This book examines and extrapolates from famous historical case studies to illustrate principles of cognitive deception and how to avoid being deceived.

On November 8, 1937, a tourist from California named L. E. Hammond walked onto the campus of Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, carrying a 21-pound rock he had accidentally stumbled upon in North Carolina. The barely-legible inscription on the rock appeared to be a lengthy message from Eleanor Dare, mother of Virginia Dare, and it was dated 1591. The inscription told of the trials and tribulations endured by the English colonists after their departure from Roanoke Island in 1587. The authenticity of that stone, commonly referred to as the Chowan River Dare Stone, has remained an open question since its appearance in 1937. Carefully researched and documented, this book finally provides conclusive evidence that the Chowan River Dare Stone is a clever 20th century fraud. In doing so, the book also tells the fascinating story of the Dare Stone and exposes the orchestration of the hoax and its shadowy perpetrators.

The Ancient and Honorable Order of E Clampus Vitus is a fraternal society established in California during the Gold Rush. Dormant by the early 20th century, it was revived in 1930 as the New Dispensation of E Clampus Vitus. From 1934 to the centennial of the Gold Rush in 1949, six volumes of New Dispensation lore were written to announce and explain E Clampus Vitus. This anthology brings these six volumes together for the first time in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the publication of the first volume in the series. Volumes included are The Enigmatical Book of Vitus, The Curious Book of Clampus or Gumshaniana, My Darling's ECV: The Esoteric Book of E, Ye Preposterous Booke of Brasse, Credo Quia Absurdum and Fool's Gold. For Clampers, this anthology is essential for a more complete understanding of their society. For non-Clampers, this anthology provides a new perspective on the Gold Rush and the celebration of its traditions by E Clampus Vitus today.

Discusses nearly a dozen infamous hoaxes and how they came about and why people were fooled.

This biography examines the life, works, and ideas of Herbert E. Bolton, a prominent historian of the American West, Mexico, and Latin America.

History repeats itself as Uncle John presents another volume of funny stories and fascinating facts about the past! For our historical trivia collection number two, we dug ever deeper into our bottomless vaults to bring you more of history’s most colorful characters, cultural milestones, funniest mishaps, and earth-shattering events. More than 500 pages of great stories, fascinating facts, and fun quizzes await you. Read about . . . * Philosophers who fought with fireplace pokers * “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this Wall!” * Where are they now—the Goths * The golden age of wife-selling * History’s most horrible dentist award * The French monks who invented tennis * What William the Conqueror was called before he conquered * Where are they now—the Neanderthals * Women of the Gold Rush * and much, much more!