I think I would've given this book a higher rating if it was marketed very differently. As it stands, this book reads like a memoir of Bouissac's experience with circus and a patchwork of topics he feels passionately about and wanted to cover. He is speaking from his own experience with a particular type of circus. The book was marketed to me, based on the title, description, and price-point, as an academically research text. And it did not feel like that, in my opinion. Although Bouissac makes some very strong claims about circus, he spends little time backing them up with evidence or explanation. The layout was also a bit confusing because it's partially written in italics, but the purpose of the italics was unclear to me.

So, if you want some thoughts and anecdotes about traditional circus from someone who has had a professional and academic relationship with circus arts throughout his life, then I highly recommend this book. However, if you are looking for someone to suggest a fresh "meaning of the circus," then I recommend looking elsewhere.