Swindled
Book Recommendations

Swindled

Utilizes narrative storytelling, archival audio, and immersive soundscapes to explore true stories of white-collar criminals, con artists, and corporate evil. From corruption and fraud to Ponzi schemes and environmental disasters, these financially motivated crimes have shaped our world in unimagina...

Episodes 173
Books 60

Recently mentioned

Latest Recommendations

The Bushman’s Lair: On the Trail of the Fugitive of the Shuswap cover

The Bushman’s Lair

Paul McKendrick

Mentioned 7 months ago

134. The Motherlode (Bre-X Minerals)

This book chronicled the saga of John Bjornstrom, the Bushman of the Shuswap, whose author felt the mystery he built still resonated in the trees long after he was gone.

His author, Paul McKendrick, who chronicled the saga in the Bushman's lair, told chapters in the go that the man is gone, but the mystery he built still hums in the trees.

Buy on Amazon
BRE-X: The Inside Story of the World's Biggest Mining Scam cover

BRE-X

Jennifer Wells

Mentioned 7 months ago

134. The Motherlode (Bre-X Minerals)

Diane Francis, the editor of Canada's Financial Post newspaper, wrote this book about the Bre-X scandal.

This conclusion was shared by several others who had investigated the case, including the Bushman of the Shoe Swap, John Bjornstrom, and Diane Francis, the editor of Canada's Financial Post newspaper, and author of Bree X, the inside story.

Buy on Amazon
The Bre-X Fraud cover

The Bre-X Fraud

Douglas Goold

Mentioned 7 months ago

134. The Motherlode (Bre-X Minerals)

Andrew Willis, the co-author of this book, suggested that John Felderhoff, as chief geologist, should have known about the fraud if he didn't actively participate in it.

This is Andrew Willis, the co-author of The Briex Fraud. John Felderhoff was the chief geologist. He was in Indonesia. His name is all over the scientific work. If he did not know, he should have known. He was incompetent.

Buy on Amazon
Quieting Your Heart: 30-Day Prayer Journal - Love Edition cover

Quieting Your Heart

Darlene Schacht

Mentioned 1 year ago

115. The Bling Bishop (Lamor Whitehead)

It was a self-help relationship book that Bishop Lamar Whitehead claimed was a New York Times bestseller, although there is no evidence to support this claim. He celebrated its release with a Louis Vuitton shopping event for his family.

Celebrating the New York Times bestselling author. God Made You a Wife and Not a Girlfriend.

Buy on Amazon
The Noom Kitchen: 100 Healthy, Delicious, Flexible Recipes for Every Day cover

The Noom Kitchen

Noom

Mentioned 2 years ago

109. The Machine (Tyson Foods)

The Noom Kitchen is the first cookbook published by Noom.

And check out Noom's first ever cookbook, The Noom Kitchen, for 100 healthy and delicious recipes to remote better living

Buy on Amazon
The Meat Racket: The Secret Takeover of America's Food Business cover

The Meat Racket

Christopher Leonard

Mentioned 2 years ago

109. The Machine (Tyson Foods)

The book chronicles Tyson's rise to power and provides a detailed account of their chickenization of the pork industry.

According to Christopher Leonard, who wrote a great book called The Meat Racket

Buy on Amazon
Call Me Commander: A Former Intelligence Officer and the Journalists Who Uncovered His Scheme to Fleece America cover

Call Me Commander

Jeff Testerman

Mentioned 2 years ago

108. The Commander (Bobby C. Thompson)

The book details the case of Bobby Thompson and his fraudulent charity, which was exposed by journalist Jeff Testerman. It was an award-winning series of articles he wrote that ultimately led to the arrest of the Commander.

Testerman has also recently released a book about the case titled Call Me Commander, so check that out too.

Buy on Amazon
Masters of Deceit: The Story of Communism in America and How to Fight It cover

Masters of Deceit

J Edgar Hoover

Mentioned 2 years ago

108. The Commander (Bobby C. Thompson)

The book was written by Jody Andes, who interviewed John Donald Cody, the commander, in prison numerous times. In a Q&A with her former newspaper, he was upset that the book was available for $17, as he felt his story was worth more than that.

She interviewed the commander in prison at least a dozen times for a book she wrote about the case called Master of Deceit.

Buy on Amazon
Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health cover

Dianetics

L. Ron Hubbard

Mentioned 2 years ago

107. The Technology (Real Water)

Brent Allen Jones was working as a lawyer in California and felt unfulfilled. He was looking for answers and read Dianetics, written by L. Ron Hubbard. He felt like the book made sense and that it could improve his life.

She was a Scientologist and she sold me a book, Jones told the newspaper, Dianetics.

Buy on Amazon
The Secret (1) (The Secret Library) cover

The Secret (1) (The Secret Library)

Rhonda Byrne

Mentioned 2 years ago

107. The Technology (Real Water)

Brent Jones claimed that the courses he required his employees to complete were not based on Scientology but were based on a comparable pile of bullshit called The Secret.

The courses had nothing to do with Scientology, Jones claimed. The philosophies were based more on a comparable pile of bullshit called the secret, a popular book in those days that touted the power of positive thinking and the law of attraction endorsed by daytime TV talk show gurus like Oprah Winfrey and Ellen DeGeneres.

Buy on Amazon
Atlas Shrugged (Centennial Ed.) cover

Atlas Shrugged (Centennial Ed.)

Ayn Rand

Mentioned 2 years ago

107. The Technology (Real Water)

Brent Allen Jones stated that he felt his opponent was dumbing down society by teaching children that capitalism was bad. He referenced the book Atlas Shrugged written 60 years ago.

You know 60 years ago there was a book written called Atlas Shrugged.

Buy on Amazon
Eighty-one Seconds: The Attack and Aftermath as Tornadoes Hit Pilger, Stanton, Wakefield and Wisner, Nebraska cover

Eighty-one Seconds

LaRayne M. Topp

Mentioned 2 years ago

106. The Tornado (Kim Neiman)

The speaker mentions that Daring Shiner told the author of the book "81 Seconds", Lorraine M. Topp, about how he took shelter under a bridge during the tornado.

He told 81 seconds author Lorraine M. Topp that he took cover under a bridge and held on to one of the pillars for dear life.

Buy on Amazon

Most Recommended

The Great Gatsby: The Original 1925 Edition (Booklover's Library Classics) Cover

F. Scott Fitzgerald

The Great Gatsby

The Original 1925 Edition (Booklover's Library Classics)

The title was brought up in two episodes where the narrator quoted Fitzgerald, noting his remark that there are no second acts in American lives and using it to contrast Detroit's ability to rebound. The reference was made in passing to illustrate a point about the city's resilience rather than to promote the book itself. The discussion was brief and neutral.

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Rerun: The Mayor (Kwame Kilpatrick)

F. Scott Fitzgerald was quoted as saying that there are no second acts in American lives. He was not a Detroiter because Detroit always gets up.

"

F. Scott Fitzgerald once wrote that there are no second acts in American lives.

The great writer that he was, F. Scott Fitzgerald, was not a Detroiter because we fall but this city always gets up and I want to tell you Detroit that you done set me up for a comeback.

Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health Cover

L. Ron Hubbard

Dianetics

The Modern Science of Mental Health

The book was highlighted as a practical guide that Brent Allen Jones credited with improving his life and making sense of his personal challenges, while Kevin Trudeau urged listeners dealing with depression to read it and join Scientology. Both guests presented it as a solution to personal and mental health issues, emphasizing its transformative potential.

Highly Recommended
Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: 107. The Technology (Real Water)

Brent Allen Jones was working as a lawyer in California and felt unfulfilled. He was looking for answers and read Dianetics, written by L. Ron Hubbard. He felt like the book made sense and that it could improve his life.

"

She was a Scientologist and she sold me a book, Jones told the newspaper, Dianetics.

It just made such sense to me Brent Jones told the Review Journal when I started to apply these guidelines, these rules we call it the technology when you apply it to your life things just start working better for you.

They told me they had what I needed, Raul recalled to the New Times LA that if I followed the program I could be cured of the trimmer and I could be my old self again which is all I ever wanted.

Episode: 94. The Messenger (Kevin Trudeau)

Kevin Trudeau recommends that anyone who is depressed read this book by L. Ron Hubbard and become a Scientologist.

"

If you're depressed Trudeau recommends you read Dianetics by L. Ron Hubbard and become a Scientologist.

Buried Truths and the Hyatt Skywalks: The Legacy of America’s Epic Structural Failure Cover

Richard A. Serrano

Buried Truths and the Hyatt Skywalks

The Legacy of America’s Epic Structural Failure

The hosts highlighted the book as a valuable source on the Hyatt Regency skywalk collapse, noting that author Richard A. Serrado provided detailed accounts of the disaster and its aftermath. They referenced a former police officer’s testimony from the book, emphasizing its insight into the rescue efforts. Overall, the discussion presented the title as a highly recommended account for listeners interested in the incident.

Highly Recommended
Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: 99. The Skywalks (Hyatt Regency disaster)

The book is mentioned as a good source about the disaster at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center Hotel. Richard A. Serrano is the author of the book.

"

A former police officer told Richard A. Serrano, the author of a great book about this disaster called Buried Truths and the Hyatt Skywalks, that after the bodies were cleared, the cops, security guards, and other volunteers formed an army of pail carriers.

Episode: 99. The Skywalks (Hyatt Regency disaster)

The book details the collapse of the skywalks at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center Hotel in Kansas City and the aftermath of the disaster.

"

A former police officer told Richard A. Serrano, the author of a great book about this disaster called Buried Truths and the Hyatt Skywalks, that after the bodies were cleared, the cops, security guards, and other volunteers formed an army of pail carriers.

House of cards Cover

Michael Dobbs

House of cards

The hosts explained that a journalist had written a manuscript titled House of Cards as a counter‑narrative to the Hyatt Regency disaster, aiming to expose Hallmark's involvement, but it never reached publication after editorial disagreements. They noted that the book remained unpublished and therefore was not available for listeners.

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: 99. The Skywalks (Hyatt Regency disaster)

Robert Gordon wrote a book called 'House of Cards' that was never published after he was frustrated by editors and co-writers wanting to shorten the manuscript, eventually giving up on publishing.

"

It was called House of cards, and Simon & Schuster would publish it. Except it never happened.

The book was never published.

Episode: 99. The Skywalks (Hyatt Regency disaster)

The book was meant to be a counter-narrative of the Hyatt Regency disaster, exposing the truth about Hallmark's involvement. It was never published.

"

It was called House of cards, and Simon & Schuster would publish it. Except it never happened.

Skywalks: Robert Gordon’s Untold Story of Hallmark’s Kansas City Disaster Cover

R. Eli Paul

Skywalks

Robert Gordon’s Untold Story of Hallmark’s Kansas City Disaster

The hosts explained that the author used research files and an unpublished manuscript to recount the Hyatt Regency disaster from lawyer Robert Gordon's viewpoint, describing it as an untold story of Hallmark's Kansas City tragedy. They noted that the book is definitely worth checking out.

Highly Recommended
Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: 99. The Skywalks (Hyatt Regency disaster)

Eli Paul wrote a book about the disaster at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center Hotel from the perspective of lawyer Robert Gordon based on his research files and unpublished manuscript.

"

Using those documents, Eli Paul wrote a book about the disaster from Robert Gordon's perspective, called Skywalks, Robert Gordon's untold story of Hallmark's Kansas City disaster.

It's definitely worth checking out.

Episode: 99. The Skywalks (Hyatt Regency disaster)

The book is written from the perspective of Robert Gordon, a lawyer who fought to bring Hallmark to trial for their role in the Hyatt Regency disaster.

"

Using those documents, Eli Paul wrote a book about the disaster from Robert Gordon's perspective, called Skywalks, Robert Gordon's untold story of Hallmark's Kansas City disaster.

The Woman Who Fooled The World: Belle Gibson's cancer con, and the darkness at the heart of the wellness industry Cover

Beau Donelly

The Woman Who Fooled The World

Belle Gibson's cancer con, and the darkness at the heart of the wellness industry

The hosts referenced the title as the source of their expose on Belle Gibson, noting that it details her deceptive practices and the immediate phone calls she made to charities after being questioned about promised donations. The discussion was factual and did not include a strong endorsement of the book.

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: 46. The Gamechanger (Belle Gibson)

The journalists wrote about their expose of Belle Gibson in their book The Woman Who Fooled the World. They described how Belle Gibson started making phone calls to charities she had promised donations to after they received an email containing questions about Belle's charitable contributions.

"

The journalists write the email was delivered at 3.20pm on the Thursday. Gibson immediately hit the phones. At 3.30pm she called the Asylum Seeker Resource Center in Footscray. She spoke to its director of fundraising for funding for the Asylum Seeker Resource Center she spoke to its director of fundraising for 15 minutes apologized for the misunderstanding and promised to pay them $20,000. At 4.01pm she transferred $1,000 to One Girl the charity that had been chasing her for its promised donation for more than a year and then she sent a screenshot of the internet banking receipt from her phone to its CEO. She fired off emails to the other charities too.

Donnelly and Toscano's book The Woman Who Fooled The World which details their expose of the woman in question

Episode: 46. The Gamechanger (Belle Gibson)

Bo Donnelly and Nick Toscano wrote a book titled "The Woman Who Fooled the World" that details the expose of Belle Gibson.

"

According to Beau Donnelly and Nick Toscano's book The Woman Who Fooled The World which details their expose of the woman in question

Signs: The Secret Language of the Universe Cover

Laura Lynne Jackson

Signs

The Secret Language of the Universe

Kevin Trudeau's self-help program, Your Wish Is Your Command, was based on the law of attraction and power of positive thinking. It was a ripoff of the popular but equally worthless book The Secret.

"

Basically a ripoff of the popular but equally worthless book The Secret.

— Episode: 94. The Messenger (Kevin Trudeau)

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: 94. The Messenger (Kevin Trudeau)

Kevin Trudeau's self-help program, Your Wish Is Your Command, was based on the law of attraction and power of positive thinking. It was a ripoff of the popular but equally worthless book The Secret.

"

Basically a ripoff of the popular but equally worthless book The Secret.

The Jungle Cover

Upton Sinclair

The Jungle

The Forward compared the environment at AgriProcessors to the world Upton Sinclair wrote about in his seminal work, The Jungle, and referred to the semi-indentured employees as quote, the impoverished humans who drew the first line of the jungle. The impoverished humans who drew the factory's dirty work.

"

The impoverished humans who drew the first line of The Jungle. The impoverished humans who drew the factory's dirty work.

— Episode: 44. The Raid (Agriprocessors)

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: 44. The Raid (Agriprocessors)

The Forward compared the environment at AgriProcessors to the world Upton Sinclair wrote about in his seminal work, The Jungle, and referred to the semi-indentured employees as quote, the impoverished humans who drew the first line of the jungle. The impoverished humans who drew the factory's dirty work.

"

The impoverished humans who drew the first line of The Jungle. The impoverished humans who drew the factory's dirty work.

The Secret (1) (The Secret Library) Cover

Rhonda Byrne

The Secret (1) (The Secret Library)

Brent Jones claimed that the courses he required his employees to complete were not based on Scientology but were based on a comparable pile of bullshit called The Secret.

"

The courses had nothing to do with Scientology, Jones claimed. The philosophies were based more on a comparable pile of bullshit called the secret, a popular book in those days that touted the power o...

— Episode: 107. The Technology (Real Water)

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: 107. The Technology (Real Water)

Brent Jones claimed that the courses he required his employees to complete were not based on Scientology but were based on a comparable pile of bullshit called The Secret.

"

The courses had nothing to do with Scientology, Jones claimed. The philosophies were based more on a comparable pile of bullshit called the secret, a popular book in those days that touted the power of positive thinking and the law of attraction endorsed by daytime TV talk show gurus like Oprah Winfrey and Ellen DeGeneres.

The Rational Bible: Genesis Cover

Dennis Prager

The Rational Bible

Genesis

Madeline Murray O'Hare sued NASA for allowing astronauts to broadcast readings from the book of Genesis while they orbited the moon.

"

She also sued NASA for allowing astronauts to broadcast readings from the book of Genesis while they orbited the moon.

— Episode: 61. The Atheist (Madalyn Murray O'Hair)

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: 61. The Atheist (Madalyn Murray O'Hair)

Madeline Murray O'Hare sued NASA for allowing astronauts to broadcast readings from the book of Genesis while they orbited the moon.

"

She also sued NASA for allowing astronauts to broadcast readings from the book of Genesis while they orbited the moon.

The Noom Kitchen: 100 Healthy, Delicious, Flexible Recipes for Every Day Cover

Noom

The Noom Kitchen

100 Healthy, Delicious, Flexible Recipes for Every Day

The Noom Kitchen is the first cookbook published by Noom.

"

And check out Noom's first ever cookbook, The Noom Kitchen, for 100 healthy and delicious recipes to remote better living

— Episode: 109. The Machine (Tyson Foods)

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: 109. The Machine (Tyson Foods)

The Noom Kitchen is the first cookbook published by Noom.

"

And check out Noom's first ever cookbook, The Noom Kitchen, for 100 healthy and delicious recipes to remote better living

Available to buy now wherever books are sold

The Woman Who Wasn't There: The True Story of an Incredible Deception Cover

Robin Gaby Fisher

The Woman Who Wasn't There

The True Story of an Incredible Deception

It was mentioned as a book co-authored by Robin Gaby Fisher and Angelo Guglielmo, in relation to the Tania Head story and the documentary of the same name.

"

It's called The Woman Who Wasn't There and there's a book by the same name that Angelo co-authored with Robin Gabby Fisher. It's worth your time.

— Episode: 37. The Survivor (Tania Head)

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: 37. The Survivor (Tania Head)

It was mentioned as a book co-authored by Robin Gaby Fisher and Angelo Guglielmo, in relation to the Tania Head story and the documentary of the same name.

"

It's called The Woman Who Wasn't There and there's a book by the same name that Angelo co-authored with Robin Gabby Fisher. It's worth your time.

Atlas Shrugged (Centennial Ed.) Cover

Ayn Rand

Atlas Shrugged (Centennial Ed.)

Brent Allen Jones stated that he felt his opponent was dumbing down society by teaching children that capitalism was bad. He referenced the book Atlas Shrugged written 60 years ago.

"

You know 60 years ago there was a book written called Atlas Shrugged.

— Episode: 107. The Technology (Real Water)

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: 107. The Technology (Real Water)

Brent Allen Jones stated that he felt his opponent was dumbing down society by teaching children that capitalism was bad. He referenced the book Atlas Shrugged written 60 years ago.

"

You know 60 years ago there was a book written called Atlas Shrugged.

The Meat Racket: The Secret Takeover of America's Food Business Cover

Christopher Leonard

The Meat Racket

The Secret Takeover of America's Food Business

The book chronicles Tyson's rise to power and provides a detailed account of their chickenization of the pork industry.

"

According to Christopher Leonard, who wrote a great book called The Meat Racket

— Episode: 109. The Machine (Tyson Foods)

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: 109. The Machine (Tyson Foods)

The book chronicles Tyson's rise to power and provides a detailed account of their chickenization of the pork industry.

"

According to Christopher Leonard, who wrote a great book called The Meat Racket

Call Me Commander: A Former Intelligence Officer and the Journalists Who Uncovered His Scheme to Fleece America Cover

Jeff Testerman

Call Me Commander

A Former Intelligence Officer and the Journalists Who Uncovered His Scheme to Fleece America

The book details the case of Bobby Thompson and his fraudulent charity, which was exposed by journalist Jeff Testerman. It was an award-winning series of articles he wrote that ultimately led to the arrest of the Commander.

"

Testerman has also recently released a book about the case titled Call Me Commander, so check that out too.

— Episode: 108. The Commander (Bobby C. Thompson)

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: 108. The Commander (Bobby C. Thompson)

The book details the case of Bobby Thompson and his fraudulent charity, which was exposed by journalist Jeff Testerman. It was an award-winning series of articles he wrote that ultimately led to the arrest of the Commander.

"

Testerman has also recently released a book about the case titled Call Me Commander, so check that out too.

Masters of Deceit: The Story of Communism in America and How to Fight It Cover

J Edgar Hoover

Masters of Deceit

The Story of Communism in America and How to Fight It

The book was written by Jody Andes, who interviewed John Donald Cody, the commander, in prison numerous times. In a Q&A with her former newspaper, he was upset that the book was available for $17, as he felt his story was worth more than that.

"

She interviewed the commander in prison at least a dozen times for a book she wrote about the case called Master of Deceit.

— Episode: 108. The Commander (Bobby C. Thompson)

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: 108. The Commander (Bobby C. Thompson)

The book was written by Jody Andes, who interviewed John Donald Cody, the commander, in prison numerous times. In a Q&A with her former newspaper, he was upset that the book was available for $17, as he felt his story was worth more than that.

"

She interviewed the commander in prison at least a dozen times for a book she wrote about the case called Master of Deceit.

Apparently, the former head of the U.S. Navy's Veterans Association still has money on his mind. Someone had told him about the book that it was available for $17 and he's revealed in a Q&A with her former newspaper. He was angry. He said his story is worth more than $17.

Eighty-one Seconds: The Attack and Aftermath as Tornadoes Hit Pilger, Stanton, Wakefield and Wisner, Nebraska Cover

LaRayne M. Topp

Eighty-one Seconds

The Attack and Aftermath as Tornadoes Hit Pilger, Stanton, Wakefield and Wisner, Nebraska

The speaker mentions that Daring Shiner told the author of the book "81 Seconds", Lorraine M. Topp, about how he took shelter under a bridge during the tornado.

"

He told 81 seconds author Lorraine M. Topp that he took cover under a bridge and held on to one of the pillars for dear life.

— Episode: 106. The Tornado (Kim Neiman)

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: 106. The Tornado (Kim Neiman)

The speaker mentions that Daring Shiner told the author of the book "81 Seconds", Lorraine M. Topp, about how he took shelter under a bridge during the tornado.

"

He told 81 seconds author Lorraine M. Topp that he took cover under a bridge and held on to one of the pillars for dear life.

Borrowed Time Cover

John Nolte

Borrowed Time

Paul Manette's 1988 memoir, Borrowed Time, chronicles the final nineteen months of his romantic partner's battle and eventual death from AIDS.

"

Paul Manette persuaded Tony to start writing an autobiography and referred the boy to his literary agent and editor.

— Episode: Rerun: The Ghost Writer (Anthony Godby J...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Rerun: The Ghost Writer (Anthony Godby Johnson)

Paul Manette's 1988 memoir, Borrowed Time, chronicles the final nineteen months of his romantic partner's battle and eventual death from AIDS.

"

Paul Manette persuaded Tony to start writing an autobiography and referred the boy to his literary agent and editor.

Manette's 1988 memoir, Borrowed Time, chronicles the final nineteen months of his romantic partner's battle and eventual death from AIDS.

Rock in a Hard Place: The Browning Automatic Rifle Cover

James. Ballou

Rock in a Hard Place

The Browning Automatic Rifle

Armistead Mopin, known for his tales of the City series, read an advanced copy of Tony's book, A Rock in a Hard Place, and offered a blurb for the cover.

"

He had read an advanced copy of A Rock in a Hard Place and offered a blurb for the cover.

— Episode: Rerun: The Ghost Writer (Anthony Godby J...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Rerun: The Ghost Writer (Anthony Godby Johnson)

Armistead Mopin, known for his tales of the City series, read an advanced copy of Tony's book, A Rock in a Hard Place, and offered a blurb for the cover.

"

He had read an advanced copy of A Rock in a Hard Place and offered a blurb for the cover.

Note: The book recommendations on this page are discovered automatically from podcast transcripts, and may be incorrect or incomplete.