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The Woman Who Fooled the World

By: Beau Donelly, Nick Toscano
Narrated by: James Saunders
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Summary

Belle Gibson convinced the world she had healed herself from terminal brain cancer with a healthy diet. She built a global business based upon her claims. There was just one problem: she'd never had cancer.

In 2015, journalists uncovered the truth: this hero of the wellness world, with over 200,000 followers, international book deals and a best-selling smartphone app, was a fraud. She had lied about having cancer - to her family and friends, to her business partners and publishers, and to the hundreds of thousands of people, including genuine cancer survivors, who were inspired by her Instagram posts.

Written by the same multiaward-winning journalists who uncovered the details of Gibson's lies, The Woman Who Fooled the World tracks the 23-year-old's rise to fame and fall from grace. Told through interviews with the people who know her best, it unravels the mystery and motivation behind this deception and follows the public reaction to a scandal that made headlines around the world.

The Woman Who Fooled the World explores the lure of alternative cancer treatments, the cottage industry flourishing behind the wellness and 'clean eating' movements and the power of social media. It documents the devastating impact this con had on Gibson's fans and on people suffering from cancer. Ultimately, it answers not just how but why Gibson was able to fool so many.

©2017 Beau Donelly and Nick Toscano (P)2017 Audible, Ltd
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What listeners say about The Woman Who Fooled the World

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Superb.

so interesting, not just about Belle. It's a fantastic read and I will listen to this all over again for the content.

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  • Overall
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surprisingly very good

Excellent investigation and report.
Well written and narrated.
It shows all angles of the damage Belle Gibson caused and all responsible to launch her to fame.

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Excellent

Belle Gibson is a scammer and she should be thrown in jail. This book is excellent and tells the warts and all story of belle Gibson who lied and cheated about having cancer and how she was beating it by diet/other alternative methods. I’ve no sympathy for her poor me’s and the big companies who she sucked in - no due diligence was done which may have stopped her. I do have the upmost sympathy for those she damaged both mentally and physically. She’s a greedy narcissistic predator who preyed on the Ill and those who were looking for a miracle.

The book itself was well read and written

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  • Overall
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Stunning analysis of a growing global threat to health

Probably the best, most forensic dissection of a flawed person and how media manipulation grew her into a major health force despite knowing that she peddled lies.
As this phenomenon grows globally we must listen to the cautions so clearly described in the book.

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6 people found this helpful

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Yes! More please

Amazing writing! Brilliant book! What researchers? Perfect narrating - just a great product. Thank you all.

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Really good read, pity about subject matter

Wow just wow! Why on earth did nobody who interviewed/employed/published her do no due diligence on this lady?

People are going to trust every claim this lady made due to the companies behind her. I’m so totally amazed at the s*** some people pull off but lying about cancer in such a way that can cause people harm is disgusting and vile. Social media really is a new root of evil in this world.

This book is very well written. Everything is laid out in a factual manner with no obvious bias either way. The reader is guided towards making their own conclusions re Belle Gibson as a person. I liked the writing style a lot and would definitely read more of this authors work.

The narration is easy to listen to and well performed.

Hopefully all the information laid out in this book will ensure this never happens again. (although it probably will because people suck)

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Really interesting!

I really liked this book, the narration is very well done. The subject of the book is a fascinating character but it also has insights into the concept of wellness, social media influencers and public shaming. I think it offered a very well rounded look at a complicated human that’s done some really messed up stuff. It really was a good listen.

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very interesting

well narrated story of belle gibson. so bizarre that someone could go to such lengths for attention. I think there needs an updated book now

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Worthy binge listen!

Binged listened in a single day.

Liked the narration, story equally compelling and shocking. I wish it wasn’t true.

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Interesting Story well told and researched

Unbelievable story well researched, written and narrated. Anger inducing and thought provoking! It's shocking how long it took for her disgusting lies to be exposed but that's testament to people's trusting nature - who is going to question someone who's telling you they are dying of cancer?

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