"I believe hugely in advertising and blowing my own trumpet, beating the gongs, drums, to attract attention to a show," Phineas Taylor Barnum wrote to a publisher in 1860. "I don't believe in 'duping the public,' but I believe in first attracting and then pleasing them."The name P.T. Barnum is virtually synonymous with the fine art of self-advertisement and the apocryphal statement, "There's a sucker born every minute." Nearly a century after his death, Barnum remains one of America's most celebrated figures. In the Selected Letters of P.T. Barnum, A.H. Saxon brings together more than 300 letters written by the self-styled "Prince of Humbugs." Here we see him, opinionated and exuberant, with only the rarest flashes of introspection and self-doubt, haggling with business partners, blustering over politics, and attempting to get such friends as Mark Twain to endorse his latest schemes. Always the king of showmen, Barnum considered himself a museum man first and was forever on the lookout for "curiosities," whether animate or inanimate. His early career included such outright frauds as Joice Heth, the "161-year-old nurse of George Washington," and the Fejee Mermaid-the desiccated head and torso of a monkey sewn to the body of a fish. Although in later years he projected a more solid, respectable image-managing the irreproachable "legitimate" attraction Jenny Lind, becoming a leading light in the temperance crusade, founding the Barnum &amp; Bailey Circus-much of his daily existence continued to be unabashedly devoted to manipulating public opinion so as to acquire for himself and his enterprises what he delightedly termed "notoriety." His famous autobiography, The Life of P.T. Barnum, which he regularly augmented during the last quarter century of his life, was itself a masterpiece of self-promotion. "Will you have the kindness to announce that I am writing my life &amp; that fifty-seven different publishers have applied for the chance of publishing it," he wrote to a newspaper editor, adding, "Such is the fact-and if it wasn't, why still it ain't a bad announcement." The Selected Letters of P.T. Barnum captures the magic of this consummate showman's life, truly his own "greatest show on earth."

Selected Letters of P. T. Barnum

Biographies & Memoirs

P. T. Barnum

Historical

Columbia University Press

The Art of Money Getting

Blurb

The True Life of the World's Greatest Showman

The True Life of the World's Greatest Showman The True Life of PT Barnum "The show business has all phases and grades of dignity, from the exhibition of a monkey to the exposition of that highest art in music or the drama, which entrances empires and secures for the gifted artist a world-wide fame which princes well might envy. Men, women and children, who cannot live on gravity alone, need something to satisfy their gayer, lighter moods and hours, and he who ministers to this want is in a business established by the Author of our nature. If he worthily fulfills his mission, and amuses without corrupting, he need never feel that he has lived in vain. " PT Barnum From the Publisher The original autobiography of the World's Greatest Showman, P.T. Barnum, now translated to modern English and illustrated with new images of his amazing ground-breaking acts. Phineas Taylor Barnum came from humble means to revolutionize the entertainment industry of his time and lay the foundation of the entertainment industry we know today. His visionary ability to create and market new and innovative acts transformed the world and moved society forward towards a new era of understanding and inclusiveness. His marketing skill and shrewd business skills transformed common and mundane acts into "must see" cultural events. Barnum skill as a showman included marketing such unique features as educated dogs, industrious fleas, automatons, jugglers, ventriloquists, living statuary, tableaux, gypsies, albinos, fat boys, giants, dwarfs, rope-dancers, live "Yankees," pantomime, instrumental music, singing and dancing in great variety, dioramas, panoramas, models of Niagara, Dublin, Paris, and Jerusalem; Hannington's dioramas of the Creation, the Deluge, Fairy Grotto, Storm at Sea; the first English Punch and Judy in this country, Italian Fantoceini, mechanical figures, fancy glass-blowing, knitting machines and other triumphs in the mechanical arts; dissolving views, American Indians, who enacted their warlike and religious ceremonies on the stage, -- these, among others, entertained audiences by the tens of thousands and made Barnum a fortune and made his name synonymous with show business. But Barnum's genius was not limited to parlor tricks and freak shows, although this was a common criticism of his shows. His well-earned title of the World's Greatest Showman was earned by his ability to evolve his show and his techniques throughout his career. Originally, Barnum was able to transform men like Charles Sherwood Stratton, a dwarf who had been the subject of ridicule throughout his entire life, into famous characters such as "General Tom Thumb," a regal and authoritative figure who would stand before the Queen of England. Another illustration of Barnum's amazing showman abilities is perhaps best showcased in his signing of the "Swedish Nightingale" Jenny Lind, a favorite opera singer of the elite members of Victorian Era's society. Barnum signed Lind and included her in his tour, considerably raising the bar and perception of his performances. How amazing would it have been to see P.T. Barnum in his prime, to listen to him describe his inspirations and his journey, and to understand how almost two hundred years ago he began his path towards becoming the World's Greatest Showman. Now, thanks to the re-publication of this volume, complete with new illustrations, we can hear Barnum's story from his own pen directly in his own words. We hope you enjoy pulling up a chair and sitting down for a conversation with the World's Greatest Showman, P.T. Barnum.

Creative Texts Publishers, LLC

Phineas Taylor Barnum, popularly known as P.T. Barnum, released his own biography in 1855, titled The Life of P.T. Barnum, which includes his "golden rules for money-making."This edition is a 1888 reprint, containing essentially the same account as the original and includes a number of images and illustrations. This volume can be well regarded as a manual of "showmanship" and moneymaking, given the notorious American businessman's trade and success in his chosen profession. It is quite ironic that someone who is, at the core, sort of a coward and averse to certain inconveniences, would make his stamp in history and society as a master in frauds and hoaxes via his famed Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. The book also displays the author's eccentricity and coarseness, as well as near-sociopathic inclinations in full splendor. As such it is an amusing read, albeit long winded at times. However, the small text may challenge one's vision and makes this tome quite lengthy. What's most interesting about this autobiography is that it is not wholly an account of the author's life. It also has self-help elements that make this book double as a "marketing" and "racketeering" manual, as earlier mentioned. Those who admire Barnum's legacy, as well as those looking to be entertained by real life experiences of a historical figure of an intriguing reputation will do well to pick up this book.About the PublisherForgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.comThis book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Struggles and Triumphs: Or, Forty Years' Recollections of P. T. Barnum (Classic Reprint)

Memoirs

Forgotten Books

There's a sucker born every minute" is a phrase often credited to P.T. Barnum. However, when Barnum's biographer tried to track down when Barnum had uttered this phrase, all of Barnum's friends and acquaintances told him it was out of character. Barnum's credo was more along the lines of "there's a customer born every minute" -- he wanted to find ways to draw new customers in all the time because competition was fierce and people bored easily. In addition to "The Art of Money Getting," Barnum wrote "The Humbugs of the World," "Struggles and Triumphs," and his Autobiography. "The Art of Money Getting" is really the story of how to run a sales organization by understanding the mind and tastes of your primary customer base. Written in 1880, it is a fascinating read for anyone wanting to make progress in their financial situation. P. T. Barnum wrote in a way that makes readers feel like they are listening to their own grandfather as he shares wisdom and common sense. What Barnum wrote is not complicated, difficult to understand or even hard to implement. Though written over 100 years ago, P. T. Barnum's advice is still applicable today. Though short, Barnum's book is a treat to read and is never boring! Highly recommended!

The Art Of Money Getting

Createspace

In the United States, where we have more land than people, it is not at all difficult for persons in good health to make money. In this comparatively new field there are so many avenues of success open, so many vocations which are not crowded, that any person of either sex who is willing, at least for the time being, to engage in any respectable occupation that offers, may find lucrative employment.

CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

The Art of Money Getting, or Golden Rules for Making Money: P. T. Barnum

Literature & Fiction

Action & Adventure

Independently published

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