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HOW MUMBO-JUMBO CONQUERED THE WORLD [Import] (Hardcover)

~ FRANCIS WHEEN (Author)
3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)

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Product Details

  • Hardcover
  • Publisher: FOURTH ESTATE LTD (2004)
  • ISBN-10: 0007140967
  • ISBN-13: 978-0007140961
  • Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 1.5 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
  • Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,213,270 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Francis Wheen
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Customer Reviews

15 Reviews
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 (3)
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 (7)
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Average Customer Review
3.7 out of 5 stars (15 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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38 of 41 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Mr Wheen examines evidence of reason on retreat, November 20, 2004
By Ian Muldoon (Coffs Harbour, NSW Australia) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   
This review is from: How Mumbo-jumbo Conquered the World: A Short History of Modern Delusions (Paperback)
Casting an erudite eye over a variety of sources Mr Wheen (born 1957) has written an informative and entertaining book which sets out to examine the evidence of the statement by British Philosopher Roger Scruton that reason is now on the retreat both as an ideal and as a reality (P.7) In my own experience in my own country (Australia) I note that the third most popular course (after mandatory English, and Maths) for the High School Certificate in NSW is Business Studies. I note also that Australian Universities seem to have an orientation towards vocational or "practical courses" and that subjects such as philosophy and other "soft" subjects appear to have a shrinking student base. Philosophy, among other things, is concerned with thinking about thinking, validity, the role of a premise, evidence, logic and so on, but as H.L. Mencken noted "every man prefers what he can understand to what puzzles and dismays him" (p.111) and the acquisition of knowledge is a hard incremental slog compared to switching on the tv. Hence, it is argued, the rise of evangelical fundamentalism. In America religious superstition is about the same per capita as Bangladesh, which is surprising for an advanced industrialized country. Mr Wheen argues that it is far better for the powerless to seek solace in crystals, ley-lines, and the myth of Abraham than in actually challenging the rulers, or the social and economic systemn over which they preside (p. 193). What is revealing and alarming is the seepage that occurs between business, religion, cultish mumbo jumbo, government and educational institutions. The Clintons, the Blairs, The Reagans have all been involved in mumbo jumbo including consulting astrologers. Nor do the left escape Mr Wheen's analysis and research and are revealed as being ideological blind to Stalin, Pol Pot and as demonising the USA . The Muslim world also gets a serve or two as Mr Wheen points out to them that it was not Mohammed but the jurists of the 8/9th centuries who divided the world into the abode of Islam and the abode of war (p. 291) He also reminds them it was the Arab world which began modernization so willingly embraced by the West through Astronomy and Mathematics.
Mr Wheen's book is a refreshing and compelling read.
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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Alan Parons called it pyramidia, October 12, 2004
This review is from: How Mumbo-jumbo Conquered the World: A Short History of Modern Delusions (Paperback)
Mumbo-Jumbo is that specious sounding article you read the other day by that new-ager who tempts you with a re-birthing to 'let go' of the bad karma....it's the economic bastardry of the 'trickle down' effect where only those at the top of the economic pile improve their situation.
Importantly, you don't come away from this book feeling angry, cheated or alarmed - just more aware. Too many publications are out there to get 'them' - this book is out there to get 'us' - make us think and challenge us to questioin the mumbo-jumbo that pervades and sometimes becomes THE established way of thinking.
An extremely worthwhile way to spend some reading time.
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18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable, but not compulsive reading, November 14, 2004
By Adam Rutkowski (Frankfurt, Germany) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: How Mumbo-jumbo Conquered the World: A Short History of Modern Delusions (Paperback)
I found this book to be a fairly enjoyable read, which showed quite well how so many people jump on the latest mind-set bandwagon without really stopping to develop their own critical opinions. Social opinion can often be like science without peer review, and a critical (perhaps even cynical) mind is often the only real defense.

Some parts of this book flow quite nicely, where the author has a clear point to make and sticks with it, but other parts feel a bit more rambling, and seem to lack focus. Also, sometimes it feels as though the author's opinions are being presented as facts, without really being backed up. This should not be taken as too heavy a criticism, as the book still contains lots of great food for thought, and I think most critical thinkers would find a lot of valuable content here, but the negatives are enough that I wouldn't put this one on my 'must-read' list.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

1.0 out of 5 stars The title of this book corresponds its content
I started to read the book and eventully ended turning pages. May be odd pieces of information are of interest, but it is badly written, biased and full of mumbo jumbo. Read more
Published 8 months ago by I. P. H.

3.0 out of 5 stars Open up the Universe!
There is a memorable passage in Saul Bellow's novel 'The Dean's December' where a dog barking in Communist Budapest seems to be railing passionately about the limits of his era,... Read more
Published on November 5, 2007 by Sirin

3.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining rather than enlightening
This is a sometimes-wonderful but ultimately frustrating book. Wonderful, because it brings together so many hilarious examples of crackpot thinking; frustrating because it fails... Read more
Published on May 26, 2007 by Paddy Penpusher

5.0 out of 5 stars Master Debunker
Francis Wheen is indeed a master debunker: erudite, passionate, lacerating and logical. Just about the only book I can compare his "How Mumbo Jumbo... Read more
Published on November 12, 2006 by P. Y. Yeh

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing
I had high hopes for this volume- but like many other reviewers, I was dimayed by the author's profound ignorance or economics, and even more profound ignorance of history. Read more
Published on April 27, 2006 by Michael J Edelman

4.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining curmudgeon
Not bad. Not excellent, but an enjoyable read, overall.

Criticisms:

He wasted a lot of space with aimless ranting about the patently absurd (such as... Read more
Published on December 19, 2005 by K. Faulkner

4.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining, informative, opinionated, cynical
This is a good read, even though I write as someone more likely to use the word "Enlightenment" in a Buddhist context, rather than in reference to the revolution of "pure reason"... Read more
Published on December 13, 2005 by Tim Burness

4.0 out of 5 stars A great debunking, but perhaps too glib
I had the pleasure of hearing the brilliant and funny Francis Wheen speaking here last week and I agree with almost every word he writes. Read more
Published on October 14, 2005 by Will De Vere

4.0 out of 5 stars A must read!
If you get your news from the talking (and cutesy) heads of most of today's news, this book is NOT for you. Read more
Published on September 8, 2005 by armchairinterviews.com

4.0 out of 5 stars Nothing new under the sun
Finally a book I truly enjoyed.
It is easily readable, direct and outspoken.
It articulates a definite and very controversial argument: the belief that our society... Read more
Published on March 9, 2005 by Amore Roberto

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