Renowned magician James “The Amazing” Randi has been wowing audiences with his jaw-dropping illusions, escapes, and sleight of hand for over 50 years. When Randi began seeing his cherished art form co-opted by all manner of con artists—from faith healers and fortune-tellers to psychics and gurus—he made it his mission to expose the simple tricks charlatans have borrowed from magicians to swindle the masses.

With An Honest Liar, Justin Weinstein and Tyler Measom chronicle Randi’s best debunkings, including his rivalry with nemesis and famed spoon-bender Uri Geller, with the help of interviewees including Penn Jillette, Bill Nye, and “Mythbuster” Adam Savage. In telling Randi’s strange, funny, and fascinating life story, they ultimately show us how we are all vulnerable to deception—even, in a surprising twist, “The Amazing” Randi himself.

-Cara Cusumano