Very Special People: The Struggles, Loves and Triumphs of Human Oddities [Paperback]

Frederick Drimmer (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 357 pages
• Publisher: Citadel Pr; Revised edition (July 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0806512539
• ISBN-13: 978-0806512532
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.8 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #739,160 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unique and readable, November 10, 2004

By 

Elizabeth A Triano "lizziewriter" (In Transition, NY (watch this space)) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Very Special People (Hardcover)

I stumbled across this title secondhand somewhere, and what a find it is! It covers, with lots of photos, the lives of many famous and lesser-known people. Because it does such a good job of satisfying ordinary human curiosity, I would not recommend it to the very young and/or impressionable, as it could be haunting -- a small caveat, as most young folks who are able to read the engaging and straightforward text will probably be mature enough for the subject matter. There is also an interesting introduction, covering the language and background of the field of "special people" ("Odd Man Out," "The Comprachicos," "Motives for Wonder," "Ugly Words," etc.). The chapter headings include: "Chained for Life," [conjoined twins]; "Armless and Legless Wonders"; "The Hairy People"; "The Little People" [including Tom Thumb & Lavinia Warren]; "There Were Giants in the Earth"; "Fat and Skinny"; "An Odd Lot" [including Zip the Pinhead]; and "Very, Very Special People" [including the Elephant Man]. Truly a fascinating book about real people.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting if overly sentimental, May 24, 2006

By 

Christina Dunigan (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Very Special People: The Struggles, Loves and Triumphs of Human Oddities (Paperback)

For all its faults, "Very Special People" is still a very readable, personable book. Cloyingly sentimental, it still has its charming moments.

Each section gives background on how being very tall, very short, very hairy, or otherwise possessed of an unusual body happens and what it tends to mean to the owner of said body. Drimmer then gives profiles of famous folks who shared that unusual trait.

A good book for youngsters, but able to appeal to adults as well.

5.0 out of 5 stars I've re-read my worn-out copy over and over since the 70s, July 18, 2007

By 

John Emm "kissfan" (New Jersey) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Very Special People: The Struggles, Loves and Triumphs of Human Oddities (Paperback)

I bought my paperback in 1976 or thereabouts, and have re-read it several times over the years. I teach middle school science and believe several of the chapters would make appropriate reading for youngsters especially since they address the issue of being different and still finding happiness and success.

I was a kid myself when I first read this. And it's still good reading even though I'm now in my 40s.