Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds, Volume 1

Charles Mackay (1814 - 1889)

The book chronicles and vilifies its targets in three parts: "National Delusions", "Peculiar Follies", and "Philosophical Delusions".

The subjects of Mackay's debunking include alchemy, beards (influence of politics and religion on), witch-hunts, crusades and duels. Present day writers on economics, such as Andrew Tobias, laud the three chapters on economic bubbles. (summary from Wikipedia)

Link to Volume 2

Genre(s): Social Science (Culture & Anthropology)

Language: English

Section Chapter Reader Time
Play 00 Preface J. M. Smallheer
00:04:14
Play 01 The Mississippi Scheme, Part 1 ink tree
00:31:11
Play 02 The Mississippi Scheme, Part 2 MorganScorpion
00:31:48
Play 03 The Mississippi Scheme, Part 3 MorganScorpion
00:39:20
Play 04 The South-Sea Bubble, Part 1 hefyd
00:46:39
Play 05 The South-Sea Bubble, Part 2 hefyd
00:31:50
Play 06 The South-Sea Bubble, Part 3 hefyd
00:31:39
Play 07 The Tulipomania David Higham
00:21:11
Play 08 The Alchymists, Part 1 J. M. Smallheer
00:29:38
Play 09 The Alchymists, Part 2 J. M. Smallheer
00:23:38
Play 10 The Alchymists, Part 3 MorganScorpion
00:30:03
Play 11 The Alchymists, Part 4 David Higham
00:33:52
Play 12 The Alchymists, Part 5 Daniele
00:38:49
Play 13 The Alchymists, Part 6 Janna
00:17:20
Play 14 The Alchymists, Part 7 MorganScorpion
00:31:01
Play 15 The Alchymists, Part 8 Janna
00:12:35
Play 16 The Alchymists, Part 9 J. M. Smallheer
00:28:47
Play 17 The Alchymists, Part 10 Scotty
00:40:12
Play 18 The Alchymists, Part 11 Scotty
00:38:01
Play 19 The Alchymists, Part 12 Scotty
00:21:38
Play 20 The Alchymists, Part 13 MorganScorpion
00:40:23
Play 21 Modern Prophecies, Part 1 Anna Simon
00:29:23
Play 22 Modern Prophecies, Part 2 Anna Simon
00:23:19
Play 23 Fortune-Telling, Part 1 Anne Cheng
00:30:11
Play 24 Fortune-Telling, Part 2 Anne Cheng
00:23:14
Play 25 The Magnetisers, Part 1 Maire Rhode
00:37:33
Play 26 The Magnetisers, Part 2 Andrew Coleman
00:37:00
Play 27 The Magnetisers, Part 3 MorganScorpion
00:33:55
Play 28 Influence of Politics and Religion on the Hair and Beard Laura Caldwell
00:20:20