Marc Hartzman Livres

Many historians claim the sideshow began with P.T. Barnum; however this phenomenon has existed as long as human curiosity. When something different or unusual appears before you -- living or inanimate -- you're intrigued, amazed, or maybe even disgusted. But you want to see it. It's natural to be curious about oddities. The human body takes many different forms and shapes, some considered "freakish." Freaks have always been, and will always be, fascinating. Yet regardless of their physical abnormalities, the people presented here triumphed over their disadvantages, defied expectations, succeeded financially, and often found love. This book is not only a look at their lives -- their trials, their tribulations, their triumphs -- but also a visual record of the uniqueness of humanity. -- From publisher's description

The Red Planet takes center stage in this entertaining, well researched, and fully illustrated pop history of Earthlings long relationship with Mars, and its impact on pop culture, space exploration, and our hopes for the future.

Take a spirited tour through the supernatural history of America, from its haunted sites to its famous ghosts to its ghost-obsessed pop culture.

Have you ever visited a yard sale and marveled at the bizarre treasures on display? Picture a homemade deer-poop paperweight for ten dollars, a lonely left boot, or a belt with a glass eye in its buckle. Such fantastic oddities exist and have been sold on eBay, where a collection of these items serves as a hilarious "museum" of priceless artifacts. With thirty million registered users, eBay has become the most popular shopping website, drawing everyone from grandmothers to teenagers eager to buy and sell just about anything. While searching for rare deals on hard-to-find gifts, buyers often encounter the unusual and unexpected. The author has curated one hundred quirky items, photographing them as if they were precious jewels. Among these are a trucker's prayer plaque, a real frog coin purse poised to leap off the page, and a strand of Abraham Lincoln's hair presented as a historical gem. Each image is accompanied by the seller's original sales pitch and amusing email exchanges about the objects' improbable uses. This pocket-sized catalog of curiosities makes for a delightful novelty gift for any eBay enthusiast in your family.

“We Are Not Alone . . . manages to be highly entertaining and easy to read, yet fair, balanced and thorough.”—Christopher Mellon, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Intelligence Do you want to believe? Explore our fascination with UFOs and extraterrestrial intelligence through exclusive interviews, archival photos, and strange but true stories from history. After decades of cover-ups and denials, in a June 2021 report, the US government finally admitted what many people already knew: yes, UFOs are real, and no, we don’t know what (or who) they are. Weird historian Marc Hartzman separates fact from fiction and provides a comprehensive tour through the skies, including: UFO sightings, from the famous to the obscure Alien abductions, including the Betty and Barney Hill abduction and the Pascagoula abduction Ancient aliens, from Biblical astronauts to the alien architects behind the pyramids Scientific evidence, including the “Wow!” radio signal and the interstellar ‘Oumuamua object Cover-ups and conspiracies, including the Roswell Incident and Area 51 Governmental and military findings, from Project Blue Book to reports of UFOs at nuclear weapons sites Deeply researched and highly entertaining, We Are Not Alone will inform and entertain anyone who’s ever doubted that we are really alone in the universe.

A fascinating look into the history of the American sideshow and its performers. Learn what's real, what's fake, and what's just downright bizarre. You've probably heard of Tom Thumb. The Elephant Man. Chang and Eng, the original Siamese twins. But what about Eli Bowen, the legless acrobat? Myrtle Corbin, the four-legged woman? Or Prince Randian, the human torso? All these and more were stars during the heyday of the American sideshow, from 1840 to 1950. American Sideshow chronicles the lives of truly amazing performers, examining these brave and extraordinary curiosities, not just as sideshow attractions, but as people, delving into the lives they led and how they were able to triumph over their abnormalities. American Sideshow discusses the rise and fall of the original sideshows and their subsequent replacement by today's self-made freaks. With the progress of modern medicine, the physical abnormalities are disappearing, either through treatment or prevention; and, ironically, those same technological advancements now make it possible to change our bodies at will. It's amazing how easy it is to have your tongue forked, horns surgically implanted, or your earlobes removed. There are also modern-day giants, fire-eaters, fire-breathers, sword-swallowers, glass-eaters, human blockheads, and, oh, so much more. These fascinating personalities are celebrated through intimate biographies paired with stunning photographs. Approximately 200 performers from the past 160 years are featured, giving readers a comprehensive and sometimes astonishing view of the history of the American sideshow.