# Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds

**Author:** Charles Mackay
**Tags:** Impostors and imposture, Swindlers and swindling, Investments, Common fallacies, Hallucinations and illusions, Occultism, Stock exchanges, Alchemy, Delusions, Social psychology, Psychological aspects
**Price:** Free
**Formats:** DOCX, EPUB, FB2, PDF, TXT
**Downloads:** 36
**Added:** 10.07.2026
**URL:** https://samolit.com/books/96246

## Description

Dive into the captivating annals of human irrationality with Charles Mackay's timeless classic, Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds. This influential work, first published in 1841, offers a sweeping survey of history's most astounding instances of collective folly, where common sense yields to widespread delusion. From the speculative frenzies of the Dutch Tulip Mania, the South Sea Bubble, and the Mississippi Scheme, to the terrifying grip of witch hunts, the misguided pursuits of alchemy, and the fervent passions of the Crusades, Mackay meticulously chronicles how entire societies can be swayed by unreason. Explore peculiar follies like fortune-telling, haunted houses, and even the strange influence of politics on hairstyles. With a keen journalistic eye and compelling narrative, Mackay reveals the enduring power of herd mentality and mass hysteria, demonstrating how intelligent individuals often succumb to the most absurd beliefs when swept up in the tide of popular excitement. This insightful blend of history and psychology remains remarkably relevant, offering a profound look into the timeless patterns of human credulity and the cyclical nature of social and financial manias.