Book cover of Very Special People

Book description

Siamese twins, midgets, giants, bearded ladies, and hermaphrodites are among the people profiled with compassion and insight

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

1 author picked Very Special People as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Drimmer’s 1973 book was another of my (Marc) first sideshow books. It’s packed with amazing stories about truly amazing people, and that’s what I love reading about—all the incredible things people could do despite their various anomalies.

This book may have been the first place I read about legless acrobat Eli Bowen and armless wonder Charles Tripp organizing a tandem bicycle ride—one steering, the other peddling. True teamwork. Dan and I later re-created the photo with a modern-day armless man and a legless man.  

If you love Very Special People...

Book cover of These Blue Mountains

These Blue Mountains by Sarah Loudin Thomas,

A moving story of love, betrayal, and the enduring power of hope in the face of darkness.

German pianist Hedda Schlagel's world collapsed when her fiancé, Fritz, vanished after being sent to an enemy alien camp in the United States during the Great War. Fifteen years later, in 1932, Hedda…

Want books like Very Special People?

Our community of 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 8 books like Very Special People.

Browse books like Very Special People

Book cover of Bed of Nails: The Story of the Amazing Blondini
Book cover of Freaks: We Who are Not as Others
Book cover of Miracle Mongers and Their Methods

Share your top 3 reads of 2025!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,366

readers submitted
so far, will you?

📚 If you like Very Special People, you might also like...

Book cover of Marriage and Fatherhood in the Nazi SS

Marriage and Fatherhood in the Nazi SS by Amy Carney,

When I was writing this book, several of my friends jokingly called it the Nazi baby book, with one insisting it would make a great title. Nazi Babies – admittedly, that is a catchy title, but that’s not exactly what my book is about. SS babies would be slightly more…

Book cover of A Forgivable Indecision

A Forgivable Indecision by Shawn Jennings,

In 1913, a 15-year-old pregnant girl was found dead of apparent suicide. Dr. James Wilson, a new graduate and the first doctor ever to start a practice in this rural town, feels guilty over her death because of his delayed intervention.

He knows Bessie was raped by one of her…

5 book lists we think you will like!