We're always stunned when we realize we've been deceived, and we always wonder why we believed the lie. But have you ever wondered why you believe the truth? Finding examples in history, psychology, and science, Aja Raden provides an eye-opening primer on con-artistry, from pyramid schemes to shell games, forgery to hoaxes. Through wild tales of cons and marks, Raden examines not only how lies actually work, but also why they work, and in this "fun romp through the tricky world of deception" (Publishers Weekly), she also traces the uses of dishonesty in religion, advertising, and propaganda.