The Right Way To Do Wrong - An Expose Of Successful Criminals

By Harry Houdini

Originally published in 1906, this early work by legendary escapologist Harry Houdini is both expensive and hard to find in its first edition. It contains a wealth of information on the methods and history of various criminal art forms such as pick-pocketing, burglary, confidence tricksters and much more. This is a fascinating publication highly recommended for those interested in the techniques and practices of the old fashioned criminal. Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Read Books Ltd.
• Release date: Apr 16, 2013
• ISBN: 9781447482826

Harry Houdini

Harry Houdini (1874–1926) was born Erik Weisz in Budapest, Hungary. He was a magician, escapologist and performer of stunts, as well as a sceptic and investigator of spiritualists. He produced films, acted, and penned numerous books.

Reviews for The Right Way To Do Wrong - An Expose Of Successful Criminals

[bobculley · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This book combines excerpts from Houdini's out-of-print book 'The Right Way to Do Wrong' with articles by Houdini on the practice of magic and other entertainments in his time (late 19th and early 20th century). The book excerpts were the most interesting to me, covering criminal activities in some detail, including various forms of con game, but also burglary and sometimes elaborate heists. There are articles explaining how Sword Swallowers and other side-show attractions perform their tricks, and a bit about Houdini's own escape techniques. A surprising article gives practical advice on breaking ciphers, one of Houdini's less well known talents. Other articles discuss his encounters with some of his imitators and rivals: all prove to be frauds compared to Houdini, the self-proclaimed "Handcuff King and Prison Breaker".