Description
Book Synopsis''Abby Ellin''s writing is everything her fiancé pretended to be: witty, vulnerable, brave, smart, and honest'' Michael Finkel, author of The Stranger in the Woods
In Duped, New York Times journalist Abby Ellin explores the secret lives of compulsive liars, and the tragedy of those who trust them. Perfect for anybody who enjoyed Bad Blood and Dirty John.
While leading a double life sounds like the stomping ground of psychopaths, moles, and covert agents with indeterminate dialects, plenty of people who appear ''normal'' keep canyon-sized secrets from those in their immediate orbits. These untold stories lead to enormous surprises, often unpleasant ones. Duped is an investigation of compulsive liars - and how they fool their loved ones - drawing on Abby Ellin''s personal experience.
From the day Abby went on her first date with The Commander, she was caught up in a whirlwind. Within five months
Trade Review
Abby Ellin's writing is everything her fiancé pretended to be: witty, vulnerable, brave, smart, and honest -- Michael Finkel, author of The Stranger in the Woods
Abby Ellin has been Duped, and in this fascinating book, she reveals how and why ordinary people are often deceived by extraordinarily mendacious con artists. Ellin's personal story leads her to delve deep into research of why people lie and how they lie, and she discovers how common treachery can be. If you've ever been lied to, or told a lie, you will want to read this surprising, personal, and funny investigation of deception -- Piper Kerman, #1 bestselling author of Orange is the New Black
I couldn't put it down!
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Gretchen Rubin, #1 bestselling author of The Happiness Project and The Four TendenciesDuped is memoir crossed with journalism, a funny, raw account of being at the receiving end. It's an enjoyable romp with real hurt at its core . . . --
Melanie Reid *
The Times *
From the wildly entertaining opening chapter of
Duped, Abby Ellin explores the why and how of great imposters, many of whom occupied important swaths of her life. Swerving from the deceitful, manipulative, pathological narcissists to the professional use of lie detectors, she makes researching dishonesty an entertaining and fascinating read --
Jonna Hiestand Mendez, former CIA chief of disguiseI loved this book, and not just because of Abby Ellin's masterful storytelling. This is a book that can save lives. She paints an exquisite portrait of what life with a predator is like. No child should go to college without first reading this book --
Joe Navarro, former FBI agent and bestselling author of Dangerous PersonalitiesThrilling, weird, and funny,
Duped reveals the psychology of gaslighting, the prevalence of gullibility, and the wisdom in paranoia. Abby Ellin is a shrewd chronicler of cons and a gracious friend to the duped. --
Ada Calhoun, author of Wedding Toasts I'll Never GiveCandid and entertaining, Ellin's book offers insight into the socially and psychologically complex nature of deceit as well as the choices she made as a duped woman. Lively, provocative reading *
Kirkus Reviews *
[A] sassy shotgun blast of memoir *
Times Literary Supplement *
