Markets, mobs & mayhem : a modern look at the madness of crowds
The history of business through the lens of crowd psychology In this fascinating tour through cultural, global, economic, and business history, icon of the finance world Robert Menschel explores the phenomenon of crowd psychology and its effect on business and culture. This book cheers on individualists in business and explores the essence of followers. From paper money to technology-from the evil rise of the Nazis to the fanatic love of brands-world history tells a cautionary tale about how crowd and group psychology affects the business world, an issue of interest to business leaders and readers. The book also features a Foreword by William Safire, The New York Times "On Language" columnist
xxvii, 226 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm
9780471233275, 9780471718888, 0471233277, 0471718882
50164607
Foreword (W. Safire).Preface: An Epidemic of Fear.PART ONE: BOOMS, BUBBLESAND BUSTS.Introduction.The Bulb That Ate Holland: Tulipmania.Booms & Bubbles.New Lands, New Schemes: The South Se and Mississippi Companies.Panics & Runs.Crash: The Great Depression.He Said/She Said.Bernard Baruch on Basic Math & Eternal Truths.Making the Play: The Internet and the "New" Economy.A Bubble is a Bubble is a Bubble.Keeping Your Head When All About You Are Losing Theirs.PART TWO: RUMORS & SUGGESTIONS.Introduction.Chicken Licken's Apocalypes Now.Something from Nothing: The Alchemy of Suggestion.Tom Wolfe on Waiting for the Beatles.Waiting for Godot.Roswell, New Mexico: Things That Go Bump in the Night.James Thurber on the Day the Dam Broke.Keeping Your Head When All About You.Are Losing Theirs.PART THREE: FEAR & PANIC.Introduction.Worst-Case Scenario: The Martians Are Coming!Life Imitates Art, Art Imitates Life.The Iroquois Theater Fire: "They Had Gone Mad".The Mechanics of Disintegration.The Fall of Saigon: "If You Have Time, Pray for Us".Russell Baker: Roar of the Crowd, Inc.Harry Truman on the "Harvest of Shame": What Hysteria Does to Us.Keeping Your Head When All About You.Are Losing Theirs.PART FOUR: VIOLENCE & VIGILANTES.Introduction.Los Angeles, April 29 to May 1, 1992: Dance of Destruction.Riffraff or Resister?The Beast Within.Lynching: Thinking About the Unthinkable.An Outcome "Altogether Predictable".Mark Twain: "The Pitifulest Thing Out Is a Mob"."The Men Snarled and Shouted As They Flung Their Stones".Rwanda: When the Mob Is the State, Horror Becomes Ordinary.Keeping Your Head When All About You Are Losing Theirs.PART FIVE: LEADERS & FOLLOWERS.Introduction.Der Fuhrer: The Voice of the Mob.Lemming See, Lemming Do.Following the Leader: The Violence of Nonviolence.Leading the Followers: Fire Within Fire.Off with Their Heads.A Little Knowledge Is a Dangerous Thing.Hans Christian Andersen's Tale of Leaders & Yes-Men.The Mind of the Mob: Stupidity Accumulates, but Also Heroism.Rudyard Kipling on Leading and Following.Keeping Your Head When All About You.Are Losing Theirs.Acknowledgments.Text Credits.Illustration and Photo Credits.Index.