First published in 1841 this history chronicles the popular foolishness ofMackays day. It is divided into three broad categories including NationalDelusions Pec... » 

First published in 1841 this history chronicles the popular foolishness ofMackays day. It is divided into three broad categories including NationalDelusions Peculiar Follies and Philosophical Delusions. The authordiscusses and usually debunks a wide variety of subjects and events. Theseinclude economic bubbles like the tulip craze of Holland in 1637 or theMississippi Company financial bubble of 1719 alchemy which was of particularinterest to individuals who wanted to create gold out of lesservaluedmaterials the Crusades also known as the Middle Ages mania witch hunts thepersecution of thousands of innocent victims that arose from eithersupernatural ill fortune or neighbors with a score to settle duels thepolitical and religious influence on beards and several others. This workwith all of its interesting observations is an entertaining and insightfulbook that explores the phenomenon of crowd mentality. «