Book Review: A Curious Man

Winston Churchill was a courageous, inspiring man. Robert "Believe-it-or-Not!" Ripley was a curious, intriguing man. Both became household names. Neal Thompson's biography of Ripley's life presents this man who went from a socially awkward youth to a flamboyant and intense adult. He outlines how Ripley chanced upon his brand (the strange and unbelievable in life) and pursued it with passion.

While this audio book was fascinating and full of interesting tid-bits about an unusual life, I felt sorry for this driven and compulsive man. His life was filled with continuous pursuit of the shallow: fame, women, booze, and travel. He relentlessly collected items and information to share with the world. He seemed self-absorbed. Not exactly a likeable individual. Yet, I was curious enough to want more information about this peculiar man, because I checked out another book about Ripley shortly after finishing this one. If you're interested in biography, you will certainly find more inspiration from Erik Larson's book on Churchill. But, if you like the odd-ball and quirky, this biography is full of bizarre details of a crazy collector of the absurd.