It has become well known how individuals might be rational and reasonable, but people in groups easily go crazy. Theologically Niebuhr made much of this in his Moral Man and Immoral Society. And Charles Mackay attested to it in his 19th century Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds.

William Bernstein was motivated by the latter work to take up the same theme in The Delusions of Crowds: Why People Go Mad in Groups.

I am on record often suggesting how subtitles end up telling you more about what a book is about than the title itself; while I do still believe that tendency remains, it is not true in terms of this book. This book is not really about why people go mad in groups as much as details various instances of how they did so and attempting to provide warning indicators.

The author does not presume to be compendious, and he tends to focus on two particular catalysts for mass delusion: apocalyptic fervor and financial speculation. The narrative is roughly chronological and intersperses religious apocalypticism and financial speculation. He describes Anabaptist millennial fervor in the 16th century, French and British financial speculations and bubbles of the 18th century, the rise of dispensational premillennialism and its Millerite, Christian Zionist, and Religious Right manifestations, the speculations of the 1920s and the dot-com bubble, somewhat but less about the 2008 collapse, and much regarding Islamic apocalypticism manifest particularly in ISIS, among other narratives.

On the whole the narratives are well expressed, although the author continues to have too much esteem for the presumptions of the Enlightenment and has bought into some historical tropes; for instance, he bought the ex post facto justification of the Moral Majority on account of abortion as opposed to the opposition to IRS de-listing of segregation academies as non-profit organizations, and only later grabbing ahold of the abortion issue.

One can tell the author is not neutral about religious apocalyptic fervor but less vituperative regarding financial speculation. Regardless, much of what the author presents is a result of delusion, and no doubt there will be plenty more material for some later author to consider in some future volume regarding the delusions and madness of human collectives.

Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

Really interesting and alarmingly relevant. I thought this was a useful mix of history, psychology and sociology’s d got a lot out of it. At times, the author seemed less than objective which can happen but is not my preferred approach when reading books classified as history books.

A fascinating history of mass hysteria and mass delusions. Taking examples from religion and historical events I enjoyed reading about this as the psychology of humans is always fascinating. The only fault i can make about this book is the authors' opinions shine through at moments that are somewhat uncomfortable.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an eACR of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Really interesting overview of how crowds can behave in a deluded manner, drawing on both financial and religious historical events.

If you want very clear opinions from an author about all the things they dislike about the world, please pick up a copy of this book. Opinions abound.

If this book had been half the length it actually is, and you were to cut out most of the dislike for, say, people in general, then this would be a much more tolerable work. I had high hopes for this, but after reading it, the best I can say, is that it isn't the worst book I have ever read. The author does have some valid points throughout the book, but unfortunately, I found him so unlikable that it is difficult to even concede those points.

Perhaps this was just not my kind of book. Personality clash. Regardless, I think if you read this you will be in one camp or the other, and not in any grey area. I wasn't thrilled.

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher, provided through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This book's title and much of its content refer to Charles Mackay’s Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds, published in 1841. The author tells stories from ancient societies and their collapse due to crazed mobs, but his primary field of expertise is financial movements including our own dot.com boom and bust in the 1990's. Bernstein is a neurologist and I expected that the book would discuss more of the political upheaval of recent years and the psychology of people bonding in extremist causes. But the author spends a lot of time comparing pretty much any form of fervent spirituality with the religious motivations of violent organizations like ISIS. Dr. Bernstein is a wonderful writer and certainly knows his history, and this book would be of interest to readers less interested in the roots of today's broad and violent civil unrest as in the philosophies underlying religious beliefs themselves.