Comet Madness, Richard J. Goodrich
Comet Madness, Richard J. Goodrich
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Comet Madness
How the 1910 Return of Halley's Comet (Almost) Destroyed Civilization

Author: Richard J. Goodrich

Narrator: Peter Lerman

Unabridged: 10 hr

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 06/06/2023

Synopsis

Since the dawn of civilization, humans had believed comets were evil portents. In 1705, Edmond Halley liberated humanity from these primordial superstitions, proving that Newtonian mechanics rather than the will of the gods brought comets into our celestial neighborhood. Despite this scientific advance, when Halley's Comet returned in 1910, newspapers gleefully provoked a global hysteria that unfolded with tragic consequences.

In Comet Madness, author and historian Richard J. Goodrich examines the 1910 appearance of Halley's Comet and the ensuing frenzy sparked by media manipulation, bogus science, and outright deception.

As the comet neared Earth, scientists and journalists alike scrambled to get the story straight as citizens the world over panicked.

As a result, workmen shelved their tools, farmers refused to plant crops they would never harvest, and formerly reliable people stopped paying their creditors. Others suffered mental breakdowns, and some took their own lives.

Comet Madness reveals how humans confront the unknown, how scientists learn about the world we inhabit, and how certain people—from outright hucksters to opportunistic journalists—harness fear to produce a profit.

About Richard J. Goodrich

Richard J. Goodrich earned his PhD at St. Andrews and spent twenty years teaching ancient history in Britain and the United States. The author of six academic books, he now writes about early twentieth century history.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Pablo

I was hesitant to read a book reminding me how poorly people behave, and how easily they are led to do so. Given the 100-year distance to the event, and the nature of the event, I went ahead anyway. I don't think the author accomplished what he intended with this one. The premise going in is that the......more

Goodreads review by Tore

A pop-science book about "the madness of crowds" and the way newspapers made a scare to sell papers, including hoaxes and fake news. Having read a lot about the history of astronomy and science in general I felt I knew most of this, but I commend that Goodrich rehabilitates the French astronomer Cami......more

Goodreads review by Dan

My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher Rowman & Littlefield for an advance copy of this book on the return of Halley's Comet in the early part of the 20th century and the fear that it caused around the world. As I have gotten older I really do feel that people go out of their way to find thin......more

Goodreads review by Meaghan

[URL not allowed]-comet... Discovered by Royal Astronomer Edmund Halley in 1758, the celestial body was noted for its predictable perihelion, bringing it close to Earth each 75 years or so. Although it had been making this trip for eons, it was named after Halley as he was the one to fo......more

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