Freaks: We Who Are Not As Others

by Daniel P. Mannix

"I am convinced that the only people worthy of consideration in this world are the unusual ones. For the common folk are like the leaves of a tree, and live and die unnoticed."
―The Scarecrow of Oz, from The Marvelous Land of Oz by L. Frank Baum

During the lifetime of Daniel P. Mannix, freaks were the star attractions of sideshows ― respected and revered by other carnival members. Daniel P. Mannix himself, unusually tall and awkward as a boy, always felt a kinship with others who didn't fit in and joined a carnival as a young man where he became a sword-swallower, fire-eater, and mentalist. He came to know and love carnival people and later wrote Freaks: We who are not as Others to quash the myths and misunderstandings about freaks, to celebrate their differences, to demonstrate the fullness of their lives, and to show that no matter what the external picture ― tall, thin, fat, short, deformed, hairy, witty, or dull ― underneath the human spirit burns triumphant.

Complete with stories and anecdotes of his time on the road, interviews, and historical references, Freaks: We who are not as Others also includes 82 astounding photographs and additional material from the author's personal collection.


Daniel P. Mannix worked in carnivals for three years and went on to become a best selling author, journalist, and lecturer who wrote and spoke on a wide range of subjects. Although he is well-known for his best-selling books about animals, Mannix was also attracted to the exploration and telling of stories many people shunned and his noir classics such as Those About to Die, The History of Torture, The Hell-fire Club, and Step Right Up! are also available through eNet Press.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Disability, Cultural, Biography, Art

245 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1976

About the author

Daniel Pratt Mannix IV was best known as an American author and journalist. His life was remarkably different from other writers of his generation. His career included times as a side show performer, magician, trainer of eagles and film maker.

The Grest Zadma was a stage name Mannix used as a magician. He also entertained as a sword swallower and fire eater in a traveling carnival sideshow. Magazine articles about these experiences, co-written with his wife, became very popular in 1944 and 1945.

As an author Mannix covered a wide variety of subject matter. His more than 25 books ranged from fictional animal stories for children, the natural history of animals, and adventurous accounts about hunting big game to sensational adult non-fiction topics such as a biography of the occultist Aleister Crowley, sympathetic accounts of carnival performers and sideshow freaks, and works describing, among other things, the Hellfire Club, the Atlantic slave trade, the history of torture, and the Roman games. His output of essays and articles was extensive.

Reviews

[Sezin Koehler · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book was published in 1976 so there is a metric boatload of problematic and disturbing language that the author uses as a matter of course. Some of it is out of touch, even for the 70s. Also, the author shares many anecdotes and historic events, but there are very few references and no full list of citations included. You’d have to do separate research to verify these stories so this book could be an interesting jumping off point for a super cool investigation project.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love freaks. Really, I do. I'm fascinated by deformities, diseases, special talents--anything that makes someone different. I liked this book because it had lots of anecdotes and personal stories about the little people, the giants, the hirsutes, the malformed twins and everyone else. It was more than just a freak show; it was a peak into their lives. That said, I do wish there had been more pictures.

[A.M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually read the edition that is now out of print, but I bought the RE/Search edition a couple of years ago, just so I could have a copy. Haven't read the whole thing since '98 or thereabouts.
What I like about this book is the way it investigates the world of freakshows through interviews and 1st hand accounts. In this sense it's a unique artifact of a world that doesn't really exist anymore.

[Bat Boy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Baby Jesus knows that I love freaks. I really hope to have a little person as a friend one day. I see them occasionally and stare, not because they are freaks, but because I want to call one my friend. They don't seem to mind. I think they are used to getting stares. I wish this book had more pictures.

[Arpad Okay · Rating 5 out of 5]

my favorite of the re/search books. dan mannix lived the life, and both stories and photos are captivating. perfect format, the perfect resource on they who are not as others.

[Tone · Rating 3 out of 5]

Poorly edited and far too few pictures this is, however, the finest book on freak culture I've ever read.

[Rachel James · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite Research book. It has great photos and is easy to reference.

[Rex Hurst · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a banned book from the 1970s. It was first published in a small edition format then withdrawn by the publisher and destroyed, after only being out a month. Thus was done under pressure from blue-nosed authoritarian types sticking their noses up about the subject matter. It was out of print for twenty years, until RE-search press, a publisher who specializes in such subject matters, turned out a new edition in 1990. This book is a wonderful collection of material on various sideshow freak events from the lost days of carnivals and circuses. As the author rightly points out, back in the day, a good freak would be the highlight of a show and could pay the running costs of everything by themselves. Before they were shut down by do-gooders in Congress, the sideshow was the best way for a person deemed a “freak” to make a living. Many made fortunes well beyond what they would have made as normal people. Now because of “caring people” who just wanted to help, their livelihoods were destroyed. The book is filled with pictures, some disturbing, some fascinating, and lots of commentary from the author and Anton La Vey (Writer about the Satanic Bible) about historical people deemed to be freaks and the life of an attraction in the modern (modern for 1974) sideshow.

[Meris Stella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daniel Mannix has worked as a Sword-swallower and Magician, so his is a first hand account of Sideshow Freaks. Words like Freak and some other descriptors in this book might not be PC these days, but were acceptable in the 1970s, when this book was first published, and banned. Not an academic or professional writer, Mannix has met, interviewed and worked with people in this book, and the best bits are his personal stories from their fascinating lives. Terrific photographs and illustrations bring back this period, when disabled people could make small fortunes exhibiting themselves, and enjoy the friendship of fellow performers, and a chance to see the world. The way in which these giants and little people learned various skills, from musical to sporting, to enhance their performances, is truly heart-warming. I believe they lived happy and fulfilled lives, and some disabled performers, like Sideshow Josh of the Happy Sideshow, continue to make a living this way, to this day. Bravo!

[William Retherford · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been a fan of Daniel P Mannix books for years and this one definitely is one of his best.

[Amadeo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thoughtful, considerate account of circus sideshow performers.

[Debra · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very informative book, but not well-written (you can tell the author is not a professional writer, in fact, he's a professional carny guy). It is also outdated and some of the terms used to talk about certain folks can seem offensive if you don't take into account that this was written in the mid-seventies. Still, seeing the word "negress" really rubbed me wrong, but perhaps it was the politically correct term for someone from the writer's generation. Anyway, I learned a lot I'd never knew and saw some startling (and sometimes, explicit) photos - Warning! Adult content in some pictures!

[Carly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book! Wish there was a reference page at the back listing the other memoirs that he mentioned throughout, but they shouldn't be too hard to track down. A more personal look at "freaks" and sideshow performers. If you read a lot in this genre some information will be repeated, but I found that Mannix always added something I hadn't read before.

[Story · Rating 3 out of 5]

A look at the people who worked the sideshows: pinheads, fat ladies, monkey-women etc. This isn't about titillation or exploitation; rather it's a gentle exploration of people who had to make hard choices to survive.

[George Schmoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely great book to begin the voyage into the carny world, a great place to start and refer back to.

[Arnpoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an excellent introduction into the world of sideshows, well before their modern, less shocking incarnations.

[Don · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fantastic subject handled in a rather mediocre fashion.