Catch Me if You Can

When it comes to watching movies or reading books, I am a very stoic person. My face hardly betrays any kind of emotion. You wouldn't know if I am watching Cartoon Network, a tense football final with Chelsea one goal down or some touching documentary. Even Tom and Jerry can barely elicit a smile from me. And it is no different when it comes to books. But 'Catch Me if You Can' by Frank Abgnale had me laughing, howling and pacing the floor in excitement. It is by far the most thrilling book I have read. And the fact that it is an autobiography just adds to the charm.



The novel is the autobiography of Frank Abagnale Junior, who was one of the most famous, successful and sought after con-artists in the 20th Century. It tells the story from his own point of view of how he managed to cheat the system by en cashing bad bank cheques in over 20 countries, spread across four continents. In the process he became a millionaire, twice over. During his criminal career Abagnale donned the pilot's uniform, practised law, passed off as a college professor and a child doctor. And all that before he turned 20!

There is also a movie based on the book by the same name starring Leonardo Dicaprio and Tom Hanks. The movie is fun to watch as well, but the two just can't be compared. The book with its witticisms is far far better. And like they say you should never judge a book by it's movie. So irrespective of whether you have watched the movie or not, rush to your nearest book store and grab the first copy of this book. And ya, thank me later.