The Life and Afterlife of Harry Houdi..., Joe Posnanski
The Life and Afterlife of Harry Houdi..., Joe Posnanski
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The Life and Afterlife of Harry Houdini

Author: Joe Posnanski

Narrator: Jacques Roy

Unabridged: 9 hr 24 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 10/22/2019


Synopsis

Joe Posnanski enters the colorful world of Harry Houdini and his legions of devoted fans to explore the illusionist’s impact on global culture—and why his legacy endures to this day.

Nearly a century after Harry Houdini died on Halloween in 1926, he feels as modern and alive as ever. The name Houdini still leaps to mind whenever we witness a daring escape. The baby who frees herself from her crib? Houdini. The dog who vanishes and reappears in the neighbor’s garden? Houdini. Every generation produces new disciples of the magician, from household names in magic like David Copperfield and David Blaine to countless other followers whose lives have been transformed by the power of Houdini.

In rural Pennsylvania, a thirteen-year-old girl finds the courage to leave a violent home after learning that Houdini ran away to join the circus; she eventually becomes the first female magician to saw a man in half on television. In Australia, an eight-year-old boy with a learning impediment feels worthless until he sees an old poster of Houdini advertising “Nothing on earth can hold Houdini prisoner,” and begins his path to becoming that nation’s most popular magician. In California, an actor and Vietnam War veteran finds purpose in his life by uncovering the secrets of his hero.

But the unique phenomenon of Houdini was always more than his death-defying stunts or his ability to escape handcuffs and straitjackets. It is also about the power of imagination and self-invention. His incredible transformation from Ehrich Weiss, humble Hungarian immigrant and rabbi’s son, into the self-named Harry Houdini has won him a slice of immortality. No one has withstood the test of time quite like Houdini. Fueled by Posnanski’s personal obsession with the magician—and magic itself—The Life and Afterlife of Harry Houdini is a poignant odyssey of discovery, blending biography, memoir, and first-person reporting to trace Houdini’s metamorphosis into an iconic figure who has inspired millions.

About Joe Posnanski

Joe Posnanski is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of seven books, including The Baseball 100, Paterno, and The Secret of Golf. He has written for The AthleticSports IllustratedNBC Sports, and The Kansas City Star and currently writes at JoePosnanski.com. He has been named National Sportswriter of the Year by five different organizations and is the winner of two Emmy Awards. He lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, with his family.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Kemper on November 18, 2019

At various points Harry Houdini lied about where he was born, when he was born, how he met his wife, and he routinely got fictional accounts of his escapes in newspapers. Hell, Harry Houdini wasn’t even his real name. So how do you write a biography about a man whose entire life was built around tri......more

Goodreads review by Margo on April 07, 2020

In full disclosure, this is my husband's book. It's really a fun book that's more magical history and personal stories than revealing how magic is done. What I like best is that after several years of crafting this book, Joe is done! I can plan social events, sweep under Joe's desk and remind him to......more

Goodreads review by Tim on January 14, 2024

Joe Posnanski is my favorite sportswriter. I love how he is a great storyteller, but also has a respect for complexities. Sometimes writers seems determined to fit everything into a pre-planned narrative. Posnanski has a gift for allowing the complexities to naturally come out and be part of the sto......more

Goodreads review by Bill on June 15, 2024

An excellent look at the magical life and death of Houdini told through the views of various magicians such as David Copperfield. Fun, informative and inspirational. This is not a “how did he do it book” but rather a “why did he do it”, what motivated him?......more

Goodreads review by Porter on November 18, 2019

Just finished The Life and Afterlife of Harry Houdini. I do not care for the books title, it does not describe the book. The title implies that the book is a biography of Harry Houdini and hints that it might delve into the "afterlife" of Harry Houdini. This is more of an introduction to modern magi......more