Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds by Mackay
"Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds" by Charles Mackay is a historical account written in the mid-19th century. The book investigates various collective follies and delusions that have swept through societies across time, analyzing how social dynamics can lead to widespread irrational behavior among people. Topics like financial manias, such as the Mississippi Scheme and the South-Sea Bubble, are central to Mackay's exploration of humanity's propensity for folly.
The opening of the work sets the stage for an examination of the concept of collective insanity, focusing on the life of John Law, a key figure in the Mississippi Scheme. Mackay introduces the reader to Law as both a brilliant financier and a possible conman, illustrating his rise and fall amid the frenzy and greed of the French populace. It describes Law's early life, his gambling exploits, and how he caught the attention of the Duke of Orleans, leading to his ambitious financial schemes intended to restore France's economy after years of corruption. This narrative not only foreshadows Law's eventual downfall but also reflects on the broader themes of ambition and delusion that permeate societal behaviors throughout history. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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About this eBook
| Author | Mackay, Charles, 1814-1889 |
|---|---|
| Title | Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds |
| Note | Reading ease score: 64.0 (8th & 9th grade). Neither easy nor difficult to read. |
| Note | Wikipedia page about this book: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extraordinary_Popular_Delusions_and_the_Madness_of_Crowds |
| Contents | The Mississippi scheme -- The south-sea bubble -- The tulipomania -- The alchymists -- Modern prophecies -- Fortune-telling -- The magnetisers -- Influence of politics and religion on the hair and beard -- The crusades -- The witch mania -- The slow poisoners -- Haunted houses -- Popular follies of great cities -- Popular admiration of great thieves -- Duels and ordeals -- Relics. |
| Credits | Jonathan Ingram, Bill Tozier, Barbara Tozier and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team |
| Language | English |
| LoC Class | AZ: General Works: History of scholarship and learning, The humanities |
| Subject | Social psychology |
| Subject | Swindlers and swindling |
| Subject | Impostors and imposture |
| Subject | Alchemy |
| Subject | Delusions |
| Subject | Occultism -- Early works to 1900 |
| Subject | Investments -- Psychological aspects |
| Subject | Stock exchanges -- Psychological aspects |
| Subject | Hallucinations and illusions |
| Subject | Common fallacies |
| Category | Text |
| EBook-No. | 24518 |
| Release Date | Feb 5, 2008 |
| Most Recently Updated | Jun 26, 2021 |
| Copyright Status | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 3025 downloads in the last 30 days. |
| Project Gutenberg eBooks are always free! | |
