The Crowd
A Study of the Popular Mind
The Crowd: A Study of the Popular Mind, published in French in 1895 and in English the following year, is Gustave Le Bon's account of how people behave when they act as a mass. He argues that individuals in a crowd lose their critical judgment and become impulsive, credulous and open to suggestion, swayed by images, slogans and repetition rather than reasoning. He describes the leaders who move crowds, the role of prestige and affirmation, and the ways in which juries, electorates and parliaments behave as crowds of their own. Le Bon's conclusions are pessimistic and his politics conservative, but the book shaped the study of mass psychology and was read closely by politicians and propagandists in the century that followed. The full text is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, and the first chapter is free.
Start reading right away, without signing up. The complete text is included in Vinteuil Reading, or yours forever with a one-time purchase.
Frequently asked questions about The Crowd
The Crowd by Gustave Le Bon can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
Can I read The Crowd online?
Yes. The Crowd opens right on this page, in a reader designed for long reading: adjustable text size, light, sepia and dark themes, a clickable table of contents and your place saved when you are signed in. No download or app is needed.
Is The Crowd free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of The Crowd is free, without an account. To read the whole book, either buy its online reading for $2.99 (£2.99 in the UK) and keep it forever, or subscribe to Vinteuil Reading for $4.99/month (£4.99/month in the UK) or $39.99/year, with 1 month free for new subscribers. The subscription opens every book in the library and can be cancelled at any time.
Is The Crowd in the public domain?
Yes. The Crowd by Gustave Le Bon is a public-domain work, here in the translation by T. Fisher Unwin Ltd.. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read The Crowd?
About 3 h 40 min of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is The Crowd?
The Crowd by Gustave Le Bon is filed under "Classics" in the Vinteuil library.
