Comet Madness

How the 1910 Return of Halley's Comet (Almost) Destroyed Civilization

By: Richard J. Goodrich

Narrated by: Peter Lerman

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.

©2023 Richard J. Goodrich (P)2023 Tantor

A tale of a tail

I had meant to listen to this book quickly after reading a poor review for it, claiming it was less than a narrative history and more of a series of newspaper articles. Don't get me wrong, the newspaper citations are repetitive and lengthy, but _Comet Madness_ tells a cohesive story that is exciting to follow and was truly the best book I encountered all year. It is the story of a comet and the events of its 1910 appearance, but the thesis is about science, beleif, misinformation, and is very important to our own time. I read this alongside H. G. Wells' novel _In The Days of the Comet_, a 1906 novel of the Earth passing through a comet tail as well. Highly recommended.