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The Basic Laws of Human Stupidity: The International Bestseller Hardcover – International Edition, October 24, 2019

by Carlo M. Cipolla (Author)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 2,806 ratings
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'A classic' - Simon Kuper, Financial Times

The five laws that confirm our worst fears: stupid people can and do rule the world.

Since time immemorial, a powerful dark force has hindered the growth of human welfare and happiness. It is more powerful than the Mafia or the military. It has global catastrophic effects and can be found anywhere from the world’s most powerful boardrooms to your local pub. This is the immensely powerful force of human stupidity.

Seeing the shambolic state of human affairs, and sensing the dark force at work behind it, Carlo M. Cipolla, the late, noted professor of economic history at the University of California, Berkeley, created a vitally important economic model that would allow us to detect, know and neutralise this threat: The Basic Laws of Human Stupidity.

If you've ever found yourself despairing at the ubiquity of stupidity among even the most 'intellectual' of people, then this hilarious, timely and slightly alarming little book is for you. Arm yourself in the face of baffling political realities, unreasonable colleagues or the unbridled misery of Christmas day with the in-laws with the first and only economic model for stupidity.
Previous page
  1. Print length
    96 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    WH Allen
  4. Publication date
    October 24, 2019
  5. Dimensions
    4.69 x 0.59 x 7.24 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0753554836
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0753554838
  8. See all details
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ WH Allen (October 24, 2019)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 96 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0753554836
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0753554838
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 4.7 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 4.69 x 0.59 x 7.24 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 2,806 ratings

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Carlo M. Cipolla

Carlo M. Cipolla

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Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
2,806 global ratings
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3 Stars
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Top reviews from the United States

Lucie
5.0 out of 5 stars Great quick read
Reviewed in the United States on April 8, 2024
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Easy read, good humor, but it all makes sense!
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Bear
5.0 out of 5 stars fun!
Reviewed in the United States on December 9, 2022
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It’s a fantastic quick read. His theories on stupidity and society are easy to grasp and enjoyable to ponder. It’s a little short, read it in two nights before bed.
3 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Nice book for understanding stupidity
Reviewed in the United States on December 20, 2022
Verified Purchase
I am vey surprised on how the author explain each of the 4 types of person.
I personally use this concept to keeping myself away from stupidity as much as possible.

It would be much better if the book also explain how to deal with stupidity and how to upgrade oneself.
4 people found this helpful
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Robert J Lanz
5.0 out of 5 stars A great read, be careful who you share it with.
Reviewed in the United States on October 25, 2023
Verified Purchase
A lot os less than stellar thinkers out there and their fallacious thinking and behavior is shown with clarity.
2 people found this helpful
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Been there done that
Reviewed in the United States on August 31, 2023
Verified Purchase
I have dealt with stupid people who were stupid by the definition of this book. They have cost me horrible loss in every way. At times I would have had to classify myself as Helpless. But I have learned. This book is helpful in showing me what I already knew. It helps me now in recognizing Bandits currently in our federal government. They demonstrate their stupidity by working very hard to destroy the constitutional republic and capitalism.
5 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
3.0 out of 5 stars Cleverly lightweight.
Reviewed in the United States on October 24, 2023
Verified Purchase
Insufficient. Doesn’t live up to expectations.
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Phillip
5.0 out of 5 stars They were right. I won't look at the world the same
Reviewed in the United States on November 8, 2023
Verified Purchase
It's hard to believe there would be a book on people being stupid however its obvious this was originally written decades ago because of how its said and its wisdom is still true.
3 people found this helpful
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Down8ve
5.0 out of 5 stars Good Lord, this was helpful
Reviewed in the United States on July 15, 2023
Verified Purchase
The description of a society in decline nails the present-day United States with devastating accuracy; having an abundance of leadership in the Bs area of Figure 1, with an ever-growing numbers of those in the H quadrant, combine with the Stupid to pretty much ruin everything.
2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Rodolfo Fernandes
5.0 out of 5 stars Muito simples e claro
Reviewed in Brazil on January 8, 2024
Verified Purchase
Diz o que tem que ser dito e fim. É um livro para ler em 40 minutos.
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Charles McFarland
5.0 out of 5 stars My new favourite book
Reviewed in Canada on February 24, 2023
Verified Purchase
As the intro says, it looks like every "rule" starts with a cheeky provocation, and moves into serious and supported analysis. It's a fun read with darker intent: the truly dangerous people in the world are the stupid, even more so than the 'bandits'. South of the border, are MTG and the vilest of the GOP bandits or stupids? But it's incontrovertible that the MAGA voter - and indeed the Brexit leaver - fit the classic definitions of human stupidity in this book: doing things that cause harm to themselves as well as to others. Read it and weep and laugh all at the same time!
One person found this helpful
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A. David Garza Marin
5.0 out of 5 stars Una invitación a la introspección
Reviewed in Mexico on September 14, 2022
Verified Purchase
Por curioso que parezca, este libro no se concentra en ofrecer herramientas para juzgar a terceros, sino, también, para juzgarnos a nosotros mismos. Si bien somos muy buenos para juzgar a los demás en estas lides, lo cierto es que podríamos empezar por juzgarnos a nosotros y las veces que caemos en el cuadrante de la estupidez de Cipolla. Lectura muy recomendable para hacer conciencia, al igual que el texto de Giancarlo Livraghi: "El poder de la estupidez", fuertemente basado en este libro.
One person found this helpful
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Epikurios
5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 24, 2024
Verified Purchase
Cipolla reframes how we judge the impact of everyone's own actions both on ourselves and others. This creates unexpected insights into our own motivations and how we see the world. A powerful perspective!
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Der Donm
5.0 out of 5 stars Pflichtlektüre :-)
Reviewed in Germany on July 30, 2023
Verified Purchase
Der Mann hat es erkannt.
Ich kann - ohne zu spoilern - dieses kurze, und sehr unterhaltsam-informative Buch sehr empfehlen.
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