A Curious Man

Author: Neal Thompson
Stars: 4
Review by: Mandy A
The only comprehensive biography of LeRoy Robert "Believe it or not!" Ripley. For a man as famous as Ripley was it's sort of amazing by itself so little has been published about him, but it seems that maybe he would have wanted it that way.

Santa Rosa's Roy Ripley became a cartoonist early on working for various newspapers and local publications. But it wasn't until his 30s, with a failed marriage, a burgeoning alcohol problem created to reduce his shame of public speaking and a severe stutter,and the sad early loss of his parents behind him that he published a cartoon entitled Champs and Chumps, the antecedent of his BION series. By the time of his death at age 59 Ripley had become one of the planet's most famous men thanks to his encouragement of the odd, bizarre, and quirky both in his own personal life and his work. A nice book whose main flaw is when it drags a little discussing Ripley's convoluted relationship with his younger brother Doug, whose lackluster attempts to be a part of his brother's empire are repeated constantly. But a fitting memorial to the man who gave us both our national anthem and several odditoriums in one lifetime.