Book Review | Madness of Crowds

Greg McNeilly
Nov 23, 2019
6 min read

Updated: Mar 23

In Madness of Crowds, Douglas Murray examines the phenomenon of mass hysteria and mob mentality in modern society, both online and offline. Murray argues that the 21st century has witnessed a rise in collective insanity fueled by social media, identity politics, and a culture of outrage. This book review will critically evaluate Murray's arguments, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses.

Murray's central thesis is that Western societies have become increasingly susceptible to mass hysteria, driven by a desire for conformity and a fear of exclusion. He contends that social media platforms foster this phenomenon, facilitating the rapid dissemination of ideas and creating echo chambers that reinforce preexisting biases. According to Murray, these factors have normalized extreme views and behaviors, resulting in a "mob rule" where individuals are afraid to speak out against prevailing attitudes.

Murray presents several compelling examples to support his thesis. He discusses the #MeToo movement, which began as a legitimate response to sexual harassment and assault but quickly devolved into a witch-hunt atmosphere, where accusations were accepted without scrutiny and due process was ignored. Similarly, he analyzes the rise of gender ideology and its zealous enforcement by self-appointed guardians of political correctness, who seek to impose their views on others and suppress dissent.

One of the most vital aspects of Murray's argument is his critique of social media. He persuasively argues that platforms like Twitter have created a culture of constant validation seeking, where individuals crave likes, retweets, and followers to affirm their existence. This dynamic fosters a climate of conformity, as people feel pressure to avoid controversial opinions or risk being ostracized by their online communities.

While Murray's analysis of social media and its impact on discourse is insightful, some of his other arguments could be more convincing. For instance, his discussion of identity politics and its role in fueling mass hysteria feels somewhat simplistic and needs more nuance. Murray lumps together various groups advocating for social justice causes, implying that they are all equally responsible for the phenomena he describes. However, it's essential to recognize that these movements often address genuine grievances and strive for positive change.

Furthermore, Murray's remedies for his identified problems are only sometimes satisfactory. He suggests that returning to traditional values and rejecting progressive ideologies would stem the tide of mass hysteria. Yet, such a solution seems overly simplistic and ignores the complex factors driving societal changes. Moreover, some of the author's positions, such as his skepticism towards gender identity, may strike readers as similarly dogmatic and dismissive of valid perspectives.

Douglas Murray's "Madness of Crowds" raises essential questions about the state of our digital age and the dangers of unchecked groupthink. His criticisms of social media and its influence on public discourse are thought-provoking and warrant consideration. However, some of his arguments and prescriptions fall short, lacking the nuance required to tackle the intricate issues he addresses. Readers should approach this book with an open mind, recognizing its contributions and limitations to the conversation. Ultimately, "Madness of Crowds" serves as a call to vigilance, urging us to remain aware of the risks associated with the herd mentality and to engage in constructive dialogue rather than succumbing to the pressures of conformity.

QUOTES:

"The problem with crowds is that they can be maddeningly stupid." (p. xii)
"When we talk about the madness of crowds, we are talking about the way in which large groups of people can sometimes behave in ways that are irrational, dangerous, and destructive." (p. 3)
"The most dangerous thing about crowds is that they can create a sense of certainty and righteousness that is independent of reason or evidence." (p. 6)
"Crowds are not just found in physical spaces. They can also exist online, where they can spread ideas and mobilize people at incredible speed." (p. 8)
"Social media has created a world in which everyone can be a broadcaster, and everyone can be a part of a crowd." (p. 10)
"The internet has made it easier for people to find one another and to coordinate their actions, whether those actions are good or bad." (p. 12)
"The crowd is a monster that devours its own children." (p. 19)
"The only way to counteract the madness of crowds is to cultivate a sense of individuality and independence." (p. 25)
"The best defense against the madness of crowds is to maintain a healthy dose of skepticism and to question everything." (p. 31)
"It is time for us to stop worshipping at the altar of the crowd and to start thinking for ourselves again." (p. 35)
"The biggest danger of the mob is not that it will turn violent, but that it will turn virtuous." (p. 41)
"Virtue signaling is the practice of expressing opinions or views that are intended to demonstrate one's moral righteousness or superiority, usually with the intention of gaining approval or social status." (p. 43)
"The aim of virtue signaling is not to actually do good, but to be seen to be doing good." (p. 44)
"The problem with virtue signaling is that it creates a culture in which people are rewarded for saying things that they do not mean, and punished for saying things that they do mean." (p. 45)
"In a society that has become obsessed with identity politics, the most important thing is no longer what you believe or what you do, but who you are." (p. 51)
"Intersectionality is a theory that sees society as divided into different groups based on race, gender, sexual orientation, and other characteristics, and argues that these groups are oppressed by the dominant group." (p. 54)
"The trouble with intersectionality is that it creates a hierarchy of victimhood, in which some groups are considered more oppressed than others." (p. 56)
"The obsession with identity politics has led to a situation in which people are judged not on the content of their character, but on the color of their skin, their gender, their sexual orientation, or their religion." (p. 59)
"The idea that people should be judged on their merits rather than their identity is becoming increasingly unfashionable." (p. 61)
"The aim of the politically correct is not to promote equality, but to promote themselves." (p. 64)
"The politically correct movement is not interested in promoting freedom or equality, but in restricting freedom and promoting sameness." (p. 67)
"The aim of political correctness is not to make people feel included, but to make them feel excluded if they do not sign up to the prevailing ideology." (p. 70)
"Political correctness is a form of bullying, and like all forms of bullying, it is driven by fear." (p. 72)
"The cult of diversity is a myth that has been used to justify the suppression of dissenting voices." (p. 75)
"The idea that we must respect all cultures equally is a recipe for cultural suicide." (p. 78)
"Multiculturalism is not about celebrating diversity, but about suppressing any culture that refuses to bow down to the orthodoxies of political correctness." (p. 81)
"The doctrine of multiculturalism has turned societies into battlefields, where different ethnic and religious groups compete for power and influence." (p. 84)
"The only way to combat the forces of intolerance is to defend freedom of speech and expression, even when it offends." (p. 87)
"The struggle for free speech is not a struggle between left and right, but between those who want to control our thoughts and those who want to set our minds free." (p. 90)
"The future of Western civilization depends on our ability to defend our values and traditions against the forces of intolerance and tyranny." (p. 93)
"The notion that we can create a society in which everyone is equal is a dangerous fantasy." (p. 96)
"The pursuit of equality is a never-ending quest that can never be satisfied, because it is based on an impossible dream." (p. 97)
"The demand for equality is a bottomless pit, and those who seek to satisfy it will eventually be consumed by it." (p. 98)
"The obsession with equality has created a culture of envy, in which people are encouraged to resent those who have more than they do." (p. 101)
"The politics of envy is a poison that corrupts society, because it teaches people to hate those who have succeeded instead of aspiring to succeed themselves." (p. 103)
"The greatest threat to freedom today comes not from tyrants or dictators, but from the well-meaning zealots who seek to regulate every aspect of our lives in the name of equality and justice." (p. 106)
"The regulatory state is the enemy of freedom because it seeks to control every aspect of human behavior and thought." (p. 109)
"The nanny state is not just annoying; it is also dangerous, because it infantilizes adults and turns them into dependents of the government." (p. 112)
"The welfare state is not just a system of benefits; it is also a system of controls, designed to keep people dependent on the government." (p. 115)
"The ultimate goal of the politically correct is to eliminate all differences between people, so that everyone can be identical and interchangeable." (p. 118)