Audio: The lure of the lemmings

The perils of following the crowd

By Will Femia

Producer

MSNBC

updated 4:32 p.m. ET Nov. 2, 2007

In the newly published Mobs, Messiahs, and Markets: Surviving the Public Spectacle in Finance and Politics, William Bonner uses anecdotes from history and headlines to describe the way groups can take leave of reason and turn into thoughtless mobs that make poor choices. Ultimately these stories serve as cautionary examples for investing wisely. Bonner joined MSNBC.com's Will Femia on the phone to talk about the characteristics of group dynamics and mass behavior and why well-researched individualism is your best bet.

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