The Humbugs of the World by P. T. Barnum

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Author Barnum, P. T. (Phineas Taylor), 1810-1891
LoC No. 28002628
Title The Humbugs of the World
An Account of Humbugs, Delusions, Impositions, Quackeries, Deceits and Deceivers Generally, in All Ages
Note Reading ease score: 66.5 (8th & 9th grade). Neither easy nor difficult to read.
Credits Produced by Julia Miller and the Online Distributed
Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was
produced from images generously made available by The
Internet Archive/American Libraries.)
Summary "The Humbugs of the World" by P. T. Barnum is a collection of essays and anecdotes written in the mid-19th century. The book explores the many forms of deception, quackery, and humbug that have pervaded society throughout history, touching on various subjects from politics and religion to commerce and medicine. Barnum, a celebrated showman and entertainer, aims to expose these deceptions while also reflecting on the nature of belief and gullibility among the general population. The opening of the work sets the stage for Barnum's exploration of humbugs by defining the term and highlighting its prevalence across various fields of human endeavor. He starts by emphasizing that humbug is not limited to outright fraud but includes any form of deceit that misleads the public. He laments the myriad ways people deceive themselves and one another in pursuit of personal gain or public approval. Through a series of reflections, anecdotes, and personal experiences, Barnum establishes the broad scope of humbuggery and hints at the intriguing examples to be discussed in the chapters that follow. The introduction engages readers by promising a humorous yet insightful examination of human nature and the quirks found within society's fabric. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
Language English
LoC Class AZ: General Works: History of scholarship and learning, The humanities
Subject Impostors and imposture
Category Text
EBook-No. 26640
Release Date
Most Recently Updated Jan 4, 2021
Copyright Status Public domain in the USA.
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