How Mumbo-Jumbo Conquered the World by Francis Wheen Summary

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.

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.

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.

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)

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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