Witch: A Tale of Terror

By: Charles MacKay, Sam Harris - introduction

Narrated by: Sam Harris

Length: 3 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's summary

For centuries in Europe, innocent men and women were murdered for the imaginary crime of witchcraft. This was a mass delusion and moral panic, driven by pious superstition and a deadly commitment to religious conformity. In Witch: A Tale of Terror, best-selling author Sam Harris introduces and reads from Charles Mackay's beloved book Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds.

Public Domain (P)2016 Sam Harris

Terrifyingly True

How horrible is it to think that single verse in the Bible brought about so much needless violence.

Witch, read by Sam Harris

What made the experience of listening to Witch: A Tale of Terror the most enjoyable?

Having it read by Sam Harris

Who was your favorite character and why?

The history.

What about Sam Harris’s performance did you like?

I could listen to him read the phone book...hope he does more.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Not really

Any additional comments?

Well worth a listen.

Excellent

Very interesting and well read. The narrator is well spoken and brings depth to the stories.

interesting history

I like that this was taken from a larger study on mass hysteria. It made it easier to digest and was very fascinating and sad that humanity can do such horrible things when they become unreasonable and hysterical.
Sometimes I enjoy Sam Harris's dry tone, but others may not. I think it was suited for this somber history.

An uncomfortable reminder of the power of belief

This well-produced audiobook is introduced and read by author & neuroscientist, Sam Harris, who is also host of the very popular 'Waking Up' podcast. Harris' experience as a podcast host, reader of the audiobook versions of several of his own books and leading light across a diverse field of important public conversations and debates shines through in his measured yet compelling reading.

The subject material concerns the 'Witch Mania' of Early Modern Europe, as described by Charles Mackay in his seminal 1841 book, 'Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds'. The quality of Mackay's writing is excellent and the detailed picture he paints of this extraordinarily tragic (and often gruesome) period (which for Mackay - and even, to some extent, for us now - was relatively recent) conveys in almost palpable terms the ability of individuals and societies to drive themselves into an ever-deeper ditch of terrible suffering when the wheels of their beliefs (which drive their behaviour and much of their experience of the world) run-off the rails of reason.

A valuable accounting of cultural illogic

Why were the Dark Ages dark? because of dark thinking. Here is an account of historical dark thinking that illuminates nothing and leads to terror and dread and that dominated in much of the world and still exists now. It's an example of what not to do.

I just saw the film "The VVitch" which dramatizes a narrative of this type of thinking. This book is an excellent companion to thwart film, but I would like to have seen some analysis of the problem instead of just exposition.

Who are the witches of our time?

Great book, love the topic. Really thought provoking that "Civilized people actually did this, and at such a scale... The reading was a bit fast.

Soul-crushingly brutally honest

This book was a detailed and sweeping history of 'witch' hunting /persecution /theocracy and the insidiousness of crusades. No one is more dangerous than when they feel they are empowered by/ working on behalf of God. Great work, Sam Harris.

Great Book and a Great Narration

What did you love best about Witch: A Tale of Terror?

The Narration, really outlines the importance of belief

Would you recommend Witch: A Tale of Terror to your friends? Why or why not?

yes

What does Sam Harris bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

A really good introduction and editing job. Also a soothing, entertaining voice.

Pretty good. A little repetitive.

It's overall a pretty good collection of events and stories. I did not realize the witch mania was as extensive as it is documented here. It was fascinating to listen to, especially in the soothing voice of Sam Harris; even when what he's narrating are atrocities committed in deep ignorance. It does get a bit repetitive, but that's neither here nor there.