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 Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This 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.

Reprint of the original, first published in 1882.

This is the autobiography of PT Barnum, the famous American showman and founder of the Barnum & Bailey Circus. The book recounts his struggles and triumphs in business and life, including his success in promoting some of the greatest hoaxes and curiosities of his time, such as the Fiji Mermaid and Joice Heth, the alleged nurse of George Washington. The book is a fascinating glimpse into the mind of a master showman and entrepreneur. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.