The Humbugs of the World


Read by LibriVox Volunteers

(4.2 stars; 9 reviews)

P. T. Barnum exposes some of the chief humbugs of the world with his usual entertaining style. He looks at medicine and quacks, ghosts, witchcraft, religious humbugs, money manias, adventurers, personal reminiscences, and much more. (Summary by Barry Eads) (12 hr 47 min)

Chapters

Publisher's Note and Introduction 6:24 Read by Barry Eads
Chapter 1 14:50 Read by Eddie Winter
Chapter 2 21:17 Read by Eddie Winter
Chapter 3 15:56 Read by Graeme Dunlop
Chapter 4 17:48 Read by Bob Neufeld
Chapter 5 9:27 Read by Magdalena
Chapter 6 7:34 Read by Kristine Bekere
Chapter 7 12:38 Read by Barry Eads
Chapter 8 12:00 Read by Lee Ann Howlett
Chapter 9 17:27 Read by Bob Neufeld
Chapter 10 10:14 Read by Lee Ann Howlett
Chapter 11 11:47 Read by Jud Niven
Chapter 12 10:13 Read by Magdalena
Chapter 13 13:41 Read by Linda Dodge
Chapter 14 22:03 Read by Jessi
Chapter 15 20:28 Read by Eddie Winter
Chapter 16 14:41 Read by Eddie Winter
Chapter 17 24:10 Read by Eddie Winter
Chapter 18 12:23 Read by Rosie
Chapter 19 11:41 Read by Rosie
Chapter 20 14:39 Read by Lee Ann Howlett
Chapter 21 10:42 Read by Magdalena
Chapter 22 12:24 Read by Magdalena
Chapter 23 10:23 Read by Bob Neufeld
Chapter 24 18:37 Read by Linda Dodge
Chapter 25 16:23 Read by James Christopher
Chapter 26 15:46 Read by Linda Dodge
Chapter 27 21:49 Read by Linda Dodge
Chapter 28 8:46 Read by Availle
Chapter 29 10:15 Read by Availle
Chapter 30 12:36 Read by Availle
Chapter 31 13:05 Read by Linda Ferguson
Chapter 32 27:55 Read by Bob Neufeld
Chapter 33 21:23 Read by Catharine Eastman
Chapter 34 17:50 Read by Roger Melin
Chapter 35 16:16 Read by Roger Melin
Chapter 36 15:42 Read by Roger Melin
Chapter 37 11:25 Read by Linda Ferguson
Chapter 38 13:28 Read by Neeru Iyer
Chapter 39 14:51 Read by Bellona Times
Chapter 40 13:13 Read by JohanG
Chapter 41 32:54 Read by BB
Chapter 42 12:10 Read by JohanG
Chapter 43 15:52 Read by May Low
Chapter 44 17:16 Read by Barry Eads
Chapter 45 12:28 Read by Linda Dodge
Chapter 46 13:14 Read by Linda Dodge
Chapter 47 15:47 Read by May Low
Chapter 48 15:32 Read by Linda Dodge
Chapter 49 12:32 Read by Neeru Iyer
Chapter 50 15:57 Read by Barry Eads

Reviews

LibriVox SCORES! WE'RE NOT WORTHY!


(5 stars)

A favorite library book of mine ! Guaranteed entertaining, this gem might be better-known if its author were not P.T. Barnum. I suspect most people would assume his subject matter to be narrow, circus-related. But this turns out to be chapter after chapter of fascinating facts, figures, and anecdotes on matters like: patent medicine, with matchless eyewitness stories of especially successful medicine shows; and food adulteration before any safety regulations with a litany of jaw-dropping examples of the disgusting and downright poisonous junk sold to Americans as food and drink--! And that is just two chapters {18 and 19). Great resource for researchers. Best as sheer entertainment. reviews have limited length but I'll list a few until I'm cut off. ch.28-30 medical humbugs. Chapter 8, Dr.Brandryth's [sp] pills -- profiles modern (1830s on) advertising success.Ch 9-13 Debunking notorious mediums of the day. ch.35 ghosts, demons, haunted houses.

The Humbugs of the World- P.T. Barnum


(5 stars)

Loved this book! I'm not a huge fan of the several narrator system as the listener has to atune to a new reader every chapter, but that is my only complaint. I really enjoy the works of P.T. Barnum on here and hope there may be more in the future.


(2 stars)

Started off great but lost its way