Pranksters: Making Mischief in the Modern World

From Jonathan Swift’s “A Modest Proposal” to the modern “hacktivists” of anonymous “spoofing” corporations and governments, McLeod (Creative License), the man who actually trademarked the phrase “Freedom of Expression,” examines hoaxes, pranks, and successful feats of trickery that inspire widespread public amazement and reinforce the need to critically assess miraculous stories or occurrences. He shares thoughtful insights into both lighthearted hoaxes like the Feejee mermaid and well-known darker pranks, such as the 17th century Illuminati conspiracy created by a college student, or the 1980s “Satanic Panic.” Benjamin Franklin (who borrowed liberally from Swift) and P.T. Barnum are notable, famous tricksters, but McLeod’s description of the lonely, blind phone-phreakers who created their own “electronic social net-work” in the 1960s speaks to the primary need for expression and connection commonly found among the perpetrators. McLeod entertains and engages readers with everything from Thomas Paine to T-Pain in this clever mix of historical figures’ imaginative pranks and modern attempts to capture public attention. (Apr.)