Ricky Jay’s compendium of irregular entertainment is absolutely fascinating. From fire-eaters, to intelligent horses, from mind readers, to leg-less wonders, this chronicle of the bizzare stage acts from the past is engrossing, and at times extremely funny.

I doubt such a collection of such sideshow-like performers has ever been made, and now that I’ve finished I wish there were more books available to read about these types of performers. Ricky Jay is one of the last true historians for this type of entertainment, and the sideshow freaks just don’t get the respect that they did in the past.