Barnum's Own Story

The Autobiography of P. T. Barnum

By: P. T. Barnum

Narrated by: David Colacci

P. T. Barnum's career of showmanship and charlatanry was marked by a surprising undercurrent of honesty and forthrightness. His exuberant autobiography forms a happy combination of all those traits, revealing the whole story of his world-famous hoaxes and publicity stunts. Here is a pageant of 19th-century America's gullibility and thirst for marvels, as told by the master of revels himself.  

A born storyteller, Barnum recalls his association with Tom Thumb, his audience with Queen Victoria, and his trouble keeping Jenny Lind's angelic image intact during a trying tour. He tells of Jumbo, the most famous elephant in history, from the creature's heroic arrival in America to its tragic death in a railroad accident; of his attempts to transfer Shakespeare's house and Madame Tussaud's Waxworks from England to New York; and of his triumphant reentry into public life after financial failure and five disastrous fires had all but wiped him out. The true-life tale of a man of boundless imagination and indomitable energy, Barnum's autobiography embodies the spirit of America's most exciting boom years.

Public Domain (P)2019 Tantor

Enjoyed very much although different than the recent movie

We loved the greatest showman movie and the reason PT Barnum was interesting to me. The nook way long but a great listen while I worked read.
So different than the movie, the book of even half true outlines an accomplished and interesting life.
Good read for fun but also for business minds. Enjoyed.

Great story from the Greatest Showman.

The first hand accounts of stories and conversations directly from him were fantastic. It’s a long book but held my attention the entire time.

Larger than life

P.T. Barnum chronicles his chief business exploits over this autobiography and it is revealed how his talents for showmanship, exhibition and advertising are peerless. Some of the exhibits would be excoriated today but he had a distinctive ability to discern public interest and to capitalize on it. I only wish he detailed more about his beliefs, politics, personal habits, sources of energy that propelled this man to be better known the President Grant in his day; which is touched on some of these areas it is primarily an accounting of his business venture.

Inspiring!

What a fantastic story! Great for kids and adults alike. An incredibly determined and inventive person.

Fantastic bio with incredible historic context

Barnum’s life and influence are an undeniable force on American culture. This book was incredibly interesting especially considering the historic backdrop. A large portion of his life ocurring during the civil war era.