Too Good to Be True: The Colossal Book of Urban Legends

Too Good to Be True collects hundreds of urban legends and folklore stories that have circulated throughout North America and beyond. Author Jan Harold Brunvand, a leading folklore scholar, presents these tales alongside research into their origins and variations across different communities and time periods. The book organizes stories into thematic categories including crime, business, accidents, sex, cars, and contaminated foods. Each entry includes multiple versions of the legend, documentation of real incidents that may have inspired it, and analysis of how the story evolved as it spread. The compilation draws from Brunvand's previous works while adding new material and updated research. The stories range from brief anecdotes to complex narratives, with some dating back decades and others emerging from contemporary anxieties. Beyond pure entertainment value, the collection reveals how urban legends reflect and shape societal fears, cultural beliefs, and moral lessons. The persistence and evolution of these stories demonstrate humanity's enduring need to create and share cautionary tales.

Readers describe this collection as an entertaining reference of urban legends with detailed research behind their origins and variations. Many note it serves as both a folklore resource and source of entertainment. Likes: - Clear organization by theme/category - Historical context and background for each legend - Mix of familiar and obscure stories - Academic rigor while remaining accessible - Useful index for finding specific legends Dislikes: - Some stories feel repetitive - Academic tone can be dry in places - Several readers wanted more modern/contemporary legends - Limited illustrations Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (422 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (31 ratings) Notable reader comments: "Perfect balance of scholarship and readability" - Goodreads reviewer "Great bathroom reading - can pick up and put down easily" - Amazon reviewer "Some entries feel padded with similar variations" - Goodreads reviewer "Could use more analysis of why these stories persist" - LibraryThing reviewer

The Vanishing Hitchhiker by Jan Harold Brunvand This collection examines the origins and variations of classic American urban legends, focusing on tales of mysterious riders, haunted houses, and cursed objects.

Encyclopedia of Urban Legends by Patricia Turner and Gary Alan Fine This reference work catalogs hundreds of modern folklore stories with their historical contexts, cultural significance, and global variations.

The Baby Train and Other Lusty Urban Legends by Jan Harold Brunvand The book tracks the evolution and spread of contemporary folklore through modern communication channels, with emphasis on stories about relationships and scandals.

An Encyclopedia of Claims, Frauds, and Hoaxes of the Occult and Supernatural by James Randi This compilation documents and debunks paranormal tales, superstitions, and supernatural claims that circulate as urban legends.

The World of Strange Phenomena by Charles Berlitz The text presents unexplained mysteries, folklore, and legends from cultures across the globe with historical documentation and reported eyewitness accounts.

🗣️ As a folklorist, Jan Harold Brunvand coined the term "urban legend" in the 1970s and helped establish it as a legitimate field of study. 📚 The book contains over 200 urban legends collected from various sources, including newspapers, personal accounts, and international variations of popular stories. 🌍 Many urban legends in the book appear across multiple cultures with slight variations, demonstrating how these stories adapt to local contexts while maintaining their core narrative. ⚡ The "Kentucky Fried Rat" story featured in the book became so widespread that KFC (then Kentucky Fried Chicken) had to actively work to combat this false tale about consumers finding fried rats in their meals. 🎓 Brunvand used his extensive academic background to analyze how urban legends often reflect society's current fears, anxieties, and moral concerns, making them valuable tools for understanding cultural psychology.