The Museum of Hoaxes

I liked the introduction to each chapter, trying to outline some kind of theme for each period, and an explanation of why the hoaxes of that era took the form that they did. I would have enjoyed a bit more depth in these sections, and in the descriptions of each hoax, but I suspect that's because

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I've been reading too much academic writing lately. Quite a fun book.

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Sadly, I found this somewhat dull, and I'd heard of about all but one of the hoaxes covered. Boese wasn't able to bring the stories and characters to life like other authors covering the same stories have, and although "Museum of Hoaxes" is newer than other hoax-related books I have read, I found

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it more dated, perhaps because of his references to the internet as something new and wonderful.

He did get an extra 1/2 star from me though for including the line "It's a sad day for American capitalism when a man can't fly a midget on a kite over Central Park" and the fine reference to the 1991 Brussels Marathon winner who somehow managed to shave his moustache off during the race.

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A breezy tour through the 'museum' of pranks and conspiracies from the last few centuries. Some of these stories are explored more fully in other books, but here the quick survey makes for entertaining reading.

Fascinating, educational - a little less humorous than I expected, which in my opinion is a good thing.