Urban Legends: The As-Complete-As-One-Could-Be Guide to Modern Myths

By Ngaire E. Genge

Urban Legends is a remarkably complete collection of the modern myths that make the rounds in offices, college dorms, and every other place where people tell the stories that spring from our deepest fears and fascinations.

Every culture has its folktales including ours. Except, instead of involving gods and goddesses or princes and princesses, ours involve "some guy my sister's best friend knows" or "someone who woke up in a motel room." They happened, supposedly, to real people, usually recently, in a particular place. And they touch the most sensitive nerves of our psyches with ironic twists, gross-out shocks, and moral lessons learned the hard way.

From the classic tale "The Mexican Pet" in which the "dog" turns out to be no Chihuahua to the more unappetizing story of condoms as fast-food burger garnish, from surgically skilled kidney thieves to sexual experiments that end in the emergency room, Urban Legends relates more 300 of the most enticing, macabre, and unforgettable tales. Expertly told, they are arranged in such chapters as "Crazy Little Thang Called Sex," "Oh, Scare Me," "Campus Capers," "Corporate Convolutions," and "So Much For Comfort Food."

Fascinating, chilling, and occasionally repulsive, Urban Legends has all your favorites and hundreds more.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
• Release date: Jun 9, 2010
• ISBN: 9780307560933

Reviews for Urban Legends

[flying_monkeys_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Rating: 3 of 5Organized its over 400 "modern myths" into categories by the tale's topic or theme, such as "Oh, Scare Me!", "Happy Holidays," and "Crazy Little Thang Called Sex!" The author explored the social context, briefly discussed any validity or basis in true events, possible reasons behind origins, and the ways in which certain tales have evolved over time.Definitely check out pages 175-176 for the state laws as well as page 286 for "You Don't Say!" - hilarious! For example, instructions for Japanese food processor read, "Not to be used for the other use."Recommended to readers who want A LOT of urban legends jam-packed into one book.Notes for my quick reference:"In one sense, urban legends resemble fairy tales. Though they are meant to be taken literally, as having really happened, they contain clearly visible warnings or lessons (p. xvii).""What separates an urban legend from a rumor, or a bit of simple misinformation, or a fairy tale? Consistency of form (p. xviii).""Legends frequently derive their punch from irony (p. xix).""the 'truth' of a legend isn't necessarily all that important (p. xix).""folkloric purists (p. xxii)."Correlation between Little Red Riding Hood and "The Ride" on pages 58-59.

[heather19_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A fairly thorough look at some of the most well-known (and some of the strangest) urban legends out there. A very interesting book, but I must admit that some of the stories were a little too... squicky... for me.