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Life of P.T. Barnum, Written by Himself by Stephen Mihm - First Edition, 2018 from Macmillan Student Store
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Life of P.T. Barnum, Written by Himself

First Edition| ©2018 Stephen Mihm

The modern entertainment industry -- never mind the culture of celebrity with which it is intertwined -- owes a profound debt to Barnum’s innovations a century and a half ago. He understood, far better than his contemporaries, how to attract an audience, and no less important, how to keep it. In fac...
The modern entertainment industry -- never mind the culture of celebrity with which it is intertwined -- owes a profound debt to Barnum’s innovations a century and a half ago. He understood, far better than his contemporaries, how to attract an audience, and no less important, how to keep it. In fact, the professions of advertising, public relations, marketing, and all the other means and methods used to persuade twenty-first century consumers what to buy, where to eat, what to watch, and how to live arguably trace their origins to Barnum.  Stephen Mihm’s new book situates Barnum’s contributions within the larger issues of his lifetime, including the vexed issue of race, slavery, and abolition. The particular version of his memoirs used in this volume is drawn from the original 1855 edition. Unlike subsequent versions, where Barnum banished some of the more disquieting stories and events of his life, the original edition offers the most unvarnished account of Barnum's career up until that time.  In addition to Barnum’s life story, this edition reprints fourteen additional documents to bring Barnum’s entire career to life. These documents include reviews of the autobiography in the popular press; selections from Barnum's other writings; and a handful of other items selected to illuminate parts of his life   not captured by the autobiography itself. Following the documents there is a chronology, questions for consideration, and a selected bibliography to encourage further analysis and research.
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Life of P.T. Barnum, Written by Himself by Stephen Mihm - First Edition, 2018 from Macmillan Student Store

The modern entertainment industry -- never mind the culture of celebrity with which it is intertwined -- owes a profound debt to Barnum’s innovations a century and a half ago. He understood, far better than his contemporaries, how to attract an audience, and no less important, how to keep it. In fact, the professions of advertising, public relations, marketing, and all the other means and methods used to persuade twenty-first century consumers what to buy, where to eat, what to watch, and how to live arguably trace their origins to Barnum.  Stephen Mihm’s new book situates Barnum’s contributions within the larger issues of his lifetime, including the vexed issue of race, slavery, and abolition. The particular version of his memoirs used in this volume is drawn from the original 1855 edition. Unlike subsequent versions, where Barnum banished some of the more disquieting stories and events of his life, the original edition offers the most unvarnished account of Barnum's career up until that time.  In addition to Barnum’s life story, this edition reprints fourteen additional documents to bring Barnum’s entire career to life. These documents include reviews of the autobiography in the popular press; selections from Barnum's other writings; and a handful of other items selected to illuminate parts of his life   not captured by the autobiography itself. Following the documents there is a chronology, questions for consideration, and a selected bibliography to encourage further analysis and research.

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New to This Edition

“This edition usefully allows students to perceive Barnum's naughty sense of humor, his business acumen, and his advertising genius--all in the context of the day. With its addition of images and documents, including book reviews, an obituary, and Barnum's writing on business practices, this edition is invaluable for courses on American history, the media, business, and self-making.”
—Carolyn Eastman, Virginia Commonwealth University
 
“This is a unique primary source collection that allows undergraduates to understand the rapidly changing landscape of American capitalism over the course of the 19th century. The history of capitalism literature is, to a fault, structural--it is chiefly interested in getting at how big, abstract institutions function.  Lost in this has been the human element.  This book allows you to see that human element in action (the story is also fun).”
—Gautham Rao, American University
 
“I would strongly encourage colleagues teaching courses on antebellum America, nineteenth-century America, the history of capitalism, and popular culture history to adopt this volume for their courses.”
—Brian Luskey, West Virginia University
Life of P.T. Barnum, Written by Himself by Stephen Mihm - First Edition, 2018 from Macmillan Student Store

Life of P.T. Barnum, Written by Himself

First Edition| ©2018

Stephen Mihm

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Life of P.T. Barnum, Written by Himself by Stephen Mihm - First Edition, 2018 from Macmillan Student Store

Life of P.T. Barnum, Written by Himself

First Edition| 2018

Stephen Mihm

Table of Contents

Foreword
Preface
List of Maps and Illustrations
 
PART ONE:
INTRODUCTION:  P. T. Barnum and the Business of Entertainment

A Connecticut Yankee
The Showman and Slavery
Barnum the Businessman
Barnum’s Legacy
 
PART TWO: Life of P.T. Barnum
P. T. Barnum, Life of P. T. Barnum, 1854
 
PART THREE: Related Documents
1. “The Lesson of Barnum’s Life,” New York Daily Times, December 16, 1854
2. Book review of Life of P. T. Barnum, The Christian Review, January 1, 1855
3. View of the exterior of Barnum’s American Museum, New York City, circa 1853
4. Iranistan, the Residence of Mr. Barnum, 1851
5. P. T. Barnum and Tom Thumb, circa 1850
6. William Schaus, Panorama of Humbug, 1850
7. Currier and Ives, What Is It? _ Or, ‘Man Monkey, circa 1860
8. An Heir to the Throne: Or the Next Republican Candidate, circa 1860
9. What Is It?, circa 1860
10. New York Herald, Barnum and the Miniature Marriage, February 9, 1863
11. Matthew Brady, Tom Thumb and Lavinia Warren, circa 1863
12. P .T. Barnum, Humbugs of the World: An Account of Humbugs, Delusions, Impositions, Quackeries, Deceits, and Deceivers Generally, in All Ages, 1866
13. Harper’s Weekly, A Colossal Enterprise, March 27, 1875
14. New York Times, Obituary of P. T. Barnum, April 8, 1891
 
Appendices
A Chronology of P.T. Barnum’s Life
Questions for Consideration
Selected Bibliography
 
Index

 
 
Life of P.T. Barnum, Written by Himself by Stephen Mihm - First Edition, 2018 from Macmillan Student Store

Life of P.T. Barnum, Written by Himself

First Edition| 2018

Stephen Mihm

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Authors

Stephen Mihm

Stephen Mihm (Ph.D., New York University) is an Associate Professor at the University of Georgia who specializes in the history of American business and technology. He is the author of A Nation of Counterfeiters: Capitalists, Con Men, and the Making of the United States and the co-editor, with Katherine Ott and David Serlin, of Artificial Parts, Practical Lives: Modern Histories of Prosthetics, along with numerous peer reviewed articles and book chapters. In addition to his academic duties, Mihm is a frequent contributor to the New York Times, Boston Globe, Bloomberg, and other media outlets, and he appears regularly in historical documentaries, radio and television programs. He lives with his family on a historic farm in Georgia.

Life of P.T. Barnum, Written by Himself by Stephen Mihm - First Edition, 2018 from Macmillan Student Store

Life of P.T. Barnum, Written by Himself

First Edition| 2018

Stephen Mihm

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