How Mumbo-Jumbo Conquered the World: A Short History of Modern Delusions by Francis Wheen Summary

1. Francis Wheen argues postmodern relativism replaced Enlightenment reason since 1979
2. Thatcher/Reagan economic fundamentalism prioritized ideology over empirical reality with disastrous results
3. New Age mysticism infiltrated politics via Reagan’s astrologers and Blair’s rebirthing rituals
4. Enlightenment Founding Fathers would reject modern politics of spin and faith-based governance
5. Corporate mumbo-jumbo enabled Enron’s collapse and South Sea Bubble-style financial disasters
6. Post-Cold War pseudoscience thrived where Marxist certainties once dominated public discourse
7. Wheen traces anti-rationalism from Khomeini’s theocracy to Deepak Chopra’s quantum spirituality
8. Thomas Jefferson’s “truth through contradiction” principle lost to soundbite-driven populism
9. Economic and religious fundamentalisms share rejection of evidence-based policy-making
10. New Age gurus and neoliberal think tanks both peddle dangerous oversimplified worldviews
11. Wheen shows how intellectual humility became collateral damage in culture wars
12. The book diagnoses epistemic crisis where feelings outweigh facts across political spectrum

About the Author

Francis James Baird Wheen, author of How Mumbo-Jumbo Conquered the World, is an award-winning British journalist and author renowned for his incisive critiques of modern irrationality and political delusions.

A deputy editor at Private Eye and former columnist for The Guardian and London Evening Standard, Wheen’s career spans decades of sharp commentary on culture, ideology, and dogma.

His expertise in debunking pseudoscience and authoritarianism stems from his acclaimed biography Karl Marx: A Life (1999), which won the Deutscher Memorial Prize and has been translated into 20 languages, as well as Marx’s Das Kapital: A Biography (2006). Wheen’s 2003 Orwell Prize-winning collection Hoo-Hahs and Passing Frenzies cemented his reputation as a fearless polemicist.

How Mumbo-Jumbo Conquered the World (2004), a Sunday Times bestseller, dissects the rise of anti-rationalism in politics, finance, and culture—a theme amplified through his BBC Radio 4 appearances and television commentary.

Born in 1957, Wheen’s work remains essential reading for understanding modern disinformation.

FAQs About This Book

What is How Mumbo-Jumbo Conquered the World about?

How Mumbo-Jumbo Conquered the World by Francis Wheen examines the late 20th-century rise of irrationality, pseudoscience, and anti-Enlightenment ideologies. The book critiques trends like postmodern relativism, political spin, New Age mysticism, and economic delusions, arguing that reason and evidence-based thinking have been sidelined by emotionalism and superstition. Examples include the 1990s dot-com bubble, celebrity culture, and political reliance on "gut feelings" over facts.

Who should read How Mumbo-Jumbo Conquered the World?

This book appeals to readers interested in cultural criticism, political analysis, or the history of ideas. It’s particularly relevant for skeptics of pseudoscience, students of postmodernism, and those concerned with misinformation in public discourse. Wheen’s sharp wit and accessible style make it engaging for both academic and general audiences.

Is How Mumbo-Jumbo Conquered the World worth reading?

Yes, the book offers a provocative, well-researched critique of modern irrationality. Wheen combines historical analysis with biting humor, dissecting topics from corporate greed to political charlatanism. While some critiques feel dated (e.g., 1990s examples), its core themes remain urgent in an era of conspiracy theories and "post-truth" rhetoric.

What are the main arguments in How Mumbo-Jumbo Conquered the World?

Wheen argues that Enlightenment values like rational inquiry and empiricism have been eroded by:

• Postmodern relativism in academia, dismissing objective truth
• Political spin prioritizing slogans over substance (e.g., Tony Blair’s rhetoric)
• Economic delusions, exemplified by the Enron scandal and dot-com bubble
• New Age mysticism and celebrity-driven sentimentality (e.g., Princess Diana’s media canonization)

How does Francis Wheen critique Tony Blair in the book?

Wheen lambasts Blair for embracing "Third Way" political vagueness and relying on emotional appeals over policy rigor. He highlights Blair’s use of spiritualist advisors and symbolic gestures (e.g., Mayan birth rituals with Cherie Blair) as emblematic of a leader prioritizing image over rational governance.

What examples does Wheen use to show economic mumbo-jumbo?

The book dissects:

• Reaganomics and Thatcherite deregulation as ideologically driven pseudoscience
• The Enron collapse, where fabricated profits masked systemic fraud
• The dot-com bubble, where irrational exuberance overvalued tech startups with no revenue

How does the book address postmodernism’s role in modern delusions?

Wheen condemns postmodern thinkers like Jacques Derrida for promoting relativism that undermines objective truth. He argues this academic trend enabled conspiracy theories and "alternative facts" by dismissing shared reality as a social construct.

What is Francis Wheen’s view of celebrity culture in the book?

Wheen critiques the 1990s "cult of sentimentality" around figures like Princess Diana, whose death sparked public grieving he deems performative and manipulative. He parallels this with politicians like Al Gore using emotional narratives over factual arguments.

How does How Mumbo-Jumbo Conquered the World remain relevant today?

While focused on 1980s–2000s, its analysis of misinformation, anti-intellectualism, and political theatrics foreshadows modern issues like QAnon, climate denialism, and AI-driven deepfakes. Wheen’s warnings about eroded critical thinking feel prescient.

What criticisms exist about the book?

Some reviewers argue Wheen oversimplifies complex topics like globalization and dismisses valid critiques of Enlightenment ideology. His tone can veer into smugness, with chapters feeling like "fish-in-a-barrel" takedowns of easy targets (e.g., astrologers).

How does this book compare to Wheen’s biography of Karl Marx?

Unlike his acclaimed Marx biography, Mumbo-Jumbo prioritizes polemic over rigorous scholarship. Both works share a focus on ideological systems, but Mumbo-Jumbo adopts a more journalistic, satirical approach to contemporary issues.

What quotes define the book’s message?

Key lines include:

• "The Enlightenment has been hijacked by the merchants of woo-woo" – condemning New Age peddlers co-opting rational discourse
• "Globalization became a mantra, not an analyzable phenomenon" – critiquing economic buzzwords replacing scrutiny