A lot of the information I read I knew about. There was some information that I didn't know and was new and interesting to read about.

Only complaint were how sources were cited. It took away from the book because of how distracting it was.

I really liked this book because of the extensive research that was done to make the reader knowledgeable about the topic at hand. While Mr. Bogdan breaks it up into categories that can be followed if read the right way, I feel that he should've just broken it up into more manageable pieces; that way the reader isn't easily confused (as I sometimes was). I loved the fact that there were biographies and ephemera that you never knew about the "freaks" that you could buy at a time when money was scarce (such as the Depression Era), the men behind the curtains, and the tricks of the trade that were employed to get the customers in. Great for those who love the lore of the old sideshows and how they came to be, and the people behind them. Great reading!

Easily the best book I've read on this endlessly fascinating and complicated aspect of entertainment history. Bogdan was writing in the 80s and a few of his terms are outdated, but it is clear that he thoroughly researched this topic and writes about "freak show" performers with compassion and dignity.

i thought this was going to be an instructional guide, 1 star

This book is interesting in so much as some of the facts/history he presents is fascinating. What caused me to rate it a three and not higher is that there is an overall tone of disdain in his writing--even to the point that you can see him actively trying to cover it up...

Bogdan's work is one of the most informative books on sideshow history ever published. There are dozens of books on individual performers and events, but Bogdan's book is unique in the way it addresses how the acts were presented. Bogdan states that human oddities were often presented in "the exotic mode" or "the aggrandized mode."

The exotic mode played on the audience’s enthusiasm for foreign, mysterious, unexplored places. The presentation often emphasized the great distance traveled or large expense paid to obtain the performer. Audiences were told that explorers searched the world for talent, hunting in far-off corners of the planet for the rarest, most amazing exhibits the world had to offer. The performers were presented as everything from missing links to wild men raised by wolves.

The aggrandized mode exaggerated the human oddity’s intelligence, skills, and accomplishments. Often, the oddity’s fame would be exaggerated as well. Audiences were told the performer hobnobbed with famous singers and movie stars, and made command performances for kings.

This exploration of the storytelling and theater of sideshow is unique. No other book covers these fascinating details. Absolutely worth a read for anyone interested in the history of the sideshow.

I got more than I expected; a primer on the early history of circuses, major and minor players in the field and a very enjoyable read that left me with new questions.

Freak Show: Presenting Human Oddities for Amusement and Profit by Robert Bogdon (University of Chicago Press 1988) (791.1). Author Robert Bogdon paints a vivid portrait of life inside the travelling shows that exhibited malformed humans. The fat lady, the sword swallower, the Lobster Boy, the bearded lady, and on and on. From 1850 until well into the twentieth century, there was no stigma attached to the opportunity to gape at these unfortunate humans. This is a fantastically researched volume on a fringe topic. My rating: 7.25/10, finished 3/7/17. I bought my PB copy in acceptable condition for $1.50 at McKay's. PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP

THE BOOK
An interesting and thorough research on the topic of "Freaks". The first half of the book covers the historical and conceptual background of the topic while the second half presents extensive examples of the so-called freaks. The book is confined to the time period of 1840-1940 when "Freak" shows were greatest in popularity. The shows started off in dime museums and progressed to circuses, carnivals, amusement parks, and fairs. The exhibits presented were mostly people of oddities. These people of oddities included giants, dwarfs, midgets, bearded ladies, Siamese twins, multiple births, and those born with deformed limbs, no limbs, and people with microcephaly, tattoos, and obesity. The "Freak" shows started to decline in the 1940's when the medical establishment started to realize that these human deviations (oddities) were related to genetics and endocrine disorders and several federal laws made discrimination against people with physical disabilities illegal. It must be noted that a majority of people presented during the 1840-1940's willingly participated in the shows and were paid to do so. People were curious to see these "Freaks". Freak shows were a form of entertainment with exaggerated advertising to get people to attend the shows.

MY OPINION
Fast forward to today. The entertainment of Freak shows is really no different than the reality TV shows that are shown today. Like in the past, people agree to be on these shows, are paid quite well to do so, and the advertising is out there to entice you to watch the shows. Here are numerous examples of reality TV shows of today that compare to the "Freak" shows of earlier times:
My Giant Life (Giants)
The Little Couple, 7 Little Johnstons, Little People Big World (Dwarfs)
Abby & Brittany (Siamese twins)
Kate Plus Eight, Out Daughtered, Sweet Home Sextuplets (Multiple births)
Body Bizarre (Deformed people)
Ink Master (Tattooed people)
My 600 Pound Life, 1000 Pound Sisters, My Big Fat Fabulous Life (Obesity)
Things are really no different today compared to over 75 years ago. People are still curious to see people of oddities and see it as entertainment.