If you ever find yourself driving down Old Hollow Road after midnight, whatever you do, don't say these words "The old man's on fire," three times or you will end up like all the rest. That's exactly what happened to Johnny Waters. Johnny wasn't afraid of a legend, especially because he never heard of anyone dying on Old Hollow Road. Johnny's grandfather told him that there was an old man who lived in the woods across from Old Hollow Road. Legend has it that a group of young teenagers had been drinking heavily and decided to play a prank on the old man. The teenagers didn't like the old man because he would run them off his property with his shotgun. This just made them angry. They wanted to teach the old man a lesson. The old man's property was their favorite place to camp out because it was secluded deep in the woods. One day when the group of teenagers came by the old man's property after dark they decided it was time to teach the old man a lesson. One of the teenagers went back to his car to get a gas can. When he returned to the group, he told them he was going to burn the old man's cabin to the ground. After about two more six-packs the teens were out for blood. They poured gas all around the cabin and set it ablaze. The teens stood and watched the old man's cabin burn to the ground. They heard the old man screaming from the cabin, "I'm burning, please save me!" The teenagers just laughed and passed the two six-packs around until the beer was gone. They tossed their empty beer cans in the fire where the old man's cabin used to sit. Supposedly, one of the teenagers heard the old man say, "If you ever ride down Old Hollow Road in your car, don't look in your rearview mirror. If you do, the old man will get you."

Presents descriptions of hundreds of urban legends and their variations, themes, and scholarly approaches to the genre, including such tales as disappearing hitchhikers and hypodermic needles left in the coin slots of pay telephones.

Gather ’round the fire, fellow campers, because it’s time for that most terrifying of traditions-campfire stories so scary you’ll never sleep without a night-light again! The Teen Titans guide those brave enough through tales of Batman and the hidden killer, Superman and Lois Lane and the killer in their back seat, Harley Quinn and Darkseid versus a furious Bloody Mary, and four more stories so hair-raising you’ll call your momma to come pick you up. So toast your marshmallows, pull up a s’more, and answer the only question that matters this Halloween: Are you afraid of Darkseid?

"If you enjoy these too-good-to-be-true tales, Brunvand's new book will give you hours of pleasure."—Chicago Tribune A fabulously entertaining book from the ultimate authority on those almost believable tales that always happen to a "friend of a friend." Alligators in the sewers? A pet in the microwave? A tragic misunderstanding of the function of cruise control? No, it didn't really happen to your friend's sister's neighbor: it's an urban legend. And no matter how savvy you think you are, you are sure to find in this collection of over 200 tales at least one story you would have sworn was true. Jan Harold Brunvand has been collecting and studying this modern folklore for over twenty years. In Too Good to Be True he captures the best stories in their best retellings, along with their latest variations and examples of how the stories have changed as they move from person to person and place to place. To help you find your favorite, Brunvand has arranged the tales thematically. "Bringing Up Baby" is full of episodes of child-rearing gone wrong, including the grisly tale of the drugged out baby-sitter who mistakes the kid for a turkey. "Funny Business" showcases stories of infamous lapses in customer service, such as the story of the shockingly expensive chocolate chip cookie recipe. And "The Criminal Mind" features both brilliant --if they were real --scams, as well as the purported antics of the less mentally gifted. Whether you want to become an expert debunker or just have plenty of laughs, this book will surprise and entertain you. Illustrated throughout. "Informative and entertaining.... Brunvand has collected more than 200 of the most-repeated and best-known examples of modern folk-myth."—Tampa Tribune "[N]ot only an entertaining anthology, but an excellent introduction to the study of folklore itself."—Publishers Weekly "A fun read... . All the classics are here from the killer upstairs to the Kentucky Fried Rat."—New City "Resonant stories that express our hidden anxieties ... make us laugh, [or] arouse our fascinated horror."—San Francisco Chronicle Book Review "Informative and entertaining... . Brunvand has collected more than 200 of the most-repeated and best-known examples of modern folk-myth."—Tampa Tribune "[N]ot only an entertaining anthology, but an excellent introduction to the study of folklore itself."—Publishers Weekly

"A wonderfully entertaining book of American folklore and humor."—Elaine Kendall, Los Angeles Times Book Review Professor Jan Harold Brunvand expands his examination of the phenomenon of urban legends, those improbable, believable stories that always happen to a "friend of a friend."

"A uniquely entertaining book: edifying scholarship, diverting social history."—Elaine Kendall, Los Angeles Times "[The book] captures the spirit of convivial storytelling and even encourages the activity. . . . Many readers . . . will be gratified to know that Brunvand intends to continue this series of relaxed, unofficial excursions into popular legends. Admirers of curiosa and the psychology of crowds cannot afford to miss them." —Kirkus Reviews

A collection of oft-repeated urban legends brings together the best of modern myths, from the stoned baby sitter who mistook a baby for a turkey to the fabulously expensive recipe for chocolate chip cookies.