This “disturbing yet fascinating” exploration of mass mania through the ages explains the biological and psychological roots of irrationality (Kirkus Reviews). From time immemorial, contagious narratives have spread through susceptible groups—with enormous, often disastrous, consequences. Inspired by Charles Mackay’s nineteenth-century classic Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds, neurologist and author William Bernstein examines mass delusion through the lens of current scientific research in The Delusions of Crowds. Bernstein tells the stories of dramatic religious and financial mania in western society over the last five hundred years—from the Anabaptist Madness of the 1530s to the dangerous End-Times beliefs that pervade today’s polarized America; and from the South Sea Bubble to the Enron scandal and dot com bubbles. Through Bernstein’s supple prose, the participants are as colorful as their “desire to improve one’s well-being in this life or the next.” Bernstein’s chronicles reveal the huge cost and alarming implications of mass mania. He observes that if we can absorb the history and biology of this all-too-human phenomenon, we can recognize it more readily in our own time, and avoid its frequently dire impact.

This edition includes: The Social Contract (Jean-Jacques Rousseau) The Crowd: A Study of the Popular Mind (Gustave Le Bon) The Psychology of Revolution (Gustave Le Bon) Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds (Charles Mackay) Instincts of the Herd in Peace and War (Wilfred Trotter) The Behavior of Crowds: A Psychological Study (Everett Dean Martin) Crowds: A Moving-Picture of Democracy (Gerald Stanley Lee) The Group Mind: A Sketch of the Principles of Collective Psychology (William McDougall) Jean-Jacques Rousseau was a Francophone Genevan philosopher, writer, and composer of the 18th century. Jean-Jacques Rousseau was a Francophone Genevan philosopher, writer, and composer of the 18th century. Gustave Le Bon was a French polymath whose areas of interest included anthropology, psychology, sociology, medicine, invention, and physics. Wilfred Trotter was an English surgeon, a pioneer in neurosurgery. He was also known for his concept of the herd instinct. Everett Dean Martin was an American minister, writer, journalist, instructor, lecturer and social psychologist. Gerald Stanley Lee was an American Congregational clergyman and the author of numerous books and essays. William McDougall was an early 20th century psychologist who spent the first part of his career in the United Kingdom and the latter part in the USA. Charles Mackay was a Scottish poet, journalist, author, anthologist, novelist, and songwriter.

Charles MacKay's groundbreaking examination of a staggering variety of popular delusions, crazes and mass follies is presented here in full with no abridgements. The text concentrates on a wide variety of phenomena which had occurred over the centuries prior to this book's publication in 1841. Mackay begins by examining economic bubbles, such as the infamous Tulipomania, wherein Dutch tulips rocketed in value amid claims they could be substituted for actual currency. As we progress further, the scope of the book broadens into several more exotic fields of mass self-deception. Mackay turns his attention to the witch hunts of the 17th and 18th centuries, the practice of alchemy, the phenomena of haunted houses, the vast and varied practices of fortune telling and the search for the philosopher's stone, to name but a handful of subjects. Today, Extraordinary Popular Delusions and The Madness of Crowds is distinguished as an expansive, well-researched and somewhat eccentric work of social history.

"Until the later decades of the nineteenth century, psychology continued to concern itself almost exclusively with the mind of man conceived in an abstract fashion, not as the mind of any particular individual, but as the mind of a representative individual considered in abstraction from his social settings as something given to our contemplation fully formed and complete..." William McDougall was an early 20th century psychologist who wrote a number of highly influential textbooks, and was particularly important in the development of the theory of instinct and of social psychology in the English-speaking world. He was an opponent of behaviourism and stands somewhat outside the mainstream of the development of Anglo-American psychological thought in the first half of the 20th century; but his work was very well known and respected among lay people.

DigiCat Publishing presents to you this special edition of "The Lost Art of Reading" by Gerald Stanley Lee. DigiCat Publishing considers every written word to be a legacy of humankind. Every DigiCat book has been carefully reproduced for republishing in a new modern format. The books are available in print, as well as ebooks. DigiCat hopes you will treat this work with the acknowledgment and passion it deserves as a classic of world literature.

Discourse on the Origin and Basis of Inequality Among Men, also known as the "Second Discourse," is a work by the French philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau. In this work, Rousseau explains how, in his view, people may have established civil society. This is also the work where he concludes that private property is the source and basis of all inequality - a statement that inspired numerous revolutions and political movements worldwide.

Charles Mackay's 'Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds' is a seminal work exploring the phenomenon of crowd psychology and the impact of mass behavior on individuals. Written in a captivating and engaging style, Mackay delves into various historical events and societal trends that have been influenced by the collective mindset of the masses. This book not only provides valuable insights into the irrationality of human behavior during times of hysteria but also serves as a cautionary tale for future generations. Mackay's meticulous research and thought-provoking analysis make this book a must-read for anyone interested in psychology, sociology, or economics. His ability to dissect complex societal issues and present them in a compelling narrative sets this book apart as a timeless classic. It is a treasure trove of wisdom for those seeking to understand the intricacies of human nature and the power of group mentality.