4.42 (805 Votes) |
| Asin | : | 069116455X |
| Format Type | : | paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 496 Pages |
| Publish Date | : | 2015-12-06 |
| Language | : | English |
DESCRIPTION:
"A good legal overview of what fraud is, but a bit of a tough read" according to Andy in Washington. I never really thought about fraud-it just seems like one of those things that “you know it when you see it”. But Edward Balleisen takes a more analytical look at it, and some of his insights were fascinating.=== The Good Stuff ===* While a solid acade. Michael S. said Quick ship. Can't wait to read this book
The United States has always proved an inviting home for boosters, sharp dealers, and outright swindlers. As a result, fraud has been a key feature of American business since its beginnings. In this sweeping narrative, Edward Balleisen traces the history of fraud in Americaand the evolving efforts to combat itfrom the age of P. Barnum through the eras of Charles Ponzi and Bernie Madoff.Starting with an early nineteenth-century American legal world of "buyer beware," this unprecedented account describes the slow, piecemeal construction of modern regulatory institutions to protect consumers and investors, from the Gilded
Ranging among the disciplines of history, economics, and psychology, Balleisen constructs a sturdy narrative of the many ways in which we have fallen prey to the swindler, and continue to do so, as well as of how American society and its institutions have tried to build protections against the con. Balleisen’s keen insights and the breadth of his knowledge keep the reader engaged, and he introduces plenty of shady characters and ingenious fraudulent schemes to boot."--Dean Jobb, Chicago Review of Books"Balleisen provides a lively and informative account of chicanery in the United States in the past 200 years."--Glenn C. Balleisen argues that fraud has been a central feature of our freewheeling economy from the start, making it hard to tell scams from legitimate businesses and hard to tell aggressive sales tactics from outright deception--especially in innovative industries."--Carina Chocano, New York Times Magazine
He is the author of Navigating Failure: Bankruptcy and Commercial Society in Antebellum America. He lives in Durham, North Carolina. . Edward J. Balleisen is associate professor of history and public policy and vice provost for Interdisciplinary Studies at Duke University