How to Disappear Completely and Never Be Found

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

How to Disappear Complete and Never Be Found is a book by Doug Richmond, originally released in 1985[1], which is a how-to guide on starting a new identity[2], and has been described as "one of the odder self-help titles on the market"[3]. It has the subtitle Planning a disappearance, arranging for new identification, finding work, establishing credit, pseudocide (creating the impression you're dead), and more.[4]. The book recommends a method of disappearing by assuming the identity of a dead person with similar vital statistics and age, and also includes a section on avoiding paper trails which, due to the age of the book, may not no longer be relevant or useful[5].

A play inspired by the book was released in 2005 by Fin Kennedy, about a man wanting to disappear, which won the John Whiting Award[6].

There is also a children's mystery horror book, written by Sara Nickerson, also called How to Disappear Complete and Never Be Found[7][8], published by HarperCollins.

The name of Radiohead song How to Disappear Completely was inspired by this book.