In this provocative and witty work, the Polish-born British sociologist Stanislav Andreski (1919–2007) subjects the state of the modern social sciences to scathing criticism. The author argues that a significant portion of sociological and psychological research has devolved into a form of "academic sorcery"—the ritualistic production of pseudoscientific texts that mask banal observations behind complex terminology and methodological formalism.

Andreski draws striking parallels between traditional magical practices and contemporary social research, demonstrating how the academic establishment employs obscure jargon and methodological rituals to maintain its status, often without generating genuinely useful knowledge. The author calls for a return to clarity of thought, precision of expression, and a truly scientific approach within the social sciences.

First published in 1972, the book remains a timely warning against pseudoscience and a reminder that the social sciences should strive for a genuine understanding of society rather than the mere imitation of scientific activity.