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.

Latest episodes of the podcast Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds by Charles Mackay

• 00 – Preface
• 01 – The Mississippi Scheme, Part 1
• 02 – The Mississippi Scheme Part 2
• 03 – The Mississippi Scheme Part 3
• 04 – The South Sea Bubble. Part 1
• 05 – The South Sea Bubble, Part 2
• 06 – The South Sea Bubble
• 07 – The Tulipomania
• 08 – The Alchymists, Part 1
• 09 – The Alchymists, Part 2
• 10 – The Alchymists, Part 3
• 11 – The Alchymists, Part 4
• 12 – The Alchymists, Part 5
• 13 – The Alchymists, Part 6
• 14 – The Alchymists, Part 7
• 15 – The Alchymists, Part 8
• 16 – The Alchymists, Part 9
• 17 – The Alchemists – Part 10
• 18 – The Alchymists, Part 11
• 19 – The Alchemists Part 12
• 20 – The Alchymists, part 13
• 21 – Modern Prophecies, Part 1
• 22 – Modern Prophecies, Part 2
• 23 – Fortune Telling Part 1
• 24 – Fortune Telling, Part 2
• 25 – The Magnetisers, Part 1
• 26 – The Magnetizers, Part 2
• 27 – The Magnetizers, Part 3
• 28 – The Influence of Politics and Religion on the Hair and Beard