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Into the world of showmanship, which has included everything from the world's greatest oddities to the world's greatest artists, burst P.T. Barnum, like the last, highest, brightest rocket in a Fourth of July fireworks display.
With Yankee shrewdness inherited from his namesake grandfather, Phineas Taylor, Barnum early exhibited traits that later come to full flower in the modern circus, "The Greatest Show on Earth." How many young clerks of his, or any, day could convert a wagon load of empty bottles to a magnificent profit? Barnum did, and unloaded a large quantity of useless tinware to boot. How many promoters could swing a major real estate deal in New York City using only five acres of snake-infested, poison-ivy-covered Connecticut swamp land for collateral? Barnum did. How many men could get a competitor to hire him to prevent his getting a museum and thus help him get it? Barnum did. How many commoners ever spoke directly to the august Queen Victoria instead of communicating through her Lord-in-Waiting? Barnum did. How many people ever thought of presenting the circus audience with three rings full of acts instead of two, when a viewer's two eyes couldn't encompass even two rings? Only one man. Barnum. The list of incredibilities seem endless. The much abused word "unique" seems to go as easily and as well with Barnum as ham goes with eggs.
Entertaining the World tells how Barnum did it all. He dreamed no little dreams, planned no little plans, and thought no little thoughts. Everything he did was huge. Even his failures were spectacular. A bankrupt at 45, he paid off his debts, went on to greater and greater triumphs and left an estate worth $10,000,000 at his death. Even more valuable than his estate were his ingenuity and daring, bulls-eyes for showmen of the world to shoot at forever.
—from the book
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