How Mumbo-Jumbo Conquered the World

Introduction

In a world that seems increasingly chaotic and confusing, Francis Wheen's "How Mumbo-Jumbo Conquered the World" offers a sobering look at the rise of irrationality and superstition in modern society. This eye-opening book explores how various forms of nonsense have infiltrated politics, economics, academia, and popular culture, often masquerading as wisdom or enlightenment.

Wheen takes readers on a journey through the landscape of contemporary mumbo-jumbo, examining everything from neoliberal economic theories to self-help gurus, from postmodern philosophy to apocalyptic predictions. With sharp wit and incisive analysis, he exposes the flaws in these ideas and the damage they can cause when embraced uncritically.

As we delve into the key ideas of this book, we'll see how seemingly disparate phenomena are connected by a common thread of irrationality. We'll also explore why these ideas have gained such traction and what we can do to combat their influence.

The Rise of Neoliberalism: A Misguided Economic Philosophy

One of the central themes in Wheen's book is the dominance of neoliberal economic theory and its negative impact on society. Neoliberalism, which gained prominence in the 1980s, is based on the belief that free markets are the best way to achieve economic prosperity and that government intervention should be minimized.

The Rebirth of "Trickle-Down" Economics

Wheen argues that neoliberalism is essentially a rebranding of the long-discredited "trickle-down" theory. This idea suggests that by making the rich richer, wealth will naturally flow downward to benefit the lower and middle classes. However, history has repeatedly shown that this approach doesn't work as promised.

Thatcher and Reagan: The Architects of Neoliberal Policies

The author points to the policies of Margaret Thatcher in the UK and Ronald Reagan in the US as prime examples of neoliberalism in action. When Thatcher came to power in 1979, she began dismantling the welfare state and slashing government spending. The results were disastrous:

• Inflation rose by 11 percent
• The manufacturing sector fell into a deep recession
• Unemployment skyrocketed from 5.7 percent to 13 percent in just three years

Similarly, when Reagan took office in 1981, he implemented massive tax cuts for the wealthy, reducing the top income tax rate from 70 percent to 50 percent. This led to:

• A tripling of the national debt from $900 billion to $3 trillion in five years
• A drop in real wage levels
• The offshoring of jobs to cheaper labor markets
• A 10 percent unemployment rate in 1982, the highest since the Great Depression

The Widening Wealth Gap

Wheen emphasizes that these neoliberal policies have had a devastating effect on the working and middle classes. Instead of wealth trickling down, it has increasingly concentrated at the top, leading to growing income inequality and social instability.

The Self-Help Industry: Profiting from Desperation

As neoliberal policies began to wreak havoc on economies, Wheen notes that the self-help industry experienced a massive boom. This was no coincidence, as millions of people suddenly found themselves searching for new paths to success in a harsh economic landscape.

The Rise of Self-Help Gurus

The author takes aim at some of the most prominent figures in the self-help world, arguing that their success often comes from repackaging common sense as revolutionary wisdom. He uses Tony Robbins as a prime example:

• Robbins has amassed a net worth of around $480 million
• His best-selling book "Unlimited Power" presents basic ideas in metaphorical language to make them seem profound
• For instance, Robbins suggests that to bake the best chocolate cake, you simply need to follow the recipe – a roundabout way of saying that learning from others is a good way to acquire skills

The Power of Presentation

Wheen argues that the success of self-help literature isn't about the content of the ideas, but rather how they're presented. Authors like Robbins use flashy rhetoric and emotional appeals to make their advice seem more valuable than it really is.

Deepak Chopra: New Age Nonsense

The author also critiques new age gurus like Deepak Chopra, who has built a $20 million annual income from books and spiritual retreats. Wheen argues that Chopra's ideas are often nonsensical and illogical, such as:

• Claiming that aging is a learned process that we pick up by watching others age
• Suggesting that wealth accumulation follows the same principle – that we can get rich by learning from those who already are

Despite the dubious nature of these ideas, Chopra has attracted a celebrity following and continues to sell millions of books.

Grand Theories: The End of History and Clash of Civilizations

Wheen turns his attention to academic theories that have gained widespread popularity despite their shaky foundations. He focuses on two particularly influential ideas: the "end of history" and the "clash of civilizations."

Francis Fukuyama's "End of History"

In 1992, Francis Fukuyama published "The End of History and the Last Man," which argued that Western liberal democracy and capitalism represented the final form of human government. Wheen criticizes this theory for several reasons:

• It ignores the complexity of global politics and culture
• It makes absurd claims, such as suggesting that little has changed socio-politically since 1806
• It downplays the impact of major historical events like Nazism and Communism

Samuel Huntington's "Clash of Civilizations"

Wheen also takes issue with Samuel Huntington's 1996 book "The Clash of Civilizations," which predicted that future conflicts would be driven by cultural differences rather than political or economic factors. The author points out several flaws in this theory:

• Huntington's division of the world into seven or eight "civilizations" is arbitrary and inconsistent
• He classifies countries in ways that don't make sense, such as putting Greece in the "Slavic-Orthodox" civilization rather than the Western one
• The theory oversimplifies complex geopolitical realities and ignores the many instances of cooperation and cultural exchange between different civilizations

The Dangers of Poststructuralism

One of the most concerning trends Wheen identifies is the rise of poststructuralism in academia, particularly in the humanities departments of American and European universities.

What is Poststructuralism?

Wheen explains that poststructuralism is based on the idea that stable meaning doesn't exist. Unlike structuralism, which sees meaning as arising from social context and material factors, poststructuralism argues that meaning is constantly shifting and has no definite form.

The "Text" Metaphor

Poststructuralists view every system of thought or social organization as a "text" that's open to infinite interpretation. This approach, Wheen argues, can lead to absurd conclusions:

• Even concrete fields like chemistry are treated as if they were works of fiction
• Historical events, including tragedies like the Holocaust, become subject to reinterpretation or even denial

The Problem of Vague Language

The author criticizes poststructuralists for their use of intentionally complex and ambiguous language. They often employ terms like "hegemony," "signification," and "knowledges" (in the plural) to sound intelligent while obscuring their actual meaning.

The Dangers of Infinite Interpretation

Wheen warns that allowing for infinite interpretation of all things can have serious consequences:

• It can be used to justify or excuse harmful ideologies
• It can lead to the distortion or denial of historical facts
• It creates an environment where truth becomes subjective and meaningless

The "Third Way" in Politics: Rebranding Right-Wing Ideas

Wheen examines how some politicians have managed to rebrand right-wing economic policies as socially progressive, using the example of Tony Blair and the UK's Labour Party.

The Transformation of Tony Blair

The author describes how Blair, once a leftist campaigning for nuclear disarmament and against neoliberal policies, dramatically shifted his stance after becoming Labour leader:

• He rebranded the party as "New Labour"
• He adopted economic policies similar to those of his Conservative predecessors
• He began advocating for a "third way" in politics

The "Third Way" Explained

Wheen defines the "third way" as a political approach that:

• Uses language that appeals to both the right and left
• Emphasizes "progressive" values while maintaining conservative economic policies
• Relies heavily on marketing and focus group research to shape its message

The Power of Language

The author shows how Blair's Labour Party used carefully chosen language to maintain contradictory policy positions:

• They emphasized concepts like "connectedness," "empathy," and "sexuality" to appeal to young voters
• They used vague phrases like "entrepreneurial zeal" producing "social justice" to disguise their neoliberal economic agenda

The Dangers of Political Doublespeak

Wheen warns that this approach to politics allows parties to maintain right-wing economic policies while presenting themselves as socially progressive. This can lead to voter confusion and disillusionment with the political process.

Learning from the Past: Countering Irrationality

In the face of widespread irrationality, Wheen suggests that we can find inspiration and guidance by looking to the past.

The Power of Cultural Exchange

The author reminds us that civilizations have always evolved through the sharing of ideas and culture:

• He uses the example of fish and chips, a quintessentially British dish that wouldn't exist without the introduction of potatoes from the Americas and the Jewish tradition of frying fish
• He points out that the European Enlightenment was greatly influenced by knowledge shared by the Islamic world during the Middle Ages

The Importance of Reason and Tolerance

Wheen highlights how the founding fathers of the United States were inspired by Enlightenment philosophy:

• They separated church and state to allow for both religious freedom and the right to live without religion
• Their goal was to create a society that encouraged free thought and rational debate

Challenging Irrationality

The author argues that we must be willing to challenge irrational ideas wherever they appear, whether they come from:

• Divine monarchists
• Neoliberal fundamentalists
• Radical poststructuralists

Only by actively opposing these forms of mumbo-jumbo can we hope to create a more rational and just society.

The Persistence of Superstition and Pseudoscience

Throughout the book, Wheen explores how various forms of superstition and pseudoscience continue to thrive in the modern world.

The Allure of Simple Explanations

The author suggests that many people are drawn to simplistic explanations for complex problems:

• Conspiracy theories offer a sense of order in a chaotic world
• Pseudoscientific health remedies promise easy solutions to difficult medical issues
• Astrological predictions give the illusion of control over an uncertain future

The Role of Media

Wheen criticizes the media for often giving equal weight to scientific consensus and fringe theories:

• This "false balance" can make pseudoscientific ideas seem more credible than they are
• Sensationalist reporting on supposed paranormal phenomena or miracle cures can spread misinformation

The Dangers of Anti-Intellectualism

The author warns about the growing trend of anti-intellectualism in some societies:

• Distrust of experts and scientific consensus can lead to harmful public policy decisions
• Rejection of evidence-based thinking can hinder progress in addressing global challenges like climate change

The Impact of Technology on Critical Thinking

While not a major focus of the book, Wheen touches on how modern technology has affected our ability to think critically.

Information Overload

The author notes that the internet has made an unprecedented amount of information available, but this can be a double-edged sword:

• It's easier than ever to access factual information
• But it's also easier to find misinformation that confirms our existing biases

The Echo Chamber Effect

Wheen warns about the tendency for people to surround themselves with like-minded individuals online:

• Social media algorithms often show us content we already agree with
• This can reinforce irrational beliefs and make it harder to consider alternative viewpoints

The Need for Digital Literacy

The author suggests that education systems need to adapt to teach critical thinking skills in the digital age:

• Students should learn how to evaluate online sources
• They need to understand the basics of scientific methodology and logical reasoning

The Economic Consequences of Irrationality

Wheen dedicates significant attention to the economic impact of embracing irrational ideas.

The Cost of Bad Economic Theory

The author argues that adherence to flawed economic theories has real-world consequences:

• Neoliberal policies have led to increased income inequality
• Belief in market infallibility contributed to the 2008 financial crisis

The Self-Help Industry's Economic Impact

Wheen points out the massive economic footprint of the self-help industry:

• It's an $11 billion industry in the US alone
• This represents a significant transfer of wealth from often desperate individuals to self-proclaimed gurus

The Hidden Costs of Pseudoscience

The author explores how belief in pseudoscientific ideas can have economic repercussions:

• Money wasted on ineffective alternative medicines
• Productivity lost to following unproven management fads in businesses

The Political Exploitation of Irrationality

Wheen examines how political leaders often exploit irrational fears and beliefs for their own gain.

The Power of Fear

The author shows how politicians use fear to push through policies that might otherwise be unpopular:

• Exaggerating the threat of terrorism to justify increased surveillance
• Using xenophobia to garner support for restrictive immigration policies

The Appeal to Tradition

Wheen criticizes how some leaders invoke an idealized past to resist necessary changes:

• Climate change deniers often claim that environmental concerns are a modern invention
• Social conservatives may resist progress by appealing to "traditional values"

The Dangers of Populism

The author warns about the rise of populist leaders who offer simplistic solutions to complex problems:

• They often scapegoat minority groups for society's ills
• They may reject expert advice in favor of "common sense" solutions that appeal to their base

Combating Mumbo-Jumbo: A Call to Action

In the final sections of the book, Wheen offers suggestions for how individuals and society can push back against the tide of irrationality.

The Importance of Education

The author emphasizes the need for a strong, well-rounded education system:

• Teaching critical thinking skills from an early age
• Encouraging scientific literacy and an understanding of the scientific method
• Promoting an appreciation for history and cultural exchange

The Role of Journalism

Wheen calls for a return to rigorous, fact-based journalism:

• Holding public figures accountable for false or misleading statements
• Providing context and expert analysis rather than just reporting "both sides" of an issue

Individual Responsibility

The author argues that each person has a role to play in combating irrationality:

• Being willing to question our own beliefs and biases
• Seeking out diverse sources of information
• Engaging in respectful debate with those who hold different views

Institutional Reform

Wheen suggests that some institutions may need to be reformed to better serve the public interest:

• Improving transparency in government and corporate decision-making
• Strengthening regulations to prevent the spread of misinformation
• Reforming campaign finance laws to reduce the influence of special interests

Conclusion: The Ongoing Battle Against Irrationality

As Wheen concludes his exploration of modern mumbo-jumbo, he leaves readers with a sense of both concern and hope. The prevalence of irrational thinking in politics, economics, and popular culture poses significant challenges to society. From the damaging effects of neoliberal economic policies to the spread of pseudoscientific beliefs, the consequences of embracing mumbo-jumbo are far-reaching and often harmful.

However, the author also reminds us that humanity has faced and overcome similar challenges in the past. By learning from history, embracing reason and critical thinking, and working together to share knowledge and ideas, we can push back against the tide of irrationality.

Wheen's book serves as a wake-up call, urging readers to be more discerning consumers of information and to actively challenge nonsensical ideas wherever they appear. It's a reminder that the battle against mumbo-jumbo is ongoing, requiring constant vigilance and a commitment to rational thought.

In the end, "How Mumbo-Jumbo Conquered the World" is not just a critique of modern irrationality, but a passionate defense of reason, science, and genuine intellectual inquiry. It's a call to action for all those who value truth and wish to see a world guided by evidence and logic rather than superstition and empty rhetoric.