Freaks: We Who Are Not as Others

i read this book in one day. it was that much of a page-turner. mannix introduces his reader to freaks of every nature. this book is more of a personal account of their lives, rather than a historical or scientific one (although it touches gently on those aspects). mannix lets his reader look into the lives of percilla the "monkey woman", myrtle corbin the "4-legged woman", emmett the "alligator man", "happy jack eckert", and countless others. this book is a must-read!

It is easy to assume that this book is going to be a kind of titillating exploitative look at freaks, but that is not what it is at all. Mannix draws from his extensive carnie experience to create a tender and even sweet look at people who were not like others around them. Mannix is clearly fueled by anger that political correctness has deprived these people of their means of earning a living and forced them into institutions. It is a way of thinking that I had not encountered before this book. He covers giants, midgets, people with parasitic twins, hermaphrodites, fat people, wild people and many others-- telling stories and anecdotes of his time on the road. Well worth the time.

We who are not as others: A book about "freaks" written by a freak, is obviously a labor of love by the author. Daniel P. Mannix presents a well-researched study of the physically challenged, not only in our time, but throughout history. He presents human oddities, not as something to gawk at and scare little children, but as warm, loving and feeling people with dreams and aspirations the same as everyone. He presents his own kind with hopes that the reader will understand: these people are not as others, yet very much the same. Modern day "freak shows" are mostly made up of people who want to be freaks and make a buck, but the people in this book are the real thing and had no choice. Read this book with an open mind and an open heart. It can change your outlook on life.

This book was given to me as a gift a few years back and has become one of my prized possesions. Everyone that comes to the house asks to see it. In addition to the wonderful photographs, thoughtful attention has been paid to describing the lives of the people discussed, along an interesting personal and historical perspective one doesn't often find in the more recent tomes concerned with "political correctness." This book's only failing is that there isn't more of it.