Yeah, it works for people who are proud of their stupidity or the criminal behavior and they can roll it into book deal. But other than that it is not good.

When I was young I used to refer to myself as a legend in my own mind. I accepted that my ego was directing my thoughts. I had to double check if I was bullshitting myself.

Then I left the wife and started a new life and started reconnecting with a variety of people from my youth. I went and interviewed them with a recorder and ask them my memories were accurate. Was I a legend outside my mind? How crazy are my thoughts?

Turns out I actually was a legend outside my mind. My general attitudes were based on insecurity. That's why I gained the confidence at that moment to start gathering materials to write the book.

But then the arrest happened and I thought it was just going to add a great chapter to the book. But then the boy made me promise to never write the book. Why should momentary financial comfort for me cause a lifetime of pain to him? So I didn't write the book. Oh well.

Back to the point. Infamy only works for independently wealthy people. The rest of us have to avoid it.