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The Resource Too good to be true : the colossal book of urban legends, Jan Harold Brunvand

Too good to be true : the colossal book of urban legends, Jan Harold Brunvand

Creator
Summary
A fabulously entertaining book from the ultimate authority on those almost believable tales that always happen to a "friend of a friend." Alligators in the sewers? A pet in the microwave? A tragic misunderstanding of the function of cruise control? No, it didn't really happen to your friend's sister's neighbor: it's an urban legend. And no matter how savvy you think you are, you are sure to find in this collection of over 200 tales at least one story you would have sworn was true. Jan Harold Brunvand has been collecting & studying this modern folklore for over twenty years. In Too Good to Be True he captures the best stories in their best retellings, along with their latest variations & examples of how the stories have changed as they move from person to person & place to place. To help you find your favorite, Brunvand has arranged the tales thematically "Bringing Up Baby" is full of episodes of child-rearing gone wrong, including the grisly tale of the drugged out baby-sitter who mistakes the kid for a turkey. "Funny Business" showcases stories of infamous lapses in customer service, such as the story of the shockingly expensive chocolate chip cookie recipe. And "The Criminal Mind" features both brilliant-if they were real-scams, as well as the purported antics of the less mentally gifted. Whether you want to become an expert debunker or just have plenty of laughs, this book will surprise & entertain you
Language
eng
Work
Publication
Edition
1st ed.
Extent
480 pages
Contents
  • Jumping to conclusions -- Classic dog tales -- Just deserts -- Automania -- Sexcapades -- Losing face -- Accidents will happen -- Creepy contaminations -- Sick humor -- Bringing up baby -- Strange things happen -- Funny business -- The world of work -- Baffled by technology -- The criminal mind -- Human nature -- Strays from the wild Kingdom -- Pet problems -- Slapstick comedy -- Bogus warnings -- Mistaken identifications -- Campus capers -- "True" urban legends
  • "The Engaged Couple"
  • "The Fart in the Dark"
  • "The Hairdresser's Error"
  • "The Stolen Wallet"
  • "The Mexican Pet"
  • "The Hare Dryer"
  • As told by Johnny Carson
  • As told by Michael Landon to Johnny Carson
  • "The Air-Freighted Pet"
  • As told by Paul Harvey
  • Introduction: True Stories, Too Good to Be True
  • "The Poisoned Pussycat at the Party"
  • "The Bug under the Rug"
  • As told by Alex Thien
  • Classic Dog Tales
  • "The Choking Doberman"
  • "The Swiss Charred Poodle"
  • "Not My Dog"
  • "The Licked Hand"
  • "The Crushed Dog"
  • "The Dog in the High-Rise"
  • Jumping to Conclusions
  • As told by Truman Capote to Lawrence Grobel
  • "Fifi Spills the Paint," aka "Kitty Takes the Rap"
  • "Take the Puppy and Run"
  • Just Deserts
  • "The Loaded Dog"
  • "The Plant's Revenge"
  • "The Dead Cat in the Package"
  • "The Runaway Grandmother"
  • "The $50 Porsche"
  • "Dial R-E-V-E-N-G-E"
  • "The Brain Drain"
  • "Revenge of the Rich"
  • As told by Paul Harvey
  • "Gag Me with a Siphon"
  • "The Stolen Specimen"
  • "The Videotaped Theft"
  • "Urban Pancake"
  • "The Will"
  • "Promiscuity Rewarded"
  • Automania
  • "The Hook"
  • "The Solid Cement Cadillac"
  • "The Severed Fingers"
  • "Decapitated Drivers and Riders"
  • "The Killer in the Back Seat"
  • As told on Late Night with David Letterman
  • "The Hairy-Armed Hitchhiker"
  • "The Boyfriend's Death"
  • "The Slasher under the Car."
  • "The Package of Cookies"
  • "The Tube on the Tube"
  • "The Surpriser Surprised"
  • "Why I Fired My Secretary"
Isbn
9780393047349
Instance
Label
Too good to be true : the colossal book of urban legends
Title
Too good to be true
Title remainder
the colossal book of urban legends
Statement of responsibility
Jan Harold Brunvand
Creator
Subject
Genre
Language
eng
Summary
A fabulously entertaining book from the ultimate authority on those almost believable tales that always happen to a "friend of a friend." Alligators in the sewers? A pet in the microwave? A tragic misunderstanding of the function of cruise control? No, it didn't really happen to your friend's sister's neighbor: it's an urban legend. And no matter how savvy you think you are, you are sure to find in this collection of over 200 tales at least one story you would have sworn was true. Jan Harold Brunvand has been collecting & studying this modern folklore for over twenty years. In Too Good to Be True he captures the best stories in their best retellings, along with their latest variations & examples of how the stories have changed as they move from person to person & place to place. To help you find your favorite, Brunvand has arranged the tales thematically "Bringing Up Baby" is full of episodes of child-rearing gone wrong, including the grisly tale of the drugged out baby-sitter who mistakes the kid for a turkey. "Funny Business" showcases stories of infamous lapses in customer service, such as the story of the shockingly expensive chocolate chip cookie recipe. And "The Criminal Mind" features both brilliant-if they were real-scams, as well as the purported antics of the less mentally gifted. Whether you want to become an expert debunker or just have plenty of laughs, this book will surprise & entertain you
Cataloging source
DLC
http://library.link/vocab/creatorName
Brunvand, Jan Harold
Dewey number
398.2/0973/091732
Illustrations
illustrations
Index
no index present
LC call number
GR105
LC item number
.B715 1999
Literary form
non fiction
http://library.link/vocab/subjectName
  • Urban folklore
  • Legends
  • Urban folklore
  • Legends
  • Legends
  • Urban folklore
  • United States
  • Legenden
  • Steden
  • Volkscultuur
  • Legends
  • Urban folklore
  • Folklore
  • Legends
Label
Too good to be true : the colossal book of urban legends, Jan Harold Brunvand
Instantiates
Publication
Copyright
Carrier category
volume
Carrier category code
  • nc
Carrier MARC source
rdacarrier
Content category
text
Content type code
  • txt
Content type MARC source
rdacontent
Contents
  • Jumping to conclusions -- Classic dog tales -- Just deserts -- Automania -- Sexcapades -- Losing face -- Accidents will happen -- Creepy contaminations -- Sick humor -- Bringing up baby -- Strange things happen -- Funny business -- The world of work -- Baffled by technology -- The criminal mind -- Human nature -- Strays from the wild Kingdom -- Pet problems -- Slapstick comedy -- Bogus warnings -- Mistaken identifications -- Campus capers -- "True" urban legends
  • "The Engaged Couple"
  • "The Fart in the Dark"
  • "The Hairdresser's Error"
  • "The Stolen Wallet"
  • "The Mexican Pet"
  • "The Hare Dryer"
  • As told by Johnny Carson
  • As told by Michael Landon to Johnny Carson
  • "The Air-Freighted Pet"
  • As told by Paul Harvey
  • Introduction: True Stories, Too Good to Be True
  • "The Poisoned Pussycat at the Party"
  • "The Bug under the Rug"
  • As told by Alex Thien
  • Classic Dog Tales
  • "The Choking Doberman"
  • "The Swiss Charred Poodle"
  • "Not My Dog"
  • "The Licked Hand"
  • "The Crushed Dog"
  • "The Dog in the High-Rise"
  • Jumping to Conclusions
  • As told by Truman Capote to Lawrence Grobel
  • "Fifi Spills the Paint," aka "Kitty Takes the Rap"
  • "Take the Puppy and Run"
  • Just Deserts
  • "The Loaded Dog"
  • "The Plant's Revenge"
  • "The Dead Cat in the Package"
  • "The Runaway Grandmother"
  • "The $50 Porsche"
  • "Dial R-E-V-E-N-G-E"
  • "The Brain Drain"
  • "Revenge of the Rich"
  • As told by Paul Harvey
  • "Gag Me with a Siphon"
  • "The Stolen Specimen"
  • "The Videotaped Theft"
  • "Urban Pancake"
  • "The Will"
  • "Promiscuity Rewarded"
  • Automania
  • "The Hook"
  • "The Solid Cement Cadillac"
  • "The Severed Fingers"
  • "Decapitated Drivers and Riders"
  • "The Killer in the Back Seat"
  • As told on Late Night with David Letterman
  • "The Hairy-Armed Hitchhiker"
  • "The Boyfriend's Death"
  • "The Slasher under the Car."
  • "The Package of Cookies"
  • "The Tube on the Tube"
  • "The Surpriser Surprised"
  • "Why I Fired My Secretary"
Control code
ocm40762683
Dimensions
25 cm
Edition
1st ed.
Extent
480 pages
Isbn
9780393047349
Lccn
99017562
Media category
unmediated
Media MARC source
rdamedia
Media type code
  • n
Other physical details
illustrations
System control number
  • (Sirsi) o40762683
  • (OCoLC)40762683
Label
Too good to be true : the colossal book of urban legends, Jan Harold Brunvand
Publication
Copyright
Carrier category
volume
Carrier category code
  • nc
Carrier MARC source
rdacarrier
Content category
text
Content type code
  • txt
Content type MARC source
rdacontent
Contents
  • Jumping to conclusions -- Classic dog tales -- Just deserts -- Automania -- Sexcapades -- Losing face -- Accidents will happen -- Creepy contaminations -- Sick humor -- Bringing up baby -- Strange things happen -- Funny business -- The world of work -- Baffled by technology -- The criminal mind -- Human nature -- Strays from the wild Kingdom -- Pet problems -- Slapstick comedy -- Bogus warnings -- Mistaken identifications -- Campus capers -- "True" urban legends
  • "The Engaged Couple"
  • "The Fart in the Dark"
  • "The Hairdresser's Error"
  • "The Stolen Wallet"
  • "The Mexican Pet"
  • "The Hare Dryer"
  • As told by Johnny Carson
  • As told by Michael Landon to Johnny Carson
  • "The Air-Freighted Pet"
  • As told by Paul Harvey
  • Introduction: True Stories, Too Good to Be True
  • "The Poisoned Pussycat at the Party"
  • "The Bug under the Rug"
  • As told by Alex Thien
  • Classic Dog Tales
  • "The Choking Doberman"
  • "The Swiss Charred Poodle"
  • "Not My Dog"
  • "The Licked Hand"
  • "The Crushed Dog"
  • "The Dog in the High-Rise"
  • Jumping to Conclusions
  • As told by Truman Capote to Lawrence Grobel
  • "Fifi Spills the Paint," aka "Kitty Takes the Rap"
  • "Take the Puppy and Run"
  • Just Deserts
  • "The Loaded Dog"
  • "The Plant's Revenge"
  • "The Dead Cat in the Package"
  • "The Runaway Grandmother"
  • "The $50 Porsche"
  • "Dial R-E-V-E-N-G-E"
  • "The Brain Drain"
  • "Revenge of the Rich"
  • As told by Paul Harvey
  • "Gag Me with a Siphon"
  • "The Stolen Specimen"
  • "The Videotaped Theft"
  • "Urban Pancake"
  • "The Will"
  • "Promiscuity Rewarded"
  • Automania
  • "The Hook"
  • "The Solid Cement Cadillac"
  • "The Severed Fingers"
  • "Decapitated Drivers and Riders"
  • "The Killer in the Back Seat"
  • As told on Late Night with David Letterman
  • "The Hairy-Armed Hitchhiker"
  • "The Boyfriend's Death"
  • "The Slasher under the Car."
  • "The Package of Cookies"
  • "The Tube on the Tube"
  • "The Surpriser Surprised"
  • "Why I Fired My Secretary"
Control code
ocm40762683
Dimensions
25 cm
Edition
1st ed.
Extent
480 pages
Isbn
9780393047349
Lccn
99017562
Media category
unmediated
Media MARC source
rdamedia
Media type code
  • n
Other physical details
illustrations
System control number
  • (Sirsi) o40762683
  • (OCoLC)40762683

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Genre

Library Locations

    • Waubonsee: Sugar Grove Campus - Todd LibraryBorrow it
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      41.7974000 -88.45785

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