Memoirs of a Sword Swallower

(Published originally as _STEP RIGHT UP!_)Since my childhood, when Mother read passages to us, this book has captivated me. Its images of the real people of the carnival life, just trying to get along, trying to make a living, with many of the same motivations as you and me, are painted in their true colors. The embarrassment of the author, a genuine fire-eater, burping a tongue of flame at the pharmacy clerk selling him a bottle of olive oil; the cowboy walking out to check on the 'stock' (the family car); the "Impossible Possible," never far from the line between moral and immoral, legal and illegal, working on both sides. What a story of Depression people in a unique business!

This book is beautifully written and has wonderful photographs. It first came to my attention when BBC radio serialised it on Radio 4. The characters, lifestyle and stories around this lost world of side shows and 'ten in ones' are brought to life by the authors pen. He lived as part of a working troupe and treats his subjects with affection and respect.The reader comes away with a sense of loss, that this world, so often considered murky, or unseemly, has all but gone. There are lessons to be learned on relationships, business and psychology within these pages. The opening sentence is one of the best I have ever read. It got me hooked and as a result of reading this book I actually pursued learning some of the skills mentioned. Thanks to the amazing Side Show school in Coney Island and the remarkable Todd Robbins, I was able to touch the world Daniel Mannix lived. I reccomend this book unreservedly, it should be required reading for anyone interested in America's recent history and anyone interested in concise, colorful writing.

Mannix, who came to carnival life via the U.S. Naval Academy ("I didn't want to be a naval officer; I wanted to be a witch doctor!") and the Ivy League, brings his sideshow cohorts to life with this lively, witty, and sharp (sorry!) account that exudes a warmth as only a book written by an insider can. Mannix has always wanted to be a magician, and "runs away to the carnival" as an adult, first learning fire-eating when stepping in for fire-eater Flamo the Great who "exploded that night in front of Krinko's Great Combined Carnival Side Shows." He goes on to learn sword swallowing, sharing some of his insider's techniques (don't let the sharp tip touch the pit of your stomach; make sure the hilt doesn't come off and let the blade slide down your gullet.) If you are interested in the body on display, go ahead and read all the excellent academic pomo books about freaks and the "body as discourse," but be sure to read this one, too. It's an absolute gem. You will enjoy it to the hilt!

The sideshow was once a time honored tradition in the american heartland. Today the idea of the sideshow is old fashioned, boring nonsense because we've seen it all before on TV or in the movies. Mannix's book is so well written our minds are transformed to see the world as he did -- skeptical as heck but, with a mind open to learn the secrets required to make the impossible, possible. A terrific read.

I have to say this is one of my very favorite books. My reading habits are all across the board, but for the honesty fascinating aspects of Mannix's tale, this book tops my list.Mannix tells the story of how he became involved in the bizarre and long-gone world of the traditional ten-in-one sideshow. If you are a fan of the history of sideshows and the circus, this is a must-read.If anyone else has read this book and would like to share some thoughts on it (or other books on sideshows), please e-mail me!