This work investigates the pervasive nature of irrationality and fallacious thinking in modern society, questioning why humans frequently embrace nonsense over empirical evidence. Ashley Montagu, a renowned anthropologist and social critic, utilizes his background in human biology and social science to dissect the cultural mechanisms that perpetuate ignorance. He argues that the institutionalization of misinformation and the failure of educational systems to prioritize critical thinking create a fertile ground for the persistence of irrational beliefs. By examining historical and contemporary examples, he constructs a framework for understanding how social conditioning masks the prevalence of illogical thought patterns.

Experts recognize this text as a significant contribution to mid-20th-century social criticism, noting its accessible yet rigorous prose. Readers frequently highlight the author's ability to synthesize complex anthropological concepts into a critique of everyday human behavior.