Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds : Understanding the Forces Behind Group Mentality, Thoughts and Actions

This edition represents an early study of crowd psychology by Scottish journalist Charles Mackay. The book chronicles its subjects in three parts: "National Delusions", "Peculiar Follies", and "Philosophical Delusions". MacKay was an accomplished teller of stories, though he wrote in a journalistic and somewhat sensational style. The subjects of Mackay''s debunking include alchemy, crusades, duels...