In this lively and engaging book, the nation's foremost expert on urban legends explores the spontaneous germination of these bizarre yet plausible narratives that play on the absurdities and prey on the fears of modern life.

Brunvand tracks the various permutations of such legends as "The Red Velvet Cake," "The Brain Drain," and "The Baby Roast." He points out their common elements -- notably, their insistence on the truth of the story and their attribution to a "friend of a friend."

The Truth Never Stands in the Way of a Good Story! pins down the qualities that give urban legends their air of authenticity and make them hard to believe yet impossible to dismiss. For those interested in popular culture and current events as well as those wary of being taken in by false information, Brunvand's book reinforces his most basic piece of advice: "Don't believe everything you hear."

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