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Barnum: An American Life
“Robert Wilson’s Barnum, the first full-dress biography in twenty years, eschews clichés for a more nuanced story…It is a life for our times, and the biography Barnum deserves.” —The Wall Street Journal
P.T. Barnum is the greatest showman the world has ever seen. As a creator of the Barnum & Baily Circus and a champion of wonder, joy, trickery, and “humbug,” he was the founding father of American entertainment—and as Robert Wilson argues, one of the most important figures in American history.
Nearly 125 years after his death, the name P.T. Barnum still inspires wonder. Robert Wilson’s vivid new biography captures the full genius, infamy, and allure of the ebullient showman, who, from birth to death, repeatedly reinvented himself. He learned as a young man how to wow crowds, and built a fortune that placed him among the first millionaires in the United States. He also suffered tragedy, bankruptcy, and fires that destroyed his life’s work, yet willed himself to recover and succeed again. As an entertainer, Barnum courted controversy throughout his life—yet he was also a man of strong convictions, guided in his work not by a desire to deceive, but an eagerness to thrill and bring joy to his audiences. He almost certainly never uttered the infamous line, “There’s a sucker born every minute,” instead taking pride in giving crowds their money’s worth and more.
Robert Wilson, editor of The American Scholar, tells a gripping story in Barnum, one that’s imbued with the same buoyant spirit as the man himself. In this “engaging, insightful, and richly researched new biography” (New York Journal of Books), Wilson adeptly makes the case for P.T. Barnum’s place among the icons of American history, as a figure who represented, and indeed created, a distinctly American sense of optimism, industriousness, humor, and relentless energy.
P.T. Barnum is the greatest showman the world has ever seen. As a creator of the Barnum & Baily Circus and a champion of wonder, joy, trickery, and “humbug,” he was the founding father of American entertainment—and as Robert Wilson argues, one of the most important figures in American history.
Nearly 125 years after his death, the name P.T. Barnum still inspires wonder. Robert Wilson’s vivid new biography captures the full genius, infamy, and allure of the ebullient showman, who, from birth to death, repeatedly reinvented himself. He learned as a young man how to wow crowds, and built a fortune that placed him among the first millionaires in the United States. He also suffered tragedy, bankruptcy, and fires that destroyed his life’s work, yet willed himself to recover and succeed again. As an entertainer, Barnum courted controversy throughout his life—yet he was also a man of strong convictions, guided in his work not by a desire to deceive, but an eagerness to thrill and bring joy to his audiences. He almost certainly never uttered the infamous line, “There’s a sucker born every minute,” instead taking pride in giving crowds their money’s worth and more.
Robert Wilson, editor of The American Scholar, tells a gripping story in Barnum, one that’s imbued with the same buoyant spirit as the man himself. In this “engaging, insightful, and richly researched new biography” (New York Journal of Books), Wilson adeptly makes the case for P.T. Barnum’s place among the icons of American history, as a figure who represented, and indeed created, a distinctly American sense of optimism, industriousness, humor, and relentless energy.
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First published August 6, 2019
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About the author
Robert Wilson
5 books5 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Robert Wilson has been the editor of Phi Beta Kappa's magazine, The American Scholar, since 2004. Previously, he was the editor of Preservation, the magazine of the Natural Trust for Historic Preservation; literary editor of Civilization ; and the book review editor for USA Today.
Robert Wilson has been the editor of Phi Beta Kappa's magazine, The American Scholar, since 2004. Previously, he was the editor of Preservation, the magazine of the Natural Trust for Historic Preservation; literary editor of Civilization ; and the book review editor for USA Today.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 162 reviews
February 6, 2020
I doubt there are many people who have never heard of Barnum. Even if nothing else is known about the man, his longest lasting legacy, his circus, would be known. Long before the circus, his touring with nature's oddities, real or not, was his first endeavour. This brought him into the public eye, where many considered him a con man. A mermaid, a woman said to be George Washingtons nurse and 116 years old were his introduction to the public. This book fills in the blanks, how he got from there to becoming in his later life, altruistic and a sponsor of many worthy projects that benefited many.
He was a master at advertising, publicity, knew just how to play the newspapers. Yes, he conned many, but keep in mind they had no tv, so this was amusements that were accepted. He toured with the little general Tom Thumb, and the singer Jenny Kind. He made fortunes, lost fortunes, fire would wild out his house, his businesses, many more than once. He remade himself, time and time again. i truly felt for his wife and children, though there would be heartbreak there as well. He never stopped, going from this to that, even in his seventies.
The author, I felt, showed the good with the bad, letting the reader decide how they felt about this man. Flawed, complicated with many mistakes and start overs, but one has to admire his business acumen. His keeping his pulse on what people wanted to see, which he was more than happy to provide. His cavalier attitude towards animals was off-putting at times, and these were difficult parts, but again the author gave it to us straight. Ultimately, he gave much to his home town, among them a public library, church and hospital. This was a very interesting read.
The narrator was Arthur Morey and I give his narration four stars as well.
He was a master at advertising, publicity, knew just how to play the newspapers. Yes, he conned many, but keep in mind they had no tv, so this was amusements that were accepted. He toured with the little general Tom Thumb, and the singer Jenny Kind. He made fortunes, lost fortunes, fire would wild out his house, his businesses, many more than once. He remade himself, time and time again. i truly felt for his wife and children, though there would be heartbreak there as well. He never stopped, going from this to that, even in his seventies.
The author, I felt, showed the good with the bad, letting the reader decide how they felt about this man. Flawed, complicated with many mistakes and start overs, but one has to admire his business acumen. His keeping his pulse on what people wanted to see, which he was more than happy to provide. His cavalier attitude towards animals was off-putting at times, and these were difficult parts, but again the author gave it to us straight. Ultimately, he gave much to his home town, among them a public library, church and hospital. This was a very interesting read.
The narrator was Arthur Morey and I give his narration four stars as well.
February 23, 2020
Phineas Taylor Barnum (1810 –1891), the founding father of the Barnum and Bailey Circus scarcely needs to be introduced. This guy is the quintessential American showman. He is known for his promotion of Tom Thumb, George Washington’s black, “161-year-old” nursemaid. an honest to goodness real, live Fiji mermaid, the fantastically huge elephant Jumbo and the “Swedish Nightingale”, opera singer Jenny Lind. He was most certainly a hoaxer and a master of the humbug. He was also a businessman and a politician. He came to be an abolitionist, a philanthropist and an advocate of temperance and black suffrage.
The book follows P.T. Barnum from birth to death. He died from stroke at the ripe old age of 80. He was the father of four girls and had two wives, the first one named Charity and the second Nancy, who was 40 years his junior.
Everything he involved himself in is here. By observing what he does, you learn who he was. He had business acumen, knew how to use advertising and never gave up when things went wrong. Five times, what he possessed went up in flames! Jumbo was hit by a train!
So, he sounds really great, right? Well he wasn’t, not in my view! He tricked people, he lied and he used people for his own financial gain. If not terribly upset by such, you will say he merely told little white lies and he made people laugh by providing entertainment in an era without cinema, TV or radio. I do not buy this! There did exist other sources of entertainment in the 1800s! P.T. Barnum wanted to make money, big money. He worked for his own self-glory, and I personally do not like this. The book does not hide anything, and it does make clear his personality. On the other hand, it holds a rather lenient and forgiving attitude toward his shenanigans.
The book does what it is supposed to do, but reading it was no wow experience. Anything stated by Barnum must be taken with a pinch of salt. Parts felt thin. Barnum’s change of political affiliation, his relationship with his first wife and that he kept hidden having married his second wife first in Liverpool are three examples of instances where I wish more information had been given.
Before picking up the book, think twice about how you will react to a person who consistently aggrandizes himself and tricks people for his own gain. Others view him as a friendly, cheerful guy; I just don't see him that way.
Arthur Morey narrates the audiobook. Neither the book nor its narration are wow experiences, but sure, they’re fine. The narration I have given three stars. Morey reads rather quickly at the start when it is important to snap up names, places and background information. The tempo is fine later.
The book follows P.T. Barnum from birth to death. He died from stroke at the ripe old age of 80. He was the father of four girls and had two wives, the first one named Charity and the second Nancy, who was 40 years his junior.
Everything he involved himself in is here. By observing what he does, you learn who he was. He had business acumen, knew how to use advertising and never gave up when things went wrong. Five times, what he possessed went up in flames! Jumbo was hit by a train!
So, he sounds really great, right? Well he wasn’t, not in my view! He tricked people, he lied and he used people for his own financial gain. If not terribly upset by such, you will say he merely told little white lies and he made people laugh by providing entertainment in an era without cinema, TV or radio. I do not buy this! There did exist other sources of entertainment in the 1800s! P.T. Barnum wanted to make money, big money. He worked for his own self-glory, and I personally do not like this. The book does not hide anything, and it does make clear his personality. On the other hand, it holds a rather lenient and forgiving attitude toward his shenanigans.
The book does what it is supposed to do, but reading it was no wow experience. Anything stated by Barnum must be taken with a pinch of salt. Parts felt thin. Barnum’s change of political affiliation, his relationship with his first wife and that he kept hidden having married his second wife first in Liverpool are three examples of instances where I wish more information had been given.
Before picking up the book, think twice about how you will react to a person who consistently aggrandizes himself and tricks people for his own gain. Others view him as a friendly, cheerful guy; I just don't see him that way.
Arthur Morey narrates the audiobook. Neither the book nor its narration are wow experiences, but sure, they’re fine. The narration I have given three stars. Morey reads rather quickly at the start when it is important to snap up names, places and background information. The tempo is fine later.
August 8, 2019
“I don't care what the newspapers say about me as long as they spell my name right.”
― P. T. Barnum
A fascinating recounting of the life of one who can only be described as a "unique" personage. P. T. Barnum, a man of extreme contrasts. Both famous and infamous (he was once quoted as saying "there's a sucker born every minute"). He could be found in the company of senators, presidents, celebrities such as Mark Twain, and royalty such as Queen Victoria. At times he was flat broke, at others he was living the life in ostentatious splendor. Although much admired in his time, Barnum's exploitation of both humans and animals would be considered criminal by today's standards. And yet, he was an ardent supporter of humanitarian causes, such as women's suffrage and, ultimately, black voting rights.
Barnum was an ingenious self-promoter: an expert "marketer" long before that skill was taught in business schools. A showman and charlatan. His general philosophy was that the audiences he drew to his shows using misleading claims always got their money's worth and left his shows wanting more. Likewise, the "talent" he exhibited (exploited) almost always grew wealthy by sharing ticket sales. His greatest discovery, Tom Thumb (the dwarf), remained friends with Barnum for life and was buried near him.
Even today, everyone has heard of Barnum & Bailey's Greatest Show on Earth. What is shocking is the scale of this circus during its heyday. It was the Super Bowl, World Cup, Indy 500 and every other major gathering one can imagine, all rolled into a giant magnificent event. Traveling with its own 100-railcar train, there were about 500 men dedicated solely to the task of moving the circus from place to place, town to town, setting up, taking down, and moving again. The huge 3-acre circus tent could hold over 10,000 people. They created the so-called "3-ring" circus because the tent was so large that people high up in the grandstands couldn't watch the activities at the other end of the tent. In addition to the mammoth circus event, there were tents for his museum (think Ripley's Believe It or Not), a menagerie and hippodrome. People traveled from miles around to come to the towns where the circus would be showing. For most, it truly was the Greatest Show on Earth.
Biographies have a tendency of being dry. But the combination of this author's (Robert Wilson) literary style, and what is arguably the least boring biographical subject one could write about, makes Barnum a most engaging read. Thanks to NetGalley and to Simon & Schuster for the opportunity to give my unbiased review.
― P. T. Barnum
A fascinating recounting of the life of one who can only be described as a "unique" personage. P. T. Barnum, a man of extreme contrasts. Both famous and infamous (he was once quoted as saying "there's a sucker born every minute"). He could be found in the company of senators, presidents, celebrities such as Mark Twain, and royalty such as Queen Victoria. At times he was flat broke, at others he was living the life in ostentatious splendor. Although much admired in his time, Barnum's exploitation of both humans and animals would be considered criminal by today's standards. And yet, he was an ardent supporter of humanitarian causes, such as women's suffrage and, ultimately, black voting rights.
Barnum was an ingenious self-promoter: an expert "marketer" long before that skill was taught in business schools. A showman and charlatan. His general philosophy was that the audiences he drew to his shows using misleading claims always got their money's worth and left his shows wanting more. Likewise, the "talent" he exhibited (exploited) almost always grew wealthy by sharing ticket sales. His greatest discovery, Tom Thumb (the dwarf), remained friends with Barnum for life and was buried near him.
Even today, everyone has heard of Barnum & Bailey's Greatest Show on Earth. What is shocking is the scale of this circus during its heyday. It was the Super Bowl, World Cup, Indy 500 and every other major gathering one can imagine, all rolled into a giant magnificent event. Traveling with its own 100-railcar train, there were about 500 men dedicated solely to the task of moving the circus from place to place, town to town, setting up, taking down, and moving again. The huge 3-acre circus tent could hold over 10,000 people. They created the so-called "3-ring" circus because the tent was so large that people high up in the grandstands couldn't watch the activities at the other end of the tent. In addition to the mammoth circus event, there were tents for his museum (think Ripley's Believe It or Not), a menagerie and hippodrome. People traveled from miles around to come to the towns where the circus would be showing. For most, it truly was the Greatest Show on Earth.
Biographies have a tendency of being dry. But the combination of this author's (Robert Wilson) literary style, and what is arguably the least boring biographical subject one could write about, makes Barnum a most engaging read. Thanks to NetGalley and to Simon & Schuster for the opportunity to give my unbiased review.
November 6, 2019
I’m a professional entertainer---ok, a children’s entertainer---which means that my life is sometimes like a vaudeville act. My boss jokes that he works with clowns, but I am not a clown, just a balloon twister and I’ve been doing that for 26 years.
P.T. Barnum is one of those characters who in my line of work is an enigma.
He rose from poverty to become of the greatest showmen ever---and that could be said before the Hugh Jackson movie. Everybody knows who Barnum was---even if they do not know who is was.
This was a very enjoyable book. It looks at Barnum’s life. The early life is quickly, like most good biographies not written by Robert Caro, touched on briefly. From a very early age, Barnum was a finagler. He ran numbers games, which he learned from his father, and realized that people were more likely to participate in a lottery if they won SOMETHING---even if that something wasn’t worth the cost of the ticket---so more people won his games than others.
Barnum called himself the “Prince of Humbugs.” While humbug traditionally has a pejorative meaning, he saw it as a friendly con. Barnum didn’t always tell the truth in advertising, but that was part of the game. People went to see him knowing that the con was on, the trick (as he saw it) was to push the boundaries on what people could accept (“come see for yourself” or “judge for yourself”).
Barnum was a master advertiser. He instinctively knew how to take advantage of a situation to get the best coverage. He’d write letters praising AND condemning his show to local newspapers before his show arrived in a location. While giving media credentials was an accepted practice, he would pay to have newspapers come see his show before he arrived. He knew the power of processions/parades---and maximized their effectiveness.
He saw the value of scarcity. If he had an asset, he knew people would be more prone to come to his show if they thought the asset was leaving. Thus, he’d advertise “for a limited time” or “only 3 days” to get people to spend money.
Barnum was the shuckster salesman that one loathed, but couldn’t take their eyes off of.
This book made me want to watch the movie, “The Greatest Showman” again. While the book is NOT written to capitalize upon the movie’s success, it does mention some of the errors within the movie. For example, the portrayal of Tom Thumb as an adult when approached by Barnum (he was only 4 or 5), or the childhood romance with Charity, or the affair with Jenny Lind.
This was simply a fun book.
P.T. Barnum is one of those characters who in my line of work is an enigma.
He rose from poverty to become of the greatest showmen ever---and that could be said before the Hugh Jackson movie. Everybody knows who Barnum was---even if they do not know who is was.
This was a very enjoyable book. It looks at Barnum’s life. The early life is quickly, like most good biographies not written by Robert Caro, touched on briefly. From a very early age, Barnum was a finagler. He ran numbers games, which he learned from his father, and realized that people were more likely to participate in a lottery if they won SOMETHING---even if that something wasn’t worth the cost of the ticket---so more people won his games than others.
Barnum called himself the “Prince of Humbugs.” While humbug traditionally has a pejorative meaning, he saw it as a friendly con. Barnum didn’t always tell the truth in advertising, but that was part of the game. People went to see him knowing that the con was on, the trick (as he saw it) was to push the boundaries on what people could accept (“come see for yourself” or “judge for yourself”).
Barnum was a master advertiser. He instinctively knew how to take advantage of a situation to get the best coverage. He’d write letters praising AND condemning his show to local newspapers before his show arrived in a location. While giving media credentials was an accepted practice, he would pay to have newspapers come see his show before he arrived. He knew the power of processions/parades---and maximized their effectiveness.
He saw the value of scarcity. If he had an asset, he knew people would be more prone to come to his show if they thought the asset was leaving. Thus, he’d advertise “for a limited time” or “only 3 days” to get people to spend money.
Barnum was the shuckster salesman that one loathed, but couldn’t take their eyes off of.
This book made me want to watch the movie, “The Greatest Showman” again. While the book is NOT written to capitalize upon the movie’s success, it does mention some of the errors within the movie. For example, the portrayal of Tom Thumb as an adult when approached by Barnum (he was only 4 or 5), or the childhood romance with Charity, or the affair with Jenny Lind.
This was simply a fun book.
August 29, 2019
More than 125 years after his death, the story of “the world’s greatest showman” still inspires. The co-creator of Barnum and Bailey Circus was a brilliant impresario, a shrewd charlatan and a champion of wonder, joy and trickery. He has captured the world’s imagination since he first made international sensations of Tom Thumb, Jumbo the Elephant and so many more. Barnum is the man who once made a fortune selling tickets to see a mermaid, fashioned out of a monkey head and a fish body. He learned how to wow crowds and repeatedly reinvented himself, becoming one of Americas first millionaires. He suffered tragedy, bankruptcy, survived fires and willed himself to rebuild again. Much more than a cartoon ringmaster, he was also a state legislator, mayor, philanthropist, temperance advocate and the embodiment of the American Dream. The biography is an interesting and detailed look back at a period in history not unlike today when scam and con artists blur the lines with celebrity, politics and showmanship.
August 6, 2019
Fantastic book! It really separates myth and reality. I learned so many things about him and how much of a hustler he really was. Very thorough biography. There were things that I had no idea about. I would tell ya but that would spoil the surprise. Definitely recommend
February 29, 2020
PT Barnum is most known today for the Barnum and Bailey Circus (which was the premier circus in America for something like 100 years). And the movie The Greatest Showman is about his life. I love that movie, but it turns out to be nothing like his actual life. He didn't grow up the poor son of a tailor. He grew up as the son and grandson of entrepreneurs, who owned stores and who once bought him a plot of swamp land as a joke. He didn't start a circus until late in his long life. His relationship with Jenny Lynd (the singer) was sweet and pure. She had a husband and they were much more father and daughter (and she was renown for her honesty and purity of character). So the movie took some pieces of his life that were true, put them in a different order, made up other things entirely and presented a charming tale that has nothing to do with the actual man.
My favorite part about the man himself is his growth over the years. Unlike most of the famous/powerful people I've read about, he didn't get set in his ways once he "made it." He kept changing, from changing his career (he spent a while as a traveling business keynote speaker, a museum owner, a book author, a real estate investor) to changing his personal beliefs (got serious about his Christian faith, gave up alcohol entirely in his 40's, etc.). He was more well known than the President of the US at the end of his life--all over the world, not just the US. Kings and Queens knew him personally and his name alone would make an event a sold-out experience.
My favorite part about the man himself is his growth over the years. Unlike most of the famous/powerful people I've read about, he didn't get set in his ways once he "made it." He kept changing, from changing his career (he spent a while as a traveling business keynote speaker, a museum owner, a book author, a real estate investor) to changing his personal beliefs (got serious about his Christian faith, gave up alcohol entirely in his 40's, etc.). He was more well known than the President of the US at the end of his life--all over the world, not just the US. Kings and Queens knew him personally and his name alone would make an event a sold-out experience.
July 1, 2019
This is the first biography of P. T. Barnum in a decade and I decided to read it as I have not read one about him. The author does a good job of covering his life and the various events that most people are aware of which include the Mermaid (which helped launch his career as a showman), General Tom Thumb, singer Jenny Lind, the numerous fires that destroyed his museum and the rebuilding and finally the establishent of the Barnum and Bailey circus. The book is well reserached and written making it an enjoyable read. I learned a great deal about Barnum outside of the more famous aspects of his life.
I recommend this book for those looking for an engaging read on the life of P.T. Barnum.
I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Net Galley, Goodreads, Amazon and my fiction book review blog. I also posted it to my Facebook page.
I recommend this book for those looking for an engaging read on the life of P.T. Barnum.
I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Net Galley, Goodreads, Amazon and my fiction book review blog. I also posted it to my Facebook page.
September 29, 2020
When you think of a biography, you expect it to be almost the same as the millions of others out there; however with Barnum, you get the whole package. Mr. Wilson did some really intense research on Mr. Barnum for this book. It was a little hard in the beginning, but it really captured me towards the middle and all the way to the end.
May 21, 2021
As the preacher who eulogized him said, P.T. Barnum’s gravestone should read “Here rests one who never rested.”
The biographer begins with three formative episodes from Barnum’s teen years. First, the land he inherited from a relative turned out to be worthless swamp, to the great amusement of his family (who’d been in on the joke for years). Second, the lottery he ran out of a small general store he managed became wildly popular and profitable once Barnum promised that every ticket won a prize (no matter how worthless). Third, provocative views Barnum published in his town newsletter landed him in jail, where he continued to publish while arranging for an impromptu “parade” on the day of his release. Thus, even intelligent people can be fooled, as long as they get something for their money it’s all good, and publicity is the key. Thus was the showman born.
Barnum’s early years were in pre-Civil War America, back when entertainment had to come to the masses. Barnum travelled to promote and show one “humbug” after another, from a slave who claimed (impossibly) to be George Washington’s nursemaid to a desiccated taxidermy of a “mermaid.” He had years of success with a little person he taught to do skits and impressions (Tom Thumb). And after his wife pleaded with Barnum to give up alcohol, he went on tour with the clean-living and outstanding soprano Jenny Lind.
These ventures made Barnum gobs of money, but they were only the start. The list of his life includes museum director, producer of morality plays, temperance lecturer, author, land developer, politician, menagerie and curiosity accumulator, circus owner (and innovator), father and grandfather and great-grandfather, widower (barely) who remarried, world-traveler, philanthropist …
And therein lies the problem. After the formative experiences, this book is simply an accounting of STUFF. What Barnum might have been thinking or feeling is a blank; little insight is given into what drove him besides restlessness and profit. There’s no reconciling his “showing” the slave storyteller and a malformed black man as “the Missing Link” with his abolitionist politics. No explanation for his fascination with little people (three in total). Yes, the man talked his way into the White House and Buckingham Palace, but beyond a few quotes and some photos there’s no feel for why you’d let him in the door, let alone more than once.
Over a long life of losing loved ones to death and homes and businesses to fire, Barnum developed the motto, “to always add more than had been lost.” In other words, build back better. Would that someone would build this biography back better, as it is an emotionless and unfortunately boring account of what should have been a fascinating subject.
The biographer begins with three formative episodes from Barnum’s teen years. First, the land he inherited from a relative turned out to be worthless swamp, to the great amusement of his family (who’d been in on the joke for years). Second, the lottery he ran out of a small general store he managed became wildly popular and profitable once Barnum promised that every ticket won a prize (no matter how worthless). Third, provocative views Barnum published in his town newsletter landed him in jail, where he continued to publish while arranging for an impromptu “parade” on the day of his release. Thus, even intelligent people can be fooled, as long as they get something for their money it’s all good, and publicity is the key. Thus was the showman born.
Barnum’s early years were in pre-Civil War America, back when entertainment had to come to the masses. Barnum travelled to promote and show one “humbug” after another, from a slave who claimed (impossibly) to be George Washington’s nursemaid to a desiccated taxidermy of a “mermaid.” He had years of success with a little person he taught to do skits and impressions (Tom Thumb). And after his wife pleaded with Barnum to give up alcohol, he went on tour with the clean-living and outstanding soprano Jenny Lind.
These ventures made Barnum gobs of money, but they were only the start. The list of his life includes museum director, producer of morality plays, temperance lecturer, author, land developer, politician, menagerie and curiosity accumulator, circus owner (and innovator), father and grandfather and great-grandfather, widower (barely) who remarried, world-traveler, philanthropist …
And therein lies the problem. After the formative experiences, this book is simply an accounting of STUFF. What Barnum might have been thinking or feeling is a blank; little insight is given into what drove him besides restlessness and profit. There’s no reconciling his “showing” the slave storyteller and a malformed black man as “the Missing Link” with his abolitionist politics. No explanation for his fascination with little people (three in total). Yes, the man talked his way into the White House and Buckingham Palace, but beyond a few quotes and some photos there’s no feel for why you’d let him in the door, let alone more than once.
Over a long life of losing loved ones to death and homes and businesses to fire, Barnum developed the motto, “to always add more than had been lost.” In other words, build back better. Would that someone would build this biography back better, as it is an emotionless and unfortunately boring account of what should have been a fascinating subject.
August 22, 2019
It’s impossible to read Barnum: An American Life, Robert Wilson’s impressive biography of the infamous nineteenth-century showman, without detecting echoes – and perhaps some of the origins – of today’s political turmoil and voyeuristic popular culture. The bombast and hype, the careless disregard for the truth, the nauseating bravado and self-promotion that was Phineas Taylor Barnum – it all hits close to home in the age when a hate-filled tweet or bogus claim of “fake news” is enough to divert the attention of an already distracted public ...
A thoughtful, deeply researched and revealing book. Wilson draws on the boast-filled autobiographies – a life lived this large called for more than one – and many public pronouncements of a man who spent a lifetime seeking publicity .... Barnum: An American Life often reads less like history and more like a cautionary tale for our times. In 1855 the British satirical magazine Punch published a tongue-in-cheek headline touting “Barnum for President.” The idea of handing the world’s most powerful elected office to such a shameless self-promoter was “more absurd” back then, Wilson notes dryly, “than it seems today.”
From my review in the Chicago Review of Books: https://chireviewofbooks.com/2019/08/...
A thoughtful, deeply researched and revealing book. Wilson draws on the boast-filled autobiographies – a life lived this large called for more than one – and many public pronouncements of a man who spent a lifetime seeking publicity .... Barnum: An American Life often reads less like history and more like a cautionary tale for our times. In 1855 the British satirical magazine Punch published a tongue-in-cheek headline touting “Barnum for President.” The idea of handing the world’s most powerful elected office to such a shameless self-promoter was “more absurd” back then, Wilson notes dryly, “than it seems today.”
From my review in the Chicago Review of Books: https://chireviewofbooks.com/2019/08/...
December 5, 2019
Other than watching The Greatest Showman, I really did not know much about P.T. Barnum. Barnum by Robert Wilson dispelled much of the misinformation the movie made. I enjoyed the book a lot. Well written, the book tells Barnum’s life story in a way that is easy to read. What I enjoyed most about the book, was the fact that we cannot evaluate other people’s actions based on today’s behavior norms. Life was different in his day and we should not expect them to have the same perspective we have today. Are we more enlightened? Maybe, but maybe not. Time is just different. The book is descriptive, informative and entertaining.
August 24, 2019
Good book but it is a slow slog through a lot of things. The early life of Barnum was something I was unaware of, and I really enjoyed those opening chapters. But then it bogs down completely. Barnum’s character is questionable and his business practices were not the best. He was successful but not exactly the person I would want to know, and we get to know him all too much in this well researched book.
June 7, 2022
Barnum's life was completely nuts. I can't believe he did half the things he did, and I was laughing out loud at several points throughout this book. Despite the author's defense of Barnum that he wasn't just a morally bankrupt grifter, I gotta say that the evidence doesn't really paint him in a great light either. Anyway, this book was very well written and I definitely recommend it to a general audience.
September 9, 2019
3.5 stars. A solid bio about a very interesting man. I think Barnum deserves this bio and more credit for his entrepreneurial spirit. Yes, things he did can be looked at as very bad...when looked at from our time frame. I don't begrudge him that though. I thought it was well researched and well written. It was interesting.
March 23, 2020
This was fun and fascinating, but also didn't shy away from a lot of the shittiness that Barnum was responsible for. Wilson seems determined to provide an objective account of Barnum's life, and he does an admirable job.
August 30, 2019
Honestly, I'm impressed and I have to say a few of my preconceived notions about Barnum and his early days were challenged and changed.
As Wilson presents throughout the book, Barnum was a product of the times in which he lived. And some of his more deplorable ideas he was rightly embarrassed of in later years.
Further, as a lover of all things circus, I didn't know there was so much more to Barnum. Even the cover of this book really shows he circus aspect of his life, but honestly that was only a short bit toward the end. Instead Barnum was an ingenious (although occasionally misguided) businessman with a creative streak that went unrivaled.
Early adventures leave something to be desired (George Washington's Nurse and the mermaid debacle just to name two), Barnum later became a temperance lecturer, devout man, and even held political office a few times.
I rarely indulge in reading biographies, but it is fascinating to learn all about someone's life, especially if you've held such a limited view of who they are.
The book did drag a few times, too many details of temperance talks and "retirement" leaving me distractible while reading, but most of the story was quite fascinating. I honestly thought so little of P. T. Barnum before reading, and although he still has done those things I find so distasteful, Wilson's biography has shown other sides to Barnum that makes his early schemes more forgivable.
As Wilson presents throughout the book, Barnum was a product of the times in which he lived. And some of his more deplorable ideas he was rightly embarrassed of in later years.
Further, as a lover of all things circus, I didn't know there was so much more to Barnum. Even the cover of this book really shows he circus aspect of his life, but honestly that was only a short bit toward the end. Instead Barnum was an ingenious (although occasionally misguided) businessman with a creative streak that went unrivaled.
Early adventures leave something to be desired (George Washington's Nurse and the mermaid debacle just to name two), Barnum later became a temperance lecturer, devout man, and even held political office a few times.
I rarely indulge in reading biographies, but it is fascinating to learn all about someone's life, especially if you've held such a limited view of who they are.
The book did drag a few times, too many details of temperance talks and "retirement" leaving me distractible while reading, but most of the story was quite fascinating. I honestly thought so little of P. T. Barnum before reading, and although he still has done those things I find so distasteful, Wilson's biography has shown other sides to Barnum that makes his early schemes more forgivable.
October 15, 2021
In 1842, the man who would become America's greatest showman received a visit from a museum owner in Boston who needed his help.
There is hardly anyone who doesn't recognize the name Barnum, whether from the circus that bore his name or the many "humbugs" he pulled. Recognized by many as the father of American entertainment, Barnum was a more complex character than many realize. Besides being an entertainer, he was also a philanthropist and later became a staunch abolitionist. In this balanced biography, Wilson tries to give a fair portrait of this enigmatic man.
After watching The Greatest Showman and reading Inseparable: The Original Siamese Twins and Their Rendezvous with American History, I was interested in learning more about P.T. Barnum. When this book arrived at the library, it seemed like a good place to start. I appreciated the author's balanced approach to Barnum's life. He definitely doesn't try to paint Barnum as a saint, but also acknowledges the many good things that he did in his life. Wilson also shows where Barnum was a product of his time, but also where he did things that were inexcusable even by the standards of the day. The book is extremely readable; not a dry biography at all. Some of that is probably due to the interesting life led by the protagonist, but also probably due to the skill of the author.
I did have a few minor issues with the book though. First of all, it is organized by topic, usually focusing on something or someone Barnum was exhibiting at the time, and not by straight chronology, so sometimes the narrative jumped around in time a bit. Secondly, I would have liked some commentary on how Barnum has influenced our current entertainment and political climate, though this may be a bit beyond the scope of this particular book.
I definitely recommend this book to those wanting to learn more about Barnum and his life, as well as those wanting to learn more about the history of American entertainment.
CW: animal cruelty/death, death of prominent characters, fat shaming, medical procedures, racist language, slavery
There is hardly anyone who doesn't recognize the name Barnum, whether from the circus that bore his name or the many "humbugs" he pulled. Recognized by many as the father of American entertainment, Barnum was a more complex character than many realize. Besides being an entertainer, he was also a philanthropist and later became a staunch abolitionist. In this balanced biography, Wilson tries to give a fair portrait of this enigmatic man.
After watching The Greatest Showman and reading Inseparable: The Original Siamese Twins and Their Rendezvous with American History, I was interested in learning more about P.T. Barnum. When this book arrived at the library, it seemed like a good place to start. I appreciated the author's balanced approach to Barnum's life. He definitely doesn't try to paint Barnum as a saint, but also acknowledges the many good things that he did in his life. Wilson also shows where Barnum was a product of his time, but also where he did things that were inexcusable even by the standards of the day. The book is extremely readable; not a dry biography at all. Some of that is probably due to the interesting life led by the protagonist, but also probably due to the skill of the author.
I did have a few minor issues with the book though. First of all, it is organized by topic, usually focusing on something or someone Barnum was exhibiting at the time, and not by straight chronology, so sometimes the narrative jumped around in time a bit. Secondly, I would have liked some commentary on how Barnum has influenced our current entertainment and political climate, though this may be a bit beyond the scope of this particular book.
I definitely recommend this book to those wanting to learn more about Barnum and his life, as well as those wanting to learn more about the history of American entertainment.
CW: animal cruelty/death, death of prominent characters, fat shaming, medical procedures, racist language, slavery
August 8, 2023
Wilson's biography is an excellent balance of well-researched tidbits about this remarkable man and interjections about how modern sensibilities would have perceived him and some of his most famous attractions. I knew quite a bit about Barnum going in, but Wilson provided me with a good amount of new and fascinating material. The man was complex and larger than life; he was also a devoted friend and family man dedicated to "family entertainment" and his church and its causes. He grew and mellowed in age, but he stuck to his principles and his need for a new project. While most people alive today know him for his circus, that was a small part of his story and legacy. One can't help but wonder how he would have fared had he lived in our modern world. Surely he couldn't get away with all the humbug. Hmmmm...then again...
July 27, 2020
A solid book to read if one wants to know the genius of Barnum.
Sure A time when public could be easily bought, but the imagination and the follow on logistics of so much of Barnum’s work is quite impressive.
The author’s need to both censure and exculpate Barnum from his use of carny folks and animal acts reflects much more on where we are now in the Woke 21st century.
Sure A time when public could be easily bought, but the imagination and the follow on logistics of so much of Barnum’s work is quite impressive.
The author’s need to both censure and exculpate Barnum from his use of carny folks and animal acts reflects much more on where we are now in the Woke 21st century.
September 11, 2020
Fascinating story of a truly fascinating man. Every few pages, I’d declare to my wife, “Barnum just...” (hung out with Mark Twin; ran for Congress; hosted Susan B. Anthony; met the queen; chatted with Abraham Lincoln; went hunting with Custer...the list goes on and on.
It’s like Forrest Gump, only true! Well, we’re talking about P.T. Barnum - truish. ❤️
It’s like Forrest Gump, only true! Well, we’re talking about P.T. Barnum - truish. ❤️
July 23, 2020
When I was young, I would go and see the Barnum Bailey Circus every time it came to our city. So I had to read this book about his life and the life of the greatest show on earth! I really enjoyed it and highly recommend it.
September 15, 2020
Overall, a very fair assessment of a most interesting man. The author doesn't shy away from revealing Barnum's flaws, but on the whole I admire Barnum's vision and his ability to tune in to what would intrigue the public, and to play it up for all it was worth.
January 15, 2020
A wonderfully detailed biography of a fascinating man. And as someone who was born, raised, and continues to live in the same area of southwestern Connecticut that Barnum hailed from and spent much of his life in, I particularly enjoyed finally learning about how this state both molded him and how he molded his home right back in turn.
January 30, 2021
Really interesting guy. I read the book after watching the movie 'The Greatest Showman' with Hugh Jackman.
February 25, 2020
More than Humbug
Somewhere between a huckster and Hugh Jackman, PT Barnum became a real person in this heavily researched biography. The story of an American entertainment innovator.
Somewhere between a huckster and Hugh Jackman, PT Barnum became a real person in this heavily researched biography. The story of an American entertainment innovator.
April 17, 2020
This is a well-researched, well-written, and interesting "warts and all" biography of the famous and infamous P. T. Barnum. Barnum was a seriously flawed human being in very many facets of his life but he
certainly was one heck of a showman!
certainly was one heck of a showman!
July 10, 2022
This is the biography of the amazing PT Barnum, who ran a museum of oddities, brought life to the circus and introduced some of his most famous acts to the American public including Jenny Lind, the Swedish songstress, Jumbo, the elephant and General Tom Thumb. The author paints a wonderful picture of his life, his family, the people that surrounded him and mostly his drive to entertain people. Highly recommended!
August 5, 2020
Wonderful!
Other than the Barnum and Bailey Circus I didn't know much about this colorful character, but I'm glad I read this book!
Other than the Barnum and Bailey Circus I didn't know much about this colorful character, but I'm glad I read this book!
May 31, 2020
“Barnum” by Robert Wilson is a scholarly and comprehensive biography on the famous showman, P.T. Barnum.
P.T. Barnum was an interesting man who had humble beginnings, but who always had a knack for business. From an early age in his hometown of Bethel, Connecticut, Barnum would learn how to sell items, understand customer’s needs and learn the tricks of the trade in the world of commerce. Once he grasped the importance of advertising and publicity to sell a product or tell a story, the rest became history.
I particularly enjoyed the chapters where Wilson delved into the many curiosities Barnum promoted and toured across the country and eventually, the world. From the Feejee Mermaid, General Tom Thumb, Jenny Lind and Jumbo the Elephant, there was a sense that nothing was too big or grand when it came to Barnum’s procurement acumen. A lot of his acts became successful due to Barnum’s tenacity and hard work.
I enjoyed this book very much because I learned a lot about Barnum’s history and I also learned about his personal life and his philanthropic work. Some of that work helped Bridgeport, Connecticut become the major hub we now have today. Barnum is definitely one of those historical figures that deserve recognition and I’m glad I learned more about him.
P.T. Barnum was an interesting man who had humble beginnings, but who always had a knack for business. From an early age in his hometown of Bethel, Connecticut, Barnum would learn how to sell items, understand customer’s needs and learn the tricks of the trade in the world of commerce. Once he grasped the importance of advertising and publicity to sell a product or tell a story, the rest became history.
I particularly enjoyed the chapters where Wilson delved into the many curiosities Barnum promoted and toured across the country and eventually, the world. From the Feejee Mermaid, General Tom Thumb, Jenny Lind and Jumbo the Elephant, there was a sense that nothing was too big or grand when it came to Barnum’s procurement acumen. A lot of his acts became successful due to Barnum’s tenacity and hard work.
I enjoyed this book very much because I learned a lot about Barnum’s history and I also learned about his personal life and his philanthropic work. Some of that work helped Bridgeport, Connecticut become the major hub we now have today. Barnum is definitely one of those historical figures that deserve recognition and I’m glad I learned more about him.
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