Too good to be true : the colossal book of urban legends

'The colossal classic becomes even more colossal with a full new chapter of recent urban legends.' Alligators in the sewers? A pet in the microwave? 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 at least one story you always believed to be true in this colossal collection. Professor Jan Harold Brunvand is the leading authority on urban legends, and 'Too Good to Be True'-now updated and expanded-is his most complete anthology. Whether you want to become an expert debunker or just have plenty of laughs, this book will surprise and entertain you. 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. 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. Introduction: True Stories, Too Good To Be True -- Jumping To Conclusions -- The Brain Drain -- The Solid Cement Cadillac -- The Package Of Cookies -- The Tube On The Tube -- The Surpriser Surprised -- Why I Fired My Secretary -- 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 -- 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 -- 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 -- 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 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. Jan Harold Brunvand. "If you enjoy these too-good-to-be-true tales, Brunvand's new book will give you hours of pleasure."— Chicago Tribune 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 and 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 and examples of how the stories have changed as they move from person to person and place to place. To help you find your favorite, Brunvand has arranged the... "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 at least one story in this colossal collection you always believed and would have sworn was true."--BOOK JACKET. "Jan Harold Brunvand has been collecting 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 and examples of how the stories have changed as they move from person to person and place to place."--BOOK JACKET. "To help you find your favorite, Brunvand has arranged the tales thematically."--BOOK JACKET. "Alligators in the sewers? A pet in the microwave? 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 at least one story you always believed to be true in this colossal collection. Professor Jan Harold Brunvand is the leading authority on urban legends, and Too Good to Be True?now updated and expanded?is his most complete anthology. Whether you want to become an expert debunker or just have plenty of laughs, this book will surprise and entertain you."--Publisher's website "Add No Vulgar Hotel to the list of books you must read before you come to Venice." —Donna Leon This is the definitive book for managing an incurable passion for a decaying, waterlogged village. Whether you already have a raging case of Venetophilia or are among the fifteen million people who yearly put themselves in danger of contracting it, here is where you get your fix of Venetian wit, history, practicality, and enchantment. This book is a compilation of "urban legends," popular fables that describe presumably real events that happened to a friend of a friend, selected from a broad range of sources, including oral tradition, written versions, newspapers, literature, folklore studies, and the information superhighway In a hilarious, insightful exploration of the "urban legend," the author debunks many sacred modern-day myths, from the stoned baby sitter who mistook a baby for a turkey to the fabulously expensive recipe for chocolate chip cookies. 10,000 first printing. Doubleday. A collection of oft-repeated urban legends brings together the best of modern myths, from the stoned baby sitter who mistook a baby for a turkey to the fabulously expensive recipe for chocolate chip cookies