
The Madness of Markets
Why Smart Investors Make Crazy Decisions - And How to Exploit Them
Alex Edmans(Author)
Penguin Life (Publisher)
Will be published approx. on 17. September 2026
Book
Hardback
288 pages
978-0-241-80805-4 (ISBN)
Description
"MADDENINGLY GOOD" - Robin Wigglesworth
"WITTY AND PROVOCATIVE" - Gillian Tett
"INCREDIBLY USEFUL AND ENTERTAINING" - Rory Sutherland
Global markets have been thrown into chaos, as crazy investments lead to wild booms and busts, economic inequality and even political fallout.
In The Madness of Markets, Professor Alex Edmans uncovers the hidden forces that have driven global markets off course - from Reddit frenzies to CEO ego trips - hype cycles and social contagion have caused even the smartest investors to make irrational decisions.
Their mistakes can become your advantage. Edmans shows not only how you can protect yourself from costly investing mishaps, but also how to capitalise when others misstep.
Through insights and strategies built upon his leading research, discover how to make smart decisions in a world that often thinks fast, loud and wrong.
"WITTY AND PROVOCATIVE" - Gillian Tett
"INCREDIBLY USEFUL AND ENTERTAINING" - Rory Sutherland
Global markets have been thrown into chaos, as crazy investments lead to wild booms and busts, economic inequality and even political fallout.
In The Madness of Markets, Professor Alex Edmans uncovers the hidden forces that have driven global markets off course - from Reddit frenzies to CEO ego trips - hype cycles and social contagion have caused even the smartest investors to make irrational decisions.
Their mistakes can become your advantage. Edmans shows not only how you can protect yourself from costly investing mishaps, but also how to capitalise when others misstep.
Through insights and strategies built upon his leading research, discover how to make smart decisions in a world that often thinks fast, loud and wrong.
Reviews / Votes
A maddeningly good read. Both a handy guide to common investment pitfalls and a delightful romp through the weird behaviour and phenomena that dog the supposedly efficient stock market. -- Robin Wigglesworth, financial journalist and author of A FABULOUS DEBT In this smart, engaging book, Edmans offers a masterclass on the psychological forces that shape financial markets and investment decisions. The Madness of Markets is a must-read for anyone interested in behavioural finance. -- Katy Milkman, Professor, The Wharton School and author of HOW TO CHANGE Alex Edmans has an extraordinary knack for turning your preconceptions about business and the economy on their head. The Madness of Markets is no exception. A clear, penetrating look at how even the most rational brains can be swayed by mood and momentum. The ideal user's guide to the next financial bubble. -- Ed Conway, financial journalist and author of MATERIAL WORLD The Madness of Markets is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand how markets work. Grounded in sound research, Alex Edmans entertainingly reveals what drives the market's mood swings and how to capitalize on the opportunities they create. -- Michael Mauboussin, author of MORE THAN YOU KNOW and Managing Director, Morgan Stanley We sometimes forget that... the line between crowd wisdom and crowd madness is a fine one. This book by Professor Edmans reminds us of that truth, and it is filled with useful insights for investors, while being fun to read. While many behavioural finance books are centered on how investor psychology can skew pricing, this book follows through by offering actionable advice on how investors can take advantage of these mistakes. -- Aswath Damodaran, Professor, NYU Stern School of Business A fascinating and indispensable guide to the hidden psychology that drives markets. Alex Edmans brilliantly reveals how emotion, bias, and inertia lead even the smartest investors astray - and provides practical lessons for investing more wisely. -- Annie Duke, decision strategist and author of THINKING IN BETS AND QUITS At a time when markets often seem to be going mad, amid wild AI hype, Edmans' book offers a cool-headed compass that enables you to navigate the world of finance and - most importantly - your own emotions. Punchy, witty and provocative, this enables anyone to work out whether they are over or under-reacting to events, and chart a more level-headed approach to reading market signals. -- Gillian TettMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Penguin Books Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 222 mm
Width: 138 mm
Thickness: 25 mm
Weight
400 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-241-80805-4 (9780241808054)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Alex Edmans
The Madness of Markets
Why Smart Investors Make Crazy Decisions - And How to Exploit Them
E-Book
approx. 09/2026
Penguin Books Ltd
€14.99
Not yet available
Person
Alex Edmans is Professor of Finance at London Business School and a widely recognised global expert on behavioural finance, responsible business and misinformation. He has spoken at Davos, testified in the UK House of Commons and has reached millions through his hugely popular TED talks and his contributions to outlets such as the BBC, CNBC, the Guardian and the Independent.
He is the author of May Contain Lies, which was an Amazon #1 bestseller and received huge acclaim from the Times, The Guardian, Wall Street Journal, and The Financial Times. His first book Grow the Pie was a Financial Times Book of the Year for 2020.
He is the author of May Contain Lies, which was an Amazon #1 bestseller and received huge acclaim from the Times, The Guardian, Wall Street Journal, and The Financial Times. His first book Grow the Pie was a Financial Times Book of the Year for 2020.