{"product_id":"2026200015687-secondhand-the-crowd-a-classic-of-sociology-with-a-new-introduction-by-robert-k-merton","title":"The Crowd: A Classic Of Sociology With A New Introduction By Robert K. Merton","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition remarks:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBook: Good\u003cbr\u003eJacket: No dust jacket\u003cbr\u003ePages: Good\u003cbr\u003eCondition remarks: Condition as shown in image\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhat happens when the rational individual surrenders to the irrational pull of the mob? First published in 1895, The Crowd: A Study of the Popular Mind by Gustave Le Bon stands as one of the most provocative and enduring works in the history of social psychology, arguing that individuals within a crowd undergo a profound psychological transformation — losing their sense of self and becoming susceptible to suggestion, contagion, and impulse. Le Bon presents a sweeping and unsettling portrait of collective behaviour, illustrating how crowds, once formed, develop a singular identity that operates far below the threshold of reason, with consequences that can reshape history itself.\n\nLe Bon's incisive and often alarming insights into mass psychology have influenced thinkers, politicians, and propagandists alike — from Sigmund Freud to Benito Mussolini — cementing its status as a foundational, if controversial, text in the social sciences. This Viking Compass edition is further enriched by a new introduction from eminent sociologist Robert K. Merton, who contextualises Le Bon's work within the broader landscape of 20th-century thought. Written with the confidence of a man certain he has uncovered a universal truth, The Crowd remains as relevant and as disturbing today as the day it was written — a mirror held up to humanity that many may find difficult to face.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Secondhand Stock","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49203257147611,"sku":"2026200015687-SECONDHAND","price":10.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0523\/7646\/9701\/files\/d1e2100a-8d25-47d2-b908-4d1d769b38e2.png?v=1788146595","url":"https:\/\/bookgrocer.com\/products\/2026200015687-secondhand-the-crowd-a-classic-of-sociology-with-a-new-introduction-by-robert-k-merton","provider":"Book Grocer","version":"1.0","type":"link"}