The Basic Laws of Human Stupidity

The International Bestseller

This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived.
Buy on Amazon Buy on Waterstones.com
*This page contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.
Send NetGalley books directly to your Kindle or Kindle app

1
To read on a Kindle or Kindle app, please add kindle@netgalley.com as an approved email address to receive files in your Amazon account. Click here for step-by-step instructions.
2
Also find your Kindle email address within your Amazon account, and enter it here.
Pub Date 24 Oct 2019 | Archive Date 1 Mar 2020

Talking about this book? Use #BasicLawsOfStupidity #NetGalley. More hashtag tips!


Description

'A classic' - Simon Kuper, Financial Times

'This is brilliant' - James O'Brien, author of How to be Right

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 dinner with the in-laws with the first and only economic model for stupidity.

'A classic' - Simon Kuper, Financial Times

'This is brilliant' - James O'Brien, author of How to be Right

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

Since time...


Available Editions

EDITION Other Format
ISBN 9780753554838
PRICE £7.99 (GBP)
PAGES 96

Available on NetGalley

Send to Kindle (EPUB)

Average rating from 5 members


Featured Reviews

To be honest I already read this book but I wanted to read the forward and I reread it.
Both are full of food for thought because this book is a satire that perfectly describes the human nature and the different type of stupid people.
It's a fast read, entertaining and I always liked how the author mixes economy and sociology in order to classify the different type of stupids.
An interesting and useful read, highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Was this review helpful?

A quick, short, enjoyable read with so much truth. A good way to explain different types of individuals in society and the roles within. From the intelligent, and helpless, to the bandit and stupid. “Always and inevitably everyone underestimates the number of stupid individuals in circulation.” No one gains by the actions of the “stupid,” not even the “stupid.”

There are graphs in the appendix so that you, the reader, can record the actions of individuals, and take rational action.

“...against stupidity the very Gods fight in vain’.”

Was this review helpful?

Readers who liked this book also liked: