If you’re looking for a fun summer read and enjoy biographies, you’ll enjoy A Curious Man: The Strange and Brilliant Life of Robert “Believe It or Not!” Ripley by Neal Thompson.

I didn’t know much about Robert Ripley and assumed he was just another showman who exploited the unusual. The book brought out all the curiosities of this interesting man and the wild life he lived. He was certainly a showman, and he wasn’t above exploiting others for his own gain. But he was also a talented comic artist, an entrepreneur, a world traveler, a party animal, and a keen observer of the shifts in the culture around him. At his peak he was one of the highest paid men in America. And one of the most admired.

I’m not sure Ripley would be the kind of guy I’d want to hang out with. But I can see how his unique set of skills, insights and ambitions created a fascinating person. The book brings this out perfectly. It’s a fun summer read.