Subject
Impostors and imposture Books
Best books
Charles Mackay
Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds
"Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds" by Charles Mackay is an early study of crowd psychology first published in 1841. This journalistic work examines humanity's susceptibility to collective manias through three volumes exploring financial bubbles, religious crusades, witch trials, alchemy, and countless other follies. Mackay debunks popular delusions with colorful anecdotes and sensational storytelling, from Dutch tulip mania to the influence of politics on beard styles. His analysis of economic bubbles remains influential, credited with helping financiers predict market crashes and understand modern speculation.
P. T. (Phineas Taylor) Barnum
The Humbugs of the World An Account of Humbugs, Delusions, Impositions, Quackeries, Deceits and Deceivers Generally, in All Ages
"The Humbugs of the World" by P. T. Barnum is a collection of essays and anecdotes written in the mid-19th century. The book explores the many forms of deception, quackery, and humbug that have pervaded society throughout history, touching on various subjects from politics and religion to commerce and medicine. Barnum, a celebrated showman and entertainer, aims to expose these deceptions while also reflecting on the nature of belief and gullibility among the general population. The opening of the work sets the stage for Barnum's exploration of humbugs by defining the term and highlighting its prevalence across various fields of human endeavor. He starts by emphasizing that humbug is not limited to outright fraud but includes any form of deceit that misleads the public. He laments the myriad ways people deceive themselves and one another in pursuit of personal gain or public approval. Through a series of reflections, anecdotes, and personal experiences, Barnum establishes the broad scope of humbuggery and hints at the intriguing examples to be discussed in the chapters that follow. The introduction engages readers by promising a humorous yet insightful examination of human nature and the quirks found within society's fabric.
Bram Stoker
Famous Impostors
"Famous Impostors" by Bram Stoker is a non-fiction book published in 1910. The Dracula author's final work explores a fascinating gallery of historical deceptions, from royal pretenders like Perkin Warbeck to practitioners of magic such as Cagliostro. The collection examines women who disguised themselves as men, infamous hoaxes that fooled entire cities, and controversial claims including the theory that Queen Elizabeth I was secretly male. Each case reveals humanity's enduring capacity for both elaborate deception and willing belief.
Charles Mackay
Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions — Volume 3
"Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions — Volume 3" by Charles Mackay is a volume first published in 1841. This final volume explores humanity's philosophical delusions, focusing on the misguided pursuits of alchemists seeking to transform base metals into gold. Mackay examines how practitioners and their noble sponsors fell prey to elaborate deceptions and self-delusion. The volume also investigates fortune-telling and magnetisers who claimed to cure diseases through imagination, revealing the persistent human susceptibility to pseudoscientific beliefs and supernatural explanations across centuries.
Charles Mackay
Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions — Volume 1
"Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions — Volume 1" by Charles Mackay is a study of crowd psychology first published in 1841. This journalistic exploration examines how entire societies fall prey to irrational beliefs and financial manias. Mackay investigates economic bubbles like the South Sea Company and Dutch tulip mania, alongside witch trials, alchemy, the Crusades, and countless other collective obsessions. Through colorful anecdotes and debunking analysis, he reveals how crowds abandon reason and embrace delusion, offering timeless lessons about human behavior that continue influencing financial thinkers today.
Charles Mackay
Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions — Volume 2
"Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions — Volume 2" by Charles Mackay is a study of crowd psychology first published in 1841. This volume examines humanity's most fervent collective manias, from the religious fervor of the Crusades to the deadly witch trials that swept through Europe. Mackay chronicles how thousands fell victim to mass hysteria, how neighbors turned against each other with flimsy evidence, and how entire societies succumbed to irrational beliefs. Through vivid storytelling, he reveals the dangerous power of popular delusion across centuries.
John Henry Ingram
Claimants to Royalty
"Claimants to Royalty" by John Henry Ingram is a historical account written in the late 19th century. The book explores the intriguing stories of various impostors who have claimed royal titles throughout history, focusing on a wide array of characters from diverse regions, including Persia, Syria, and England. Through these accounts, the book sheds light on the themes of human credulity, ambition, and the tumultuous nature of power. At the start of the work, Ingram introduces the concept of royal pretenders, noting that history is filled with individuals who have attempted to assume the identities of deceased monarchs, often during times of societal instability. The opening portion highlights several notorious claimants, such as the pseudo Smerdis of Persia and the false Nero of Rome, detailing their audacious attempts to gain power and the eventual fates that befell them. The author emphasizes the blurred lines between truth and deception in these historical narratives, inviting readers to reflect on the allure of legitimacy and authority in turbulent times.
R. A. (Richard Alfred) Davenport
Sketches of imposture, deception, and credulity
"Sketches of Imposture, Deception, and Credulity" by R. A. Davenport is a historical account written in the mid-19th century. The work delves into the nature of belief and deception throughout human history, examining how credulity has often led people to be misled by cunning impostors. Davenport's exploration spans a wide array of subjects, including ancient oracles, false prophets, and the impact of credulity on societal beliefs. The opening of this work introduces the reader to the themes of incredulity and credulity, discussing how belief can be essential for social cohesion yet also a breeding ground for folly. Davenport critiques the ways in which impostors have exploited the credulity of the masses, providing a framework for the subsequent chapters that investigate historical examples of deception, from ancient oracles in Greece to more modern instances of false prophets. By laying out these foundational thoughts, the author sets the stage for a deeper investigation into the interplay between human psychology, societal expectations, and the enduring quest for truth.
Recently surfaced classics